Bad breath, also known as halitosis, is a common issue caused by poor dental hygiene. It can be embarrassing and cause anxiety due to the foul smell it produces. Additionally, bad breath may indicate gum disease or other serious health problems. Unhealthy oral habits and certain foods can worsen this condition over time.
However, there are different types of bad breath, such as halitosis, where the odors vary depending on the source or the underlying cause. Most people out there have halitosis without knowing. People around you might be afraid to tell you, but just know that chronic bad breath even after brushing is never a good thing for your oral hygiene and dental hygiene.
Symptoms of bad breath
Just like I said earlier, chronic halitosis can vary depending on the underlying cause. It might be difficult to tell if you have bad breath on your own, especially when you wake up in the morning. Everybody experiences mouth dryness and a foul smell at some point. Maintaining good oral hygiene is important for preventing bad breath.
Chronic halitosis, also known as bad breath, is primarily caused by bacteria buildup in the mouth. If these bacteria are allowed to accumulate for an extended period, they produce odors or gases that result in unpleasant smells. To determine if your breath is bad, you can ask a close friend or relative for their opinion. It is essential to maintain good oral hygiene and visit your dentist regularly to prevent chronic halitosis and gum disease.
The most common symptom of halitosis is a strong offensive odor from the mouth, even after practicing good oral hygiene by brushing or flossing. Another simple way to determine if you have bad breath is to examine and smell your dental floss after flossing. You can do this at any time of the day. If your floss has a foul odor or if there is blood present, it could be a sign of bad breath or gum disease. In this article, we will explore the possible causes of chronic bad breath, even after maintaining good oral hygiene. Additionally, we will discuss the health problems that are associated with bad breath.
Causes of bad breath
There are numerous factors that can result in halitosis, or bad breath. This health problem is often caused by oral problems such as mouth dryness and the presence of foul smells in the mouth. Other bad breath causes are associated with internal health problems related to food. Here are some of the oral issues and medical conditions that can affect your breath.
1. Poor oral hygiene: when you don’t brush or floss daily, you can have bad breath. According to studies, 90% of bad breath comes from breaking down of food in the mouth. (1) When you don’t remove food particles properly from your mouth and between your teeth, they can form plaque which attracts lots of harmful bacteria to your mouth.
Dental plaque are sticky films, they can form on the surface of your teeth and in the pockets between your teeth and gums. When food particles remain in your mouth, bacteria from plaque breaks them down causing bad breath. Sticky foods especially sugary and starchy ones can harbor odor-causing bacteria when they are left in the mouth.
2. Gum disease: excessive buildup of bacteria on the teeth and along the gum lines can lead to gum disease. Large accumulation of bacteria on the teeth, leads to the production of harmful toxins which irritates the gums.
Gum disease is a serious progressive oral problem. It continues to grow larger, damaging the gums and jawbones if it is left untreated.
Persistent bad breath, gums bleeding after flossing or brushing and also bad taste in the mouth are all signs of periodontal (gum) disease. (2) If you have bad breath and also experience frequent gums bleeding when you brush or floss, the best thing to do is to go for oral tests, your problem might be from your gums.
3. Dry mouth (Xerostomia) : dry mouth is a health condition when the salivary glands can not produce enough saliva to keep the mouth moisturized. Naturally, the human saliva has a strong cleansing and antibacterial properties that keeps the mouth clean and free from infections. Saliva helps to maintain a healthy pH level of the mouth by neutralizing the acids produced by bacteria, making the mouth unsuitable for harmful bacteria.
Normal flow of saliva keeps the mouth clean by removing particles that cause halitosis such as food particles and dead cells that accumulate on the tongue, gums, and cheeks. Decrease in the production of saliva in the mouth can lead to accumulation and decomposition of these particles in the mouth which results to bad breath smell.
However, morning bad breath occurs naturally due to dry mouth during sleep, it can worsen if you sleep with your mouth open. Continuous breathing through your mouth, certain medications and disease can contribute to dysfunction of the salivary gland. A failure in the production of the required amount of saliva in the mouth can lead to chronic bad breath even after brushing and flossing. If you are suffering from dry mouth, i have an article on natural remedies for dry mouth.
4. What you eat: there are lots of foods out there that can cause bed breath when you eat them. There is a popular saying in health care, it says “What you eat affects what you exhale”. During digestion, foods with strong odors are equally digested, the odors can be absorbed into your bloodstream and then expelled through your lungs when you breathe. Too much consumption of certain foods such as onions, garlic and spices can cause bad breath.
According to studies, chronic consumption of raw garlic or onions can lead to halitosis and body odor. If you suspect that your bad breath may be caused by the type of foods that you eat, try to avoid foods that encourage halitosis. Instead, consider snacking on healthy foods that promote salivary flow and fresh breath.
5. Oral infections: bad breath can be caused by infected oral wounds. In some cases, mouth ulcers, sores, poorly fitting dental appliances and dental caries (cavities) can lead to infections. Most people have oral infection from surgical wounds after oral surgery. Tooth removal surgery as a result of tooth decay or gum disease can contribute to bad breath.
Other health problems such as halitosis, diabetes, liver disease, respiratory tract infections, bronchitis, and chronic reflux of stomach acids (gastroesophageal) can all result in bad breath.
How to fix bad breath
If you go to the market, you will see lots of gum, mints, toothpastes, mouthwashes, and many other oral care products designed to fight halitosis. But the truth is that most of these products can only hold off the bad odors temporarily. They don’t seem to address the real cause of the problem.
The first step you should take to fix halitosis is to identify the underlying cause first. Identifying the real cause of the problem can help you to know the best suitable action to take. You can visit your dentist for proper oral evaluation, in order to find the cause of the halitosis.
Personally, if you have halitosis, you have to review your oral hygiene habits and practice good oral hygiene. Try making some lifestyle changes, such as staying hydrated always, brushing your teeth and tongue after eating. Cut back on alcohol, smoking, and other tobacco products. If possible, consider switching coffee to green tea. Excessive consumption of beer, wine, hard liquor, cigarettes, pipes, and snuff can affect your breath.
However, if your halitosis persists after making such changes as I mentioned above, then you will need to see your dentist. If it turns out that your mouth is healthy and the halitosis is not from your mouth, you may be referred to a doctor for proper body check and treatment.
Richard Smith is a Registered Nutritionist and also a Health Speaker. Richard Smith graduated from The City University of New York. You can learn more about him by Visiting His LinkedIn Page or Follow him on Twitter.
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