Bad Breath
Bad breath, medically called halitosis, is an unpleasant odor of the breath, so it can have a significant impact on a person’s social and professional life. The most effective treatment is to treat the cause. Usually it can result from poor hygiene, when dentures are not properly cleaned, but it can be a sign of different health problems such as sores in the mouth, infected tonsils, indigestion, lung infection, kidney failure, tuberculosis, syphilis, liver disease, stomach and intestinal problems, stress, dehydration, zinc deficiency, and cancer. In addition, many other diseases and illnesses may cause bad breath. For example, persistent bad breath or a bad taste in your mouth may be also warning signs of gum periodontal disease.
However, in most cases, bad breath is caused by certain foods you eat and in general unhealthy lifestyle habits. In fact, millions of bacteria live in the mouth, particularly on the back of the tongue. So, if you don’t brush and floss your teeth daily, food particles can remain in your mouth, which promotes bacteria growth between teeth, around the gums, and on the tongue.
As foods are digested and absorbed into your bloodstream, they are eventually carried to your lungs and given off in your breath. Therefore, it is very important what types of food you eat. A diet high in fats, spicy foods, or one that includes coffee can lead to unpleasant breath odors. But there are good products such as fresh apples, citrus fruits, and celery that can help in cleaning out the mouth. Supplementing with zinc and vitamin C may be also beneficial.
There are of course effective treatments for bad breath, and they are usually very simple, if only the person who suffers from it understands the fundamental causes of his of her breath malodor. For instance, smoking can also contribute to bad smell from the mouth, so it must be the first thing to be excluded of your life, if you wish to have a fresh breath.
However, in many cases, you can get rid of bad breath with proper dental hygiene. But, in case simple self-care techniques don’t solve the problem, it is recommended to see your dentist to find out a more serious condition isn’t causing your bad breath. Thus, a physical examination by a doctor or dentist may be used to diagnose other problems that may be causing bad smell from the mouth.
