The Causes of Bad Breath and Preventive Measures You Can Take

Approximately 25 percent of people in America are affected by bad breath. Halitosis is a global condition affecting a similar number of people. Various reasons contribute to the condition of bad breath, the most primary among them being oral hygiene.

Fetor oris is the alternate name for halitosis or bad breath causing significant concerns, anxiety, and embarrassment. If you are affected by this problem, rest assured it is relatively easy to treat. This article provides information on the origins of bad breath, diagnosis, and treatment for the issue.

What Is a Bad Breath?

Bad breath is a common problem causing significant psychological distress among people. There are many potential reasons for this condition and treatments to deal with the issue. Halitosis can affect anyone, and approximately 25 percent of the global population has lousy breath regularly. After tooth decay and gum disease, bad breath is the third most common reason people seek dental care.

Readily available home remedies, lifestyle changes, and appropriate dental hygiene besides quitting smoking can often resolve the issue. However, visiting a dentist to seek halitosis treatment or identify the underlying causes is advised if the condition persists.

Why You May Develop Bad Breath?

There are many reasons why you may develop bad breath. However, the most common causes of bad breath include:

• Food: Breakdown of food particles trapped between your teeth cause odors. Some foods like garlic and onions are also the culprits of bad breath. After these foods are digested, the remnants moved into the blood to the lungs to affect your breath.
• Tobacco: Tobacco products cause a unique type of mouth odor. In addition, they also increase the chances of gum disease, another reason for bad breath.
• Dry Mouth: your saliva in your mouth naturally. However, if your mouth remains dry due to diseases like xerostomia, the buildup of odors is a natural phenomenon.
• Dental Hygiene: Brushing and flossing ensure the removal of tiny particles trapped between the teeth and gradually break down, producing odor. When you don’t brush frequently, a film of bacteria plaque builds up on your teeth. Plaque also irritates the gums causing inflammation between the teeth and gums, resulting in periodontitis. Improperly cleaned dentures can also harbor bacteria to cause halitosis.
• Medications: some drugs can reduce the production of saliva, increasing odors from your mouth. The drugs can produce odors when they break down and release chemicals in your breath.

Some Rare Causes of Bad Breath

• Aspiration Pneumonia: Swelling or infection in the lungs or airways because of inhaling saliva, food, liquids, and vomit is also a reason for bad breath.
• Bowel Obstruction: Your breath smells like feces if bowel obstruction is present or you have a prolonged period of vomiting.

What Are the Symptoms of Bad Breath?

The unique odor of your breath can vary according to the cause of the problem. As a result, you may find it challenging to assess your lousy breath yourself, making it necessary for you to inquire with a close friend or family member to determine the condition.

If you don’t have anyone to inquire about your condition, you can lick your wrist, let it dry, and then smell it. A foul odor on your wrist will likely suggest you have halitosis.

Many people are concerned about their bad breath even when they may have little or no mouth odor. This belief is called halitophobia and results in obsessive mouth cleansing behavior.

Preventive Measures Helpful against Bad Breath

Preventive measures for bad breath include lifestyle changes and home remedies. They are:

• Brush Your Teeth: Brushing at least twice a day after every meal helps reduce bad breath.
• Floss: Brushing merely cleans 60 percent of the tooth surface. Flossing reduces the buildup of plaque and food particles between the teeth proving as a preventive measure against bad breath.
• Brushing Your Tongue: Bacteria, food, and dead cells routinely build up on the tongue, especially among smokers or people with a dry mouth. A tongue scraper proves beneficial to clean the tongue after brushing.

If you want to get rid of bad breath, you must avoid or limit spicy food, garlic, and onions. You can develop bad breath by having sugary foods as well. You must also limit coffee and alcohol and have breakfast, including unrefined foods that help clean the back of the tongue.

If breath odor persists despite preventive measures, you must visit your doctor for additional tests to rule out other conditions.