One is the best feelings you can ever have is your ability to freely communicate and express yourself. Being able to smile freely whenever possible, speak privately into someone’s ear, etc. is something we all love. According to Winter Dental, a team of dentists in Huntersville NC, “there’s nothing as beautiful as that healthy smile. Knowing that your teeth are healthy and clean will make you feel great and grant you confidence.”
But, what if you have oral health issues? Oral health issues including halitosis (bad breath), has dire consequences on our general wellbeing and interpersonal relationship. In fact, some of these conditions can cause several health conditions including the risk of cancer. With dental health being a broad subject, our focus for this piece is halitosis.
What is Halitosis?
Halitosis “bad breath” is a medical condition that causes a person to bring out an unpleasant scent from their mouth. It is one of the major oral health problems in the world and victims normally face social stigma. The good news is that the condition is preventable and treatable. Finding out you have it is a major step towards treatment.
Causes of Halitosis
Causes of bad breath range from bad oral health practices to having some underlying health factors. You are having bad breath because of:
Underlying Health Conditions
Your bad breath may be a symptom of an underlying health condition. Some health conditions and the medicines used for treating them can cause bad breath. Conditions like diabetes, liver or kidney disorder, chronic sinusitis, and postnasal drip can all cause bad breath. This means until the condition is treated, you may have to endure the situation. With that being said, your dentist can help you with some drugs or toothpaste, which can reduce the scent.
The Food You Eat
What we eat is one of the major causes of many dental diseases including halitosis. Some food items like garlic, onion, already have a strong smell and require that you use mouthwash or water to rinse your mouth after eating. In addition, some components of the food we eat are absorbed into the blood and cause the release of bad smells until the food leaves the body.
Bad Oral Health Care
Food particles are trapped between the teeth, gum, and tongue after eating. These particles grow into plaque when not removed, and as it rots and breeds bacterial, you begin to experience bad breath. It is therefore important to floss after eating and brush at least twice a day to remove all staying food particles.
Improper Brushing Routine
Many people concentrate solely on their teeth when brushing. This is so wrong! You can have white teeth, yet, suffer bad breath because you don’t clean your tongue. Spend some time on the tongue when brushing to remove all bacterial and fungi buildup in the mouth and tongue.
Periodontal Disease
Periodontal disease or gum disease causes serious damage to the gum’s soft tissues, and without treatment causes havoc to the bone that supports the teeth. This results in bad breath and other serious dental conditions. You need to see the dentist as soon as possible when you sense this disease.
Smoking
Smoking is one of the major artificial contributors to bad breath. Aside from the serious health challenges it poses, the tobacco or whatever you are smoking has a strong scent that becomes part of your breath. Note that is can also cause gum related diseases.
Infections
Infections in the mouth or parts of the respiration system can also lead to bad breath. For example, a sore in the mouth could be a haven for bacterial buildups to cause infection. These infections come with several symptoms including bad breath.
Prevention of Halitosis
Visit the Dentist
One of the best and trusted ways of preventing halitosis is to take your oral health care seriously. At least you should visit the dentist once a year to have your teeth checked. You shouldn’t wait until a dental problem gets out of hand before seeing a professional. Brushing your teeth twice a day, and flossing or rinsing your mouth after a meal should also become a culture.
Drink more Water
Dry mouth is one of the causes of bad breath and you can easily prevent this by staying hydrated.
After eating strong scented foods including garlic and onions, you can chew unsweetened gum to absorb all the scent from your mouth.
Avoid Surgery Food
High sugar intake is one of the major causes of cavities/tooth decay, which also brings about bad breath. If you are addicted to sugar, it’s time to cut it down to save your oral health.
Choose a Good Toothpaste
As mentioned, brushing your teeth is one of the best ways to deal with bad breath. However, this is only possible when you use the right toothpaste. With the help of a dentist, you can get a good toothpaste that can fight the bacteria causing your bad breath. In addition, you can get a mouthwash for regular rinsing of your mouth.
Treatment of Halitosis
Visit a Dentist
No matter the causes of your halitosis, whether it is a medical problem or artificially induced, the best your best remedy is to see the dentist. The professional will assess the problem and prescribe the best remedy to have it treated. Do not self-treat/medicate, as it can deteriorate the situation.
