Bad Breath Causes

Bad breath, which is also known as halitosis, is a very common problem affecting a wide range of people. In most cases, we tend to ignore it because it does not have an immediate serious consequence. However, bad breath can give rise to a lot of social awkwardness and can gradually lower the confidence level of a person. Therefore, it is important that bad breath problem is remedied at the earliest.

There can be several causes for bad breath, some of which are mentioned below.

• Poor Oral Hygiene: This is the most common reason for bad breath. Lack of proper oral hygiene can lead to deposition of residual decomposed food particles in the mouth. The decomposed food matter in turn can feed the bacteria and help them to thrive. The decomposed food particles and the high population of bacteria, both, are largely responsible for bad breath.

• Dry Mouth: Bad breath can also be caused when you have a dry mouth. It can either happen due to dehydration or due to the dysfunction of salivary glands.

• Diet: A lot of times the food we frequently eat can also have an impact on the smell of our mouth. Usually, high protein or high fat foods like cheese and dairy products and foods containing volatile oils like ginger and garlic can give rise to a strong foul smell in the mouth.
• Other diseases: A foul smell in the mouth can also indicate that there are some underlying diseases in the body that need to be remedied.

Any remedial treatment must first start with a proper oral hygiene routine. You should brush your teeth twice a day after meals and floss regularly, so that food particles do not remain in your mouth after meals. For the same reason, you should also clean your tongue every day. You should use a proper tongue cleaner or even the toothbrush to scrap the tongue clean. You can also try gargling with warm saline water to minimize your bad breath problems. Baking soda, clove oil, apple cider vinegar, and diluted hydrogen peroxide solution too can also be used in the gargling water for better effect. A regular visit to the dentist is also recommended as a part of oral health maintenance. A lot of troubles can be avoided if you have a periodic dental check up.

If your bad breath is the result of a dry mouth, you should ensure that you drink up enough water in a day to avoid dehydration of the body. However, if there is some problem with the functioning of the salivary glands, you may have to seek help from a doctor.

A proper diet is important for remedying bad breath as well. Eat fresh and healthy foods, but do avoid foods that contain plenty of garlic and cheese as they leave a lingering odor.