No one wishes to talk about it, but bad breath (or halitosis) is a common issue. In fact, according to an estimate, about 30% of people suffer from chronic bad breath. Halitosis can be embarrassing and sometimes even awkward. It can severely impact both your professional and personal life. It's important to understand what causes halitosis and how to treat it.
What Is Halitosis?
Halitosis is defined as an unpleasant mouth odor. It can be caused by a number of things, including food, tobacco, poor oral hygiene, certain medical conditions, and even certain medications. While bad breath is usually not a sign of a serious medical condition, it can be a sign of gum disease. Gum disease is a serious infection of the gums and bones that support the teeth.
Conditions Where Halitosis Appears As A Symptom!
Bad breath, also known as halitosis, can be a sign of many different health conditions. If you have bad breath, it could be a sign of an infection, gum disease, tooth decay, or a gastrointestinal problem. If you have persistent bad breath, you should see your doctor to find out the root cause. The most common conditions where halitosis may appear as a symptom include:
Infections of respiratory tract such as lungs, nose, and windpipe.
Bronchitis, sinusitis, or runny nose.
Diabetes.
Disorders of liver, GI tract, or kidneys.
How to Prevent Halitosis?
There are a few simple things you can do to prevent bad breath as follows:
Regular brushing of teeth, gums, floor of mouth, cheeks, and roof of mouth, and flossing using a dental floss at least twice daily can help.
Scraping your tongue with a dental floss can help as most bacteria stick to it that may be responsible for bad breath symptoms.
Use a mouthwash or a mouth rinse to rinse your mouth thoroughly as many times as possible, especially after eating the meals.
If you wear dentures, you must take them out at night to clean the entire mouth thoroughly before you put them back in place. It is better to take advice from a dentist rather than self-treatment with deodorizer, mint sprays, or any OTC tablets.
Avoid smoking and using tobacco products. If you are unable to quit smoking, you can seek medical advice from an expert who can help you with this.
Chew sugar-free gum or mints and drink plenty of water.
Avoid foods that may cause bad breath such as garlic and onions.
Try to increase your chewing habits to produce more saliva. Eating fresh fruits and healthy foods such as apples and carrots that require good effort at chewing will also help increase the flow of saliva to help keep your mouth moist at all times.
Don’t hesitate to talk to your dentist, and if required, make regular visits to his office until the problem is completely resolved.
1Health – A Group of Highly Skilled & Experienced Dentists Who Can Help You Resolve Halitosis!
If you have halitosis that doesn't go away with home treatment, you can talk to our highly qualified, board-certified dental experts at 1 Health for assistance and treatment. He or she can help identify the cause of your bad breath and recommend the best medical treatment and advice after thoroughly evaluating the severity of your symptoms.