Bad breath (halitosis) can be embarrassing and can cause anxiety. No wonder the shops are filled with chewing gum, mints, mouthwash and other products designed to combat this disease. But many of these products are only temporary measures.
Certain foods, health conditions and habits are a cause of bad breath. In many cases, you can improve bad breath with proper dental hygiene. If simple self-care techniques do not solve the problem, you may want to see your dentist or doctor to make a more serious condition is causing your bad breath.
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Causes of Bad Breath
1. Poor dental hygiene (gum disease)
2. Snuff products
3. Certain foods (garlic, onion, meat, fish and cheese)
4. Fasting
5. Coffee – that can worsen the situation
6. Medical disorder
7. Respiratory tract infection
8. Sinus infection
9. After nasal drip
10. Chronic bronchitis
11. Diabetes
Stinky food
If you smell them in, most likely going to stink out. The obvious offenders are onions, garlic, alcohol and snuff. And the food does not only create an odor in the mouth.
Disease
Sometimes bad breath can be a sign of more serious disease. The most common systemic cause of bad breath are diabetes or GERD.
Symptoms of Bad Breath
1. Movie yellow or white on the tongue – this is very bad breath symptoms common among those suffering from halitosis. Once removed, however, does not guarantee that the bacteria is gone completely. The reason is that these bacteria are found throughout the mouth and tongue. Usually, people with mucous membranes (nasal) problems have ups fast construction of these films. It is recommended to consult a doctor as soon as possible to avoid further problems.
2. Dry mouth – also known as xerostomia. It is a known cause of bad breath too. When a person has dry mouth, bacteria tend to focus more on the saliva, which then evaporates easily in air. The smell gets stronger and more offensive. Due to less saliva, your (saliva) cleaning effect decreases resulting in the accumulation of more cellular debris and bacteria in the oral cavity. Known causes of dry mouth include aging, inadequate intake of liquids, mouthwash and other alcohol-based medications.
The Treatment for Bad Breath
1. Oral Hygiene
2. The root cause of the disease
3. The severity of the disorder
A periodontal cleaning often helps to remove bacteria and plaque that builds up and causes the recession of the gums. Regular dental care such as brushing, flossing and mouth laundering bacteria may recommended by the dentist to control bacterial growth thereby preventing halitosis.
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Home Remedies for Bad Breath
1. Brush with baking soda to reduce acidity in the mouth and make it difficult for bacteria to grow
2. Brush and rinse with hydrogen peroxide when you have upper respiratory infections, but do not swallow
3. Gargle with salt water to reduce bacteria in the mouth
4. Avoid eating carbohydrates and refined sugars such as
cookies, candy, cakes, soft drinks, ice cream and syrups
5. Drink plenty of water (6-8 glasses) per day
6. Eat avocado to eliminate intestinal decomposition that leads to bad breath
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Read more on and Remedies for Bad Breath and Bad Breath Causes
Bad breath, also known as halitosis. Bad Breath is usually caused by the breakdown of proteins by bacteria somewhere in the mouth. Certain foods, such as garlic and onions, contribute to objectionable breath odor. Bad breath can also be caused by dry mouth (xerostomia), which occurs when the flow of saliva decreases. Saliva is necessary to cleanse the mouth and remove particles that may cause odor. Dry mouth may be caused by various medications, salivary gland problems or continuously breathing through the mouth. In many people, the millions of bacteria that live in the mouth (particularly on the back of the tongue) are the primary causes of bad breath. The mouth’s warm, moist conditions make an ideal environment for these bacteria to grow. Most bad breath is caused by something in the mouth. Particles of food remain in the mouth, collecting bacteria, which can cause bad breath. Canker sores may be related to bad breath, especially if they accompany periodontal disease.
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Food that collects between the teeth, on the tongue and around the gums can rot, leaving an unpleasant odor. Poor oral hygiene leads to bad breath because when you leave food particles in your mouth, these pieces of food can rot and start to smell. Tobacco products cause bad breath. Bad breath may be the sign of a medical disorder, such as a local infection in the respiratory tract, chronic sinusitis, postnasal drip, chronic bronchitis, diabetes, gastrointestinal disturbance, liver or kidney ailment. Bad breath is usually caused by the bacteria that live in a person’s mouth. Severe dieting-Dieters may develop unpleasant “fruity” breath from ketoacidosis, the breakdown of chemicals during fasting. Bad breath is also associated with sinus infections because nasal discharge from your sinuses into the back of your throat can cause mouth odor.
Strep throat, tonsillitis and mononucleosis can cause bad breath until the throat infection clears. A person may not always know that he or she has bad breath. This phenomenon is because odor-detecting cells in the nose eventually become accustomed to the constant flow of bad smells from the mouth. Dry mouth — Difficulty swallowing dry foods, difficulty speaking for a prolonged period because of mouth dryness, a burning sensation in the mouth, an unusually high number of dental caries, dry eyes. Infections in the mouth — Gums may be red, swollen and bleed easily, especially after brushing or flossing; pus may drain from between teeth; a pocket of pus at the base of a tooth; loose teeth or a change in “fit” of a denture; painful, open sores on the tongue or gums. Systemic (bodywide) illnesses — Symptoms of diabetes, lung disease, kidney failure or liver disease.
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Bad Breath Treatment Tips
1. Use a fairly new toothbrush. Change your toothbrush every three to four months, and choose a soft-bristled toothbrush.
2. Avoid coffee, soft drinks or alcohol and cigrette.
3. Oral infections must be eliminated or impacted teeth may need to be removed.
4. Good oral hygiene must be stressed, including cleaning the teeth and tongue.
5. Drink plenty of water.
6. Clean your mouth after eating dairy products, fish and meat.
7. Chew sugar-free gum, especially if your mouth feels dry.
8. Eat fresh food and fibrous vegetables
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Juliet Cohen writes articles for and beauty tips. She also writes articles on makeup tips.
Halitosis is most often caused by the breakdown of food particles by bacteria that inhabit our mouths. These bacteria are often found under plaque, in the spaces between teeth and gums and in the deeper crevices on your tongue.
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As the bacteria feed on food debris, they produce a byproduct called volatile sulfur compounds, which includes gases such as hydrogen sulfide which often smells like rotten eggs. Bad breath is also associated with periodontal disease.
Pockets are formed in the gums around teeth, and these begin to widen, and break down adjacent gum tissue. The deeper pockets get, the more they capture food, and provide even more places for bacteria to hide. This becomes a vicious cycle as the bacteria grow in ever-increasing pockets, which then produce more and more VSC.
Role of the dentists and other health professionals
Dentists and other health professionals use gas measurement devices called heliometers to determine the quantities of these gases, and to determine where they are coming from.
With a combination of professional dental help and special hygiene routines, most cases of halitosis can be successfully treated. After ruling out the mouth, the tongue and infected teeth, the next area to investigate is the nose and the nasal passages.
If a person is suffering from sinusitis or another bacterial infection, a blockage of the airway or dry nasal mucous it can lead to bad breath. To discern whether the odor is coming from the mouth or the nose will take the efforts of a dentist or a very good friend.
Important habits to be developed for having a good breath
If the patient breathes our through their nose and the odor is similar to that exiting the mouth, the nose is most likely the culprit. In this case an ear, nose and throat doctor should be contacted for further investigation of the problem.
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A child may have a foreign object lodged in the nasal passages and that can result in a very bad odor. A dry mouth which can be caused by medications or stress can cause bad breath. If this is the cause some chewing gum to get the juices flowing again should remedy the situation.
Flossing is a very important habit to develop. It has been shown that people who make a habit of flossing have cleaner, more pleasant smelling mouths. The floss removes the buildup of bacteria from between the teeth. A Bacterium is lodged in the mouth are a very common source of mouth odor.
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There are certain types of foods that you consume that can be a culprit to bad breath. Food that is high in fat, meats, foods loaded with sugar, specialty spices and dairy products. Foods that contain acid produce bacteria in your mouth.
When you eat foods with a lot of fat and protein, they may not digest in your system properly. People that have difficulty digesting meat and dairy products can end up with bad breath.
Here are some suggestions regarding foods when it comes to bad breath:
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• Make sure to include fruits and vegetables that are rich with antioxidants. This would include leafy greens, berries, broccoli and cabbage. These foods help to keep you healthy and to keep bad breath from occurring.
• You can also eat yogurt that is sugar-free and has a live culture. This helps to keep away bacteria that are responsible for causing halitosis.
• Foods that are loaded with sugar pose a problem because the sugar affects the back of the throat.
• In addition to onions and garlic, spices such as curry can cause people to have bad breath. As you digest them, some of the elements flow through your bloodstream and to the lungs. The odor can be emitted for about 24 hours.
• Coffee and some teas can also be culprits of bad breath. Both have plenty of acid in them. Try not to drink so much of these beverages.
Drinking black tea has elements that keep bacteria away. Other teas that can help to prevent bad breath are green tea and peppermint tea. Tea can also get rid of bad breath that is caused by mucus. You only have to drink one cup per day for the odor to gradually dissipate.
Vitamins and Supplements
• If you’re not consuming enough zinc, then you could possibly have bad breath. If you are deficient, you need to take no less than 60 mg a day. Be careful about taking too much of this as zinc can interfere with copper.
• The lack of Vitamin B can also be a cause of bad breath. You may want to take some niacinimide, a B complex tablet and Vitamin B6 one time a day.
• If you consume no more than 6,000 mg of Vitamin C, you will remove the mucus and toxins that have built up in your body. The mucus and toxins that are stored up in your body can be a cause of bad breath.
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Digestive System
Your digestive system can also be a cause of bad breath. You will need to improve it by watching what you eat. What you eat is crucial because it will determine whether or not it will help to eliminate bad breath. Here are some things that you can do to keep your digestive system in tact:
• Have a high-fiber diet that includes whole grains, along with fresh fruits and vegetables. These foods usually digest better than those that are not high in fiber.
• If you don’t have enough enzymes to digest properly, you need to take no more than four tablets of enzymes for each major meal.
• You may not have enough hydrochloric acid. To get more in your system, you can use apple cider vinegar. Take one tablespoon before you eat a major meal. You can also use betaine or pepsin tablets before you eat in order to help your digestive system to work.
• You can also get bad breath from lack of regular bowel movements (constipation). You need to drink at least eight glasses of water (eight ounces) every day.
This article is for information purposes only and does not intend to provide advice in regards to any health condition, including bad breath. If you have or think you might have a health problem, contact your doctor or dentist immediately for advice, diagnosis and treatment. The USFDA has not evaluated statements about any products, vitamins or supplements mentioned in this article.
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Bad breath problems, need help?
I have bad breath,even though i regularly brush my teeth(and somtimes mouthwash), but after, about 10-20 mins, my breath becomes bad again. I feel it may be a nasal drip, since there is occasionally mucus that falls from my nose to my throught, but im not sure.
can anyone help me diagnose(and treat)were my bad breath comes from?
i do get white balls that apear out of my throat, so i might have tonsilitis. im not sure how seriouse that is, so im gonna search it up, and maybe see a doctor.Thnx
PS: I will NOT take up smoking!
you might have tonsillitis. do you get little white/yellow lumps? As we eat and swallow, tiny little food particles can get trapped in the back of the tonsils, and lodge in an area called the tonsil crypts. In addition, things like mucous drip into the back of the throat, and also get trapped in the crypts.
if not try to chew gum on a regular basis or take up smoking it will mask the smell
Bad breath (halitosis) is a common for many people and can be rather embarrassing. Bad breath can be a big turn off for those around you and if it is a condition that you suffer from long term you may notice that people may stand back from you when talking to you.
There are many causes of bad breath with some being chronic conditions and others being short term causes. In this article we will discuss the causes of bad breath as well as the cures.
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Causes of Bad Breath
One of the very common but reasonably short term causes of bad breath is eating foods that cause bad breath with the main food being garlic. Garlic will even carry on causing bad breath for a while even after there is no trace of the garlic left in the mouth. This is because the active ingredients are absorbed into the blood stream and are then expelled by the lungs as you breathe.
Brushing and flossing do get rid part of the smell but as long as the odour continues to be expelled as you breathe there will still be a certain amount of bad breath. The good thing with garlic breath is that it will fade of and your breath will return to normal usually within a few hours.
Smoking is another substance that will cause bad breath by both the taste left in the mouth as well as the expelled odour from the lungs. Smoking also affects oral hygiene and encourages gum disease which can also be a big contributing factor to bad breath. The obvious and only way to stop bad breath caused by smoking is to give up smoking.
The most common cause of chronic bad breath is usually plaque build up which can cause small pockets to appear between the teeth and gums. These pockets then fill up with food particles and bacteria. Normal brushing and even flossing will not be able to clean these pockets completely and it needs to be done by a dental hygienist.
One of the main causes of bad breath is dry mouth. Dry mouth can be caused by allergies and can also be caused by some medications such as asthma and bronchitis inhalers. These medications can have an impact on your saliva production and actually a reduction in the amount saliva produced. This causes your mouth to become dry and as a result there is less oxygen present which makes ideal conditions for bacteria to thrive. The build up of bacteria in the mouth and on the tongue is what causes the bad breath.
Another cause of bad breath is post-nasal drip which can be as a result of an allergy. Post-nasal drip is caused by excessive mucus being produced by the sinuses which is a common reaction to allergy. This mucus is the perfect breeding ground for bacteria growth and the bacteria will feed off this condition which will result in bad breath. This cause will usually be accompanied by a bad taste in your mouth.
The final cause of bad breath is a possible allergy to certain foods. Food intolerance can have many different symptoms and one common symptom is the production of excess gas in the stomach. This gas can often reflux back up and settle in the mouth causing bad breath.
In some cases bad breath can be caused by a more serious underlying condition so if the usual bad breath remedies do not get rid of the problem then you may need to visit your doctor.
Cures for Bad Breath
There are many cures and remedies for bad breath but to get the best result it is best to try and identify the cause of the bad breath. By attacking the cause will give you the best results.
Here are some cures that you can try for bad breath:
The crucial point is to ensure that you practice sound oral hygiene. Brush your teeth and tongue twice a day and floss once a day. Research has shown that people that floss do have better breath than people who do not floss. Flossing will help to remove trapped food particles and prevent them from becoming a breeding ground for bacteria.
If you have dry mouth you may be able to get an artificial saliva substitute from your dentist. If you have an allergy that is causing your dry mouth then it would pay to try to identify your allergen and work on avoiding that allergen.
Visit a dental hygienist regularly for a professional clean. You should have this done every six months to make sure of no plaque build up between teeth.
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Minimize the food supply for bacteria. The anaerobic bacteria that cause bad breath feed on protein rich foods. Vegetarians who eat less protein foods have much less problems with bad breath.
Using mouthwashes too often can not always be that good for you as they contain chemicals, however you can use a mouthwash of baking soda dissolved in water daily without any risk. This is a natural remedy and is very safe to use daily and can help to keep the tongue clean and free from bacteria. Squeezed lemon into water can also be used daily as a gargle and will prevent bad breath from reoccurring.
Taking yoghurt regularly can eliminate your bad breath and prevent it reoccurring. Yoghurt contains good bacteria and has a very good overall benefit for your health.
Foods rich in zinc can also help to keep bacteria under control and prevent bad breath.
All of these remedies are very good so if you have no luck with them there could be another cause that you will need to see your doctor to get diagnosed so that you can take the necessary steps to heal yourself and heal your bad breath.
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If you want to know how to stop bad breath once and for all, it could be as simple as finding out what’s causing it… and then eliminating the cause. I’m sure you are well aware that there are several treatment options on the market. While not all of these will work for all people, many of them are certainly based on sound science. This article will address the root causes of bad breath, as well as some treatment options which have been proven effective time and time again.
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Naturally, the first thing we want to look at is the root cause of bad breath, which is a combination of germs and decay. These twin forces can either be a result of the foods you consume, the condition of your bodily tissues (including your teeth), or your body’s own levels of acidity. Let’s take a look at all three of these individually.
1. The foods we choose to consume have a direct impact on the way our breath smells. The more meat we consume, for example, the higher our chances of developing chronic halitosis (constant and potent foul breath) will become. That’s because as the flesh of a dead animal begins to rot between your teeth or in your upper digestive system and truly smells like death. These proteins also have a tendency to leave rotten residues in our mouths and on our tongues.
2. If we don’t put a sufficient focus on our own oral health, foul odor may be the least of our worries, but it will be a certainty all the same. Tooth rot, deep cavities, and even throat and/or tonsil conditions left untreated can harbor some absolutely rancid smelling germs. The longer these conditions go untreated, the worse your breath will become and the more difficult an easy solution will be to come by.
3. Excess acidity in the blood is truly the root cause of over 85% of all health problems. Acid eats through teeth, damages body tissues, and keeps the body in a state of slow repair and overall stench. An over-acidic body can lead to rashes, cavities, canker sores, intense body odor, and absolutely vile mouth odor.
How to Stop Bad Breath – Reverse Engineering Your Way to Freshness:
To combat bad breath, simply combat these three primary causes.
* Eat more fresh, raw fruits and vegetables. The fiber and high water content will keep you alkaline (the opposite of acidic) and will help prevent things from becoming “stuck” and rotten. These foods will also keep your mouth from drying out, which is another big reason for the development of bad breath.
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* Clean your mouth. Brush extensively. 30 seconds may not be sufficient. You need to floss – I can’t stress this enough. Flossing removes rotting food and gunk from between your teeth. If left unflossed, this crap will stink to high heaven and can really ruin your social life! In addition, be sure to brush and scrape your tongue… as far back as you can go. Antiseptic mouthwash is also a must.
* Sugar-free gum is your friend. A nice, potent gum will not only keep your breath fresh and pleasant, but will keep your mouth salivated which in turn prevents materials in your mouth from just sitting around and decaying.
This is how to stop bad breath by reverse engineering common causes of foul mouth odor. Do these things and I have no doubts that your condition will improve.
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Oral fresheners make a lot of good sense. There may be an especially pungent item in the food you eat outside of your home or it could be that you have a soft spot for garlic or onions. It is difficult for family members and friends to work up the courage to inform you that you could be suffering from halitosis but a dentist would have no qualms in doing so. Oral fresheners bought off the shelf without a prescription is not a remedy anyway. Short-term relief is just not enough if the affliction recurs frequently or appears to be unrelated to eating habits.
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Any dentist would need to thoroughly examine the internal surfaces of your mouth, in order to find out if you have halitosis, ahead of deciding on a set of treatments to deal with your specific problem. At times, drinking more water or just chewing gum could be enough to do away with the dry mouth problem which concentrates the foul smelling substances while breathing out. Although it is mostly children culpable of unacceptable brushing habits, at times, adults may be careless as well. Regular scraping of the tongue and removing particles of food stuck in between the teeth are some habits which can greatly reduce the occurrence of bad breath. A dentist is capable of removing plaque built up over time, cure gum diseases, and recommend antibiotics to treat bad breath.
Treating bad Breath beyond Your Mouth
Dentists can’t treat all halitosis cases by themselves. Disease of the gums may be very entrenched and could require the attention of a specialist. But not all instances of bad breath have their genesis in the mouth. A dentist could send a patient suffering from halitosis to a doctor to help in curing a general cause. Ketones are odorous compounds, which are usually excreted in perspiration, urine and in the exhaled breath too. If a person suffers from diabetes, has not been eating, or if his carbohydrate intake is inadequate, the level of ketones in the blood builds up. As ketosis can be fatal, halitosis could be an indicator of a much more serious medical condition. This is why all cases of chronic bad breath require medical attention.
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Thankfully, treatment of bad breath is relatively simple once the basic origin has been identified. But it may re-occur if the patient refuses to follow the recommendations or change his personal habits which caused the problem in the first place. As bad breath can strike at anytime, being cured of it once doesn’t mean that it will never recur again. It is ideal to have a family member or a close friend to check regularly and never miss an appointment with your dentist.
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Abhishek is an Oral Hygiene expert and he has got some great up his sleeves! Download his FREE 58 Pages Ebook, “How To Win Your War Against Bad Breath” from his website . Only limited Free Copies available.
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