Bad Breath even after regularly brushing your teeth?
Bad breath is the worst nightmare for a person who sets his foot out of the house. This means for literally everyone. It brings public embarrassment, humiliation, and awkwardness. Nobody would say this on your face but action speaks louder than words. People will become distant from you. Plans will be canceled at the 11th hour! Dreadful…Right?
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What are the reasons for bad breath and how to avoid it once and for all? We will be discussing exactly that.
What Is Bad Breath?
The medical term for bad breath is ‘Halitosis’ or ‘Fetor oris’. Evidently, one out of four people has bad breath. It has a very common occurrence. Research has shown that 50% of adults have it.
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It is caused by many factors: Both internal as well as external. Some people have little to no bad breath still worry a lot about it. Then, there are people who are unaware of their bad breath, but the world around them knows and is sadly a victim to it.
Instant Self-Test For Bad Breath
Do not make others suffer with it unknowingly and have an instant self-test for bad breath.
- Lick the back of the hand or wrist.
- Let it dry for 10 to 15 seconds.
- Smell it. If you get disgusted by the odor then you have a bad breath.
Read further to know what are the reasons for bad breath and how to avoid them.
Symptoms For Bad Breath
- Dry mouth
- Plaque
- Post-nasal drip
- Bad morning breath
- A constant need to clear the throat
- The tongue covered with a white coat
- A persistent bad taste in the mouth
Top 5 Reasons For Bad Breath
There are plenty of reasons for bad breath. Find out what would be your natural trigger.
1. Poor Dental Hygiene
No donuts for you, if you are having a bad breath but do not take proper care of your teeth.
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There is a reason why the dental aisle in the supermarket is loaded with different flavored tubes of toothpaste, state-of-the-art toothbrushes, dental floss, and mouthwashes.
When you do not brush, floss, and clean your teeth or dentures after every meal and especially after something gets stuck in your teeth (like a piece of meat…eww) , it leads to the growth of odor-causing bacteria. That form a transparent sticky film called Plaque.
The tongue also gets lined with a smelly white-colored layer of bacteria contributing to a bad breath.
2. Choice of Food
Other than not properly cleaning the food stuck in your mouth and teeth, your choice of food also contributes greatly to bad breath.
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Top Food that causes Bad Breath includes:
- Garlic
- Onion
- Horseradish
- Certain Spices
- Dairy
- Canned Tuna
Garlic and onion also contribute to bad body odor other than bad breath. As they get excreted out of the body through the skin and also return back to the bloodstream and get exhaled through the mouth. They can manage to do all this because of the presence of sulfur-containing compounds in them.
3. Tobacco use
Oral tobacco and smoking not only kill but also contribute to bad breath and gingivitis (inflammation of the gums). It also gives you stained teeth that is a major blow to your personality.
Nicotine and tar result in disturbing the natural oral flora. The bacteria in a smoker’s mouth start producing ‘Volatile Sulfur Compounds’ (VSCs). Sulfur has a distinctive ‘rotten egg’ smell. Do you want it to come out of your mouth?
4. Dry Mouth
Saliva is a natural mouth cleanser. There are a few factors that lead to less saliva production resulting in a dry mouth. It is a medical condition called ‘Xerostomia’.
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If you have a chronic blocked nose or sinusitis then you may wake up feeling very thirsty and having an awful morning breath.
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A number of factors lead to dry mouth including:
- Mouth infections
- Nose infections
- Throat infections
- Chronic inflammations
- Medications
5. Chronic Acid Reflux
Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) or Chronic acid reflux produce chemicals that cause bad breath.
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Certain chemicals are also released during cancer that lead to halitosis.
10 Natural Home Remedies For Bad Breath
1. Food choices
Limit taking garlic, onion, tuna, certain spices, and horseradish in your food. Always brush your teeth or use a mouthwash after having the food that contains it.
2. Brush your teeth and tongue regularly
Every time you eat food especially sticky ones then brush your teeth and tongue using anti-bacterial fluoride toothpaste.
3. Use saltwater gargles
Clean and disinfect your mouth with lukewarm saltwater gargles. This will help to kill the odor-causing bacteria.
4. Floss it off
If some food particle gets stuck in your tooth then floss it right away. Otherwise, make it a nighttime ritual to use a string of dental floss before going to bed.
5. Replace your toothbrush
Toothbrushes become a breeding ground for smell-releasing bacteria so it is better to get them replaced after every 3 months.
6. Choice of toothbrush
It really matters what kind of toothbrush you are using. Always opt for one with a soft or medium type of bristles. As hard ones will damage your gums on which the microbes will flourish leading to bad breath.
7. Get regular dental checkups
For a nice-smelling breath, schedule dental checkups twice a year. We know that you dread it but it will bring you out of social awkwardness.
8. Regularly clean and disinfect your dental accessories
If you use- a denture, braces, or a mouth guard then clean and disinfect with your dentist’s recommended cleaner on a daily basis.
9. Avoid dry mouth
Try to avoid having a dry mouth. Limit your use of caffeinated drinks, alcohol, and soft drinks as they are one of the major reasons of a dry mouth. Have sugar-free gums and candies as they facilitate saliva secretion.
10. Use mouth fresheners
There a plenty of choices of mouth fresheners available in the market. Choose sugar-free gums and candies. You can also use natural mouth fresheners like mint, parsley, and fennel seeds.
For chronic dry mouth, consult your dentist or physician.
If your mouth keeps smelling even after doing all the home remedies and having a lifestyle change then go get yourself checked by a doctor to reach the underlying cause.