11 Common Causes of Bad Breath and Its Treatment

Bad breath is a very distressing condition that affects one in four people. Bad breath is caused by several conditions, some of which aren’t even known by many. If you are suffering from halitosis (bad breath), all you have to do is identify the source of the problem and then get it removed from the roots. Read on to know more.

Causes of Bad Breath

Here are some common, as well as, uncommon factors that may be causing your bad breath:

Improper dental hygiene: The leading cause of bad breath is improper dental hygiene. Improper dental hygiene, which is mainly improper brushing, causes severe bad breath. This is because food debris, bacteria and other bodies stay lodged in the teeth and gums. This causes them to rot and decay, leading to a severe foul smell in the mouth.

Smoking: Smoking is a leading cause of bad breath. This is because tobacco has a distinct foul smell that causes bad breath. This apart, smoking leads to many oral diseases that cause a bad smell in the mouth and the throat as well. 

Food: Certain types of food have very strong odours. These odours linger on in the mouth long after you finish eating. A common example is raw onion. The strong and pungent smell of raw onion lingers in the mouth and doesn’t go even after you brush. So when you are eating such types of food, make sure you clean your mouth thoroughly afterwards to ensure your breath smells good.

Drugs: Many drugs release chemicals that have their own smells and odours. These odours mix with the other persistent odours in your mouth and cause your breath unpleasant. 

Foreign objects: Foreign objects in the mouth, which can range from food lodged between the teeth to braces, can lead to bad breath. If you have braces, aligners or dentures, make sure you clean them very well to avoid a bacteria build-up causing bad breath.

Ailments: Many ailments, such as the flu or the common cold, can cause the bacteria in the nose and throat to build up. Also, thick layers of mucus obstruct the airways and all these factors lead to a very foul-smelling breath.

Fad diets: When you suddenly go on a crash diet, the body starts releasing chemicals such as ketones that have a strong smell of their own, leading to a change in your breath.

Dry mouth: When your mouth dries up, there is a shortage of saliva. Saliva naturally cleanses the mouth and stabilises the odour in the mouth. In the absence of saliva, the breath smells bad.

Constipation: Your breath smells like poop, does it? A reason behind this may be constipation. When your bowels don’t clear out properly and there is a build-up, the breath starts to smell like faeces too.

Ketoacidosis: Ketoacidosis is a condition that affects severely diabetic patients. When there is a sugar imbalance in the body, the body starts breaking down the fats. This leads to a release of more ketones, causing foul breath. If you are diabetic and have bad breath, please rush to your doctor. 

Bronchiectasis: This is a bodily condition in which the airways expand, making more space for a bacteria build-up. This is another reason for bad breath.

As you can see, these are some of the reasons why you can experience types of bad breath smells. Speak to your dentist if you experience halitosis and find a remedy soon.

Treatment for Bad Breath

As stated, bad breath is caused by several factors. Here are some remedies you can follow to get rid of bad breath:

Brush properly: The first and foremost thing to do is brush your teeth properly and regularly. Brush twice a day without fail.

Floss: Floss between your teeth regularly to eliminate any food particle lodged between the teeth that brushing can’t help with.

Prevent dryness: Drink sufficient water or chew on candies to stimulate your mouth to produce more saliva.

Eat well: Eat a well-balanced meal so that there is no increase in the production of ketones in the body.

Keep the tongue clean: And finally, keep your tongue clean so that there is no bacteria build-up. Foul breath mainly happens due to a dirty tongue, so clean it and stay protected.

Follow these simple tips and you may be able to improve your breath.

Conclusion

Bad breath causes a lot of psychological distress. It can also signal towards some underlying health conditions, so take cognizance of it and seek treatment. Thankfully, bad breath can be controlled at home with the easy remedies listed above. Give them a try, and also visit your dentist regularly to ensure your oral hygiene is top-notch at all times.