Bad breath or Halitosis is a common issue faced by many people. It can be temporary or chronic. Bad breath is usually caused by bad oral hygiene, diet or underlying health conditions. Temporary bad breath may arise from eating strongly flavoured foods with volatile compounds like onion and garlic. Persistent bad breath could indicate more serious underlying health issues like, gum disease, ENT infections or digestive disorders. Habits like smoking and crash dieting can also cause bad breath. To address chronic bad breath, you need to arrive at the root cause and choose the appropriate treatment. It is also important to maintain a rigorous oral hygiene routine that includes brushing, flossing and rinsing with mouthwash twice a day. Bad breath can be prevented by staying hydrated, gargling mouthwash or salt solution, using breath fresheners and consuming natural remedies like clove, cinnamon and ginger. Avoid substances that induce dry mouth like smoking, alcohol and coffee.
Unpleasant odour/foul smell emanating from the oral cavity is bad breath. Everyone has bad breath sometimes – especially after eating raw garlic, onions or other strongly scented foods. However, if you find yourself having bad breath often, it’s a problem that needs to be addressed. Medically, bad breath is referred to as Halitosis. Halitosis is often a sign of poor oral hygiene, poor diet or underlying health conditions. A good test is to ask a family member or close friend to do a quick breath check and give you their honest feedback.
Halitosis could be a symptom of many different illnesses. Further investigation is needed to find the root cause. This is the only way to permanently get rid of bad breath. Let us explore what the possible causes of bad breath could be:
Poor oral hygiene – Not brushing your teeth enough could cause a foul odour. This is because the food particles leftover in your teeth begin to break down and lead to excessive bacterial growth. A sticky white layer of plaque forms on the teeth. This causes a strong odour. It is recommended that you focus on cleaning your tongue and gums too when you brush your teeth.
Tobacco products – Smoking causes dry mouth and increases your chances of developing gum diseases. Saliva helps wash your mouth, so when the mouth is dry it can lead to halitosis.
Gum disease – Gingivitis is a condition that causes inflammation of the gums. Untreated gingivitis can cause periodontitis that damages gum tissue and affects the teeth and bones. One of the symptoms of gingivitis is bad breath.
Constant dry mouth – A lack of saliva can cause bad breath. The salivary glands may be producing less saliva due to stress, alcohol consumption, smoking or some other underlying medical condition. Drinking coffee also exacerbates dry mouth and causes halitosis.
Medication – Some prescription medications cause dry mouth, as a side-effect. This can lead to bad breath. The medicines may also release smelly compounds when digested, which cause the bad breath.
Other Mouth, Nose and Throat disorders – Bad breath could be caused by a host of other illnesses like tonsillitis, throat infections, oral or oropharyngeal cancer etc.
Digestive disorders – Digestive problems like GERD can also cause bad breath. When stomach acid regurgitates into the oesophagus, it causes a bad smell that comes out while you exhale.
Junk diets – Fasting and low carbohydrate consumption can sometimes cause bad breath. This is because fats are being broken down into ketones in the body, and they have an unpleasant smell.
Persistent bad breath carries a lot of social stigma and can be frustrating to live with. If you have chronic halitosis, you need to start with a more rigorous oral hygiene routine. Incorporate flossing and mouthwash into your morning and night-time brushing routine. It is also recommended that you first consult a dentist. The dentist can help diagnose oral problems like gum disease etc. A full dental cleaning could be beneficial.
The treatment for Halitosis is according to its identified root cause. There is no single magic cure. Chewing gum and breath mints are useful temporary solutions for emergencies, but it is advisable to investigate and find the underlying cause. If poor oral hygiene is the cause, the patient may be recommended a thorough dental cleaning and improved oral hygiene practices. Drinking plenty of water will also help. However, if the bad breath is caused by a condition elsewhere in the body, it will need to be treated accordingly. Your dentist may refer you to a general physician to investigate this further. You could also consult your family doctor about this.
Here are some helpful tips to prevent harmless bad breath caused by eating strong-smelling foods (the kind that isn’t chronic):
Have a regular oral hygiene routine – You need to brush once in the morning and once before bed. Try an interdental brush/floss which gets in between the teeth and dislodges any food particles which are stuck there. Use a gentle brushing technique, to avoid damaging your enamel. When you brush, get into the habit of cleaning your tongue.
Drink water – This is a basic step that is often forgotten. Drinking water helps wash out strong volatile compounds in the mouth and reduces bad breath. Always keep your mouth hydrated.
Avoid alcohol, coffee and other dehydrating drinks – It is best to avoid anything that gives you a dry mouth. This includes smoking.
Spices to cover bad breath – If you have bad breath, you can chew on a piece of clove, cinnamon, ginger or fennel seeds. These will release their essential oils eliminating bad breath. They also help prevent the growth of bacteria in your mouth. This helps to mask bad breath.
Natural yoghurt – Natural yoghurt has lactic acid bacteria which prevent the spread of the bacteria that causes Halitosis.
Dentist visit – Visiting your dentist every six months is essential for preventing dental issues, ensuring early detection of problems, and maintaining overall oral health. Regular check-ups and cleanings help save time and money by addressing concerns before they escalate.
At Kauvery Hospital, your health is our priority. With branches in Chennai, Hosur, Salem, Tirunelveli, and Trichy, we are conveniently located to serve you. As a comprehensive healthcare provider, we’re dedicated to providing the best care and treatment for a variety of concerns, including helping manage and treat halitosis for a fresh start to your oral health. Visit a Kauvery Hospital today and experience healthcare at its finest.
Kauvery Hospital is globally known for its multidisciplinary services at all its Centers of Excellence, and for its comprehensive, Avant-Grade technology, especially in diagnostics and remedial care in heart diseases, transplantation, vascular and neurosciences medicine. Located in the heart of Trichy (Tennur, Royal Road and Alexandria Road (Cantonment), Chennai (Alwarpet & Vadapalani), Hosur, Salem, Tirunelveli and Bengaluru, the hospital also renders adult and pediatric trauma care.
Chennai Alwarpet – 044 4000 6000 • Chennai Vadapalani – 044 4000 6000 • Trichy – Cantonment – 0431 4077777 • Trichy – Heartcity – 0431 4003500 • Trichy – Tennur – 0431 4022555 • Hosur – 04344 272727 • Salem – 0427 2677777 • Tirunelveli – 0462 4006000 • Bengaluru – 080 6801 6801
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