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Five Causes Of Bad Breath And How To Get Rid Of It

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Bad breath, medically called halitosis, can result from poor dental health habits and may be a sign of other health problems. Bad breath can also be worsened by the types of foods you eat and other unhealthy lifestyle habits.

 

Basically, when you eat any food, it first breaks down in your mouth. If you eat foods with strong odours (such as garlic or onions), brushing, flossing or using mouthwash covers up the odour. The odour will, however, not go away completely until the food has passed through your body.

 

If you don’t brush and floss your teeth daily, food particles can remain in your mouth. This promotes bacterial growth between teeth, around the gums, and on the tongue. Bacteria that live in your mouth and break down food, proteins and even skin cells lead to the production and release of smelly volatile sulfur compounds (VSCs).

 

Take a look at five causes of bad breath and how to get rid of it.

 

1. Bacteria that take up residence on your tongue

Five Causes Of Bad Breath And How To Get Rid Of It

 

The back of the tongue, especially, has many grooves and crevices, making it the perfect dwelling place for odour-producing bacteria to grow and emit VSCs.

 

How to get rid of it

While there’s no harm in using a tongue scraper to remove the gunk that accumulates on your tongue. Part of the issue is that most bad-breath bacteria accumulate all the way at the back of the tongue.

 

A tongue scraper can’t reach that far without making you gag, and neither can your toothbrush. So a good way to effectively target this area is to use a safe-to-swallow substance such as an antiseptic mouthwash product that fights bad-breath bacteria and neutralises VSCs.

 

Antiseptic mouthwash products are designed to stimulate saliva, reduce the activity of the bacteria that cause bad breath and neutralise—not just disguise—odour.

 

2. Plaque on your teeth

Five Causes Of Bad Breath And How To Get Rid Of It

Plaque is a bacterial film that naturally forms on your teeth and gums and leads to the production of lousy-smelling VSCs.

 

How to get rid of it

Seeing your dentist regularly is important, but professional cleaning only keeps plaque at bay for a short time. As soon as you eat and drink, the bacteria repopulate.

 

For this reason, a good at-home oral care routine is essential. There are some components in toothpaste that may be antibacterial, but brushing is key because it physically removes bacteria.

 

After you brush, flossing can help remove particles in between your teeth. And using a mouth rinse like Listerine further reduces bacteria on the teeth and tongue, and in between the teeth.

 

3. Smelly foods

Five Causes Of Bad Breath And How To Get Rid Of It

 

Vegetables that are members of the Allium family like garlic and onions contain high concentrations of stinky sulfur compounds. When you crush them, you create allicin, a substance responsible for garlic’s strong aroma and the smell you associate with it.

 

How to get rid of it

For starters, brush and floss right away to get rid of any odiferous particles that might be stuck to your teeth. But don’t be surprised if your garlicky bad breath returns since garlic can stay in your system for up to two days. Also, use a chlorine dioxide mouthwash, you can also brush and floss immediately.

 

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4. Dry mouth

Five Causes Of Bad Breath And How To Get Rid Of It

 

Saliva is a natural deterrent to bad breath because it washes away bacteria. But many people suffer from dry mouth, which is exactly what it sounds like.

 

How to get rid of it

Although some people find that special dry mouth lozenges help, sipping on water frequently can work just as well. Chewing sugar-free gum and sucking on sugar-free candy between meals may also make a difference.

 

 

5. Certain medical conditions

Sometimes bad breath could be a direct result of gum disease. But it can also be caused by allergies, lactose intolerance or diabetes. If you have diabetes, for example, and it’s not well-controlled, you can end up with ketones (a chemical byproduct of burning fat instead of glucose for energy).

 

How to get rid of it

If you have chronic bad breath that doesn’t seem to respond to any of the above remedies, it’s time to see your dentist and possibly your internist so you can identify the underlying health condition causing it and get proper treatment.

 

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