Bad breath is something most people suffer from at one point in their lives. But some people suffer from chronic bad breath and don’t know how to get rid of it. In this article, you will learn how you can change your bad breath into a good one.
Bad breath or Halitosis
Bad breath can be embarrassing and hard to accept by other people. What is worse it that most people don’t even realize their breath could cause discomfort to the people around them. Psychologists consider that bad breath can ruin a relationship and break a social circle. But if you have bad breath, you don’t have to worry because often it is a condition easy to fix. With an improved oral hygiene and regular dentist visits halitosis can be something of the past.
Bad breath is mostly caused by bacteria that have increased uncontrollably in numbers in your mouth. The bacteria cause inflammation and give off smelly gasses (like sulfur) or odors. Most of the people have bad breath when they get out of the bed in the morning.
If you are not sure if your breath smells, you can get the help of a friend and ask them “does my breath smell?”. Another way of finding out if you have halitosis is to smell your dental floss after you use it.
What causes bad breath?
The sources of bad breath could be different from one person to another. Studies show that 80% of bad breath has its origin in the mouth as a result of gum disease or cavities. Tonsils can also cause halitosis if food particles get trapped. People who wear dentures and do not clean them may also have bad breath.
But bad breath can also be the sign of an internal medical condition, such as liver disease, diabetes, respiratory tract infections, dry mouth and chronic bronchitis. If your breath smells, you can go to a dentist to determine the source.
How to improve your breath?
The best way of getting rid of bad breath is to have a better oral hygiene. Brush your teeth, rinse twice every day, and floss at least once. If you cannot brush your teeth during the day, you can drink a lot of water to clean your mouth from bacteria and food debris.
Avoiding coffee will also help because the smell will be hard to remove from your tongue. A good replacement for coffee is earl gray or green tea. Tobacco can also make your breath smell and could cause cavities where food will get stuck.
Visiting a dentist regularly (twice every year) will help you find the source of your bad breath and fix it. If you have a cavity where food gets stuck, the dentist will treat it with a filling and your bad breath will be gone. If the problem lays somewhere else, your dentist will give you the appropriate treatment.
If you have more questions about bad breath, schedule an appointment with your dentist.