Bad Breath – Get it Cured At the Earliest

Bad breath is also called halitosis and it is the unpleasant odor of mouth. It can occur every now and then or can last significantly long, based on the cause. There are millions of bacteria in our oral cavity, especially on the rear side of the tongue. The moist and warm conditions in mouth are perfect for their growth. Several people get bad breath due to them. Bad breath differs in terms of seriousness, e.g. some of them like morning mouth which occurs due to the changes in your mouth while you are asleep, are not serious health concerns. There are also some other types which can be cured by dental treatment or other procedure. Take a look at dental surgery in London for more information.

Causes of Bad Breath

Poor Oral Hygiene: Improper or infrequent brushing and flossing leaves pieces of food stuck to teeth and decay in the mouth. Poor dental hygiene consequently leads to gum (periodontal) disease which may give rise to bad breath.

Oral Infections: Oral infections can arise due to tooth cavity or gum disease.

Dry Mouth: This is also called xerostomia and can occur due to problems in salivary glands, “mouth breathing” or medicines. Many types of over-the-counter and prescription medicines give rise to dry mouth.

RTI: Respiratory Tract Infections like infections of sinus, throat or lung can lead to bad breath.

External Factor: Onions, garlic, cigarette smoking, coffee, tobacco etc can give rise to bad breath.

Physical Illness: Liver disease, diabetes, lung disease, kidney disease, reflux disease, sinus disease etc.

Mental Illness: This is also known as pseudohalitosis. In this, people think that they have bad breath, but others can’t notice it.

Prevention of Bad Breath

• When bad breath is caused by dental problems it can be easily prevented by taking proper home and in-office care.
• After every meal, make a routine to brush teeth, gums and tongue. Floss daily. These two actions are most necessary when your bad breath is due to dental problems.
• If recommended by your dentist, a mouthwash recommended by a reputed organization or government health authority can be used to rinse mouth.
• Visit your dentist at least twice a year for tooth cleaning and checking if there is any problem.
• Drinking ample water every day is also an effective solution for bad breath, because it helps your body in making enough saliva which washes away dirt in mouth. An infrequent swish of oral cavity with water can slacken the food particles.
• You can also use sugar-free breath mints or gum to keep your breath fresh and prevent plaque. However using them in excess amount can cause side effects like bloating and diarrhea because they contain sorbitol.

So, if you have a bad breath, meet your dentist at the earliest and get it cured with the help of professional advice.