Bad
breath, or halitosis in medical terminology,
is a common problem. Though many people
affected by it may not be aware that they
suffer from bad breath, it is very important
that they discover the problem soon. This
is because bad breath is an "embarrassing"
problem and sooner or later, friends and
acquaintances will shun your company if
you are plagued by the condition.
More
than the problem itself is the worry that
you may have this issue, without friends
and acquaintances to tell you about it.
Therefore, it is common to speculate what
causes bad breath, even if no one has mentioned
the subject of late. It is comparatively
easy to keep the matter under control with
a basic understanding of what causes bad
breath.
What
Causes Bad Breath
If
you are wondering what causes bad breath,
here are some common culprits:
1.
Food-related causes:
Foods
that release strong odors – e.g.,
onion, garlic – can cause bad breath.
Sometimes even brushing and flossing adequately
are not enough to drive away these food
odors as they find their way into the blood
stream after being digested. One quick-fix
solution would be to avoid them, especially
at social gatherings, or have a mouth freshener
containing mint, cardamom, cloves, etc.,
immediately after meals.
2.
Mouth bacteria:
Food
particles get lodged between the teeth after
almost every meal and these stuck food particles
act as a feast for bacteria. These bacteria
sit on the food and let out a stench. The
solution is maintaining a structured and
disciplined oral hygiene schedule that covers
cleaning of the tongue, flossing and brushing
your teeth the right way.
3.
Medical causes:
Certain
medical conditions – e.g., diabetes,
ketosis – can also be a cause of bad
breath. The solution is to see your dentist
first and, if required, your physician.
Eliminating
What Causes Bad Breath
As
bad breath can be caused by a variety of
reasons, one of the best ways to find what
causes bad breath in your case is to consult
a dentist on a regular basis. Blood tests
can also spring a surprise and lay bare
the real cause of your bad breath. You must
understand that bad breath may be a symptom
of something more serious and, therefore,
figuring out the root causes by way of medical
evaluation is always a good idea. However,
you must take adequate precautions to ward
off bad breath – running to the doctor
when the problem strikes isn't a prudent
policy, you need to ensure that your body
is fit and fine and is well-protected against
various conditions, including bad breath.
Under
normal circumstances, good habits and a
structured regimen are considered adequate
to treat bad breath. So, stay away from
tobacco and too much meat, restrict onion–garlic
intake, and regularly brush and floss your
teeth. This may sound like your grandma
talking, but it is good advice.
There
are various OTC (over-the-counter) treatments
available for bad breath. However, the majority
of these have been proven to be ineffectual.
There is one class of products in the market
though – Chlorine Dioxide Mouthwashes
– that are being touted as an innovation,
one which can completely eliminate bad breath.
These mouthwashes claim to kill bad breath
by attacking the sulfur compounds that cause
bad breath, rather than masking these compounds
as conventional mouthwashes do. For all
you know, these claims may be exaggerated
because chlorine dioxide has been used for
years in municipal water supply systems.
Use your own judgment, but there sure is
no harm in trying these out.
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