People often feel embarrassed when they have bad breath, which is called halitosis. A lot of people think that the only thing that causes bad breath is what they eat, but the truth is that there are many more things that can cause it.
If people understand the science behind bad breath, they can take effective steps to get better oral health and cleaner breath. Talk to a family dentist in Monterey Park, CA, for professional help with bad breath.
The role of bacteria.
Bad breath is caused by a group of germs that live and grow in the mouth. There are germs that are always breaking down food and get stuck between teeth, along the gum line, and on the tongue.
They make volatile sulfur compounds (VSCs) as they break down these food scraps. The bad smell that comes with bad breath is caused by these chemicals, mostly hydrogen sulfide and methyl mercaptan.
Other contributing factors beyond food.
While what you eat does play a part, there are a number of other things that can also make your breath smell bad:
- Dry mouth (Xerostomia): Saliva is very important for keeping your mouth healthy. It cleans naturally by getting rid of bits of food and reducing the acids that bacteria make. When saliva production goes down, the mouth dries out, which makes it perfect for bacteria to grow and make VSCs.
- Poor oral hygiene: If you do not brush and floss your teeth properly or often enough, food bits and germs can build up in your mouth. This increase throws off the delicate balance of the mouth microbiome, which causes bacteria that make bad breath to grow too much.
- Gum disease: Gum disease, also called periodontal disease, is an inflammatory condition that lasts for a long time and affects the tissues around the teeth. It is often marked by gums that bleed, a bad smell, and teeth that are loose. Gum disease makes holes between the gums and teeth, which are perfect for bacteria to grow and make VSCs.
- Medical conditions: Some medical conditions can also make your breath smell bad. Some of these are:
- Sinus infections: Postnasal drip from sinus infections can bring germs and saliva to the back of the throat, which can make it smell bad.
- Acid reflux: When stomach acid backs up into the esophagus or even the mouth, it can make food taste and smell sour or acidic.
- Diabetes: If you do not keep your diabetes under control, you could get a condition called ketoacidosis. This can make your breath smell sweet or fruity.
- Liver or kidney Disease: These diseases can sometimes make your breath smell funny.
- Medications: Some medicines, especially those that make you make less saliva as a side effect, can make dry mouth and bad breath more likely.
Some strategies for a fresher breath.
To keep your breath fresh, make oral health a priority by using fluoride toothpaste to brush your teeth twice a day, flossing every day to get rid of food and plaque, and cleaning your tongue often to get rid of germs.
Drink a lot of water throughout the day to stay refreshed. Limit foods and drinks that make you smell bad and are high in sugar, especially before social events, because they can help bugs grow.
For short-term comfort, you could use essential oils or mouthwash with antibiotic ingredients like chlorhexidine. If you want to avoid bad breath and gum disease caused by smoking, stop smoking.
Get regular checkups with your dentist to take care of any gum disease or holes that may be hiding. These steps can help keep your teeth healthy and stop bad breath.
Seek professional help.
Talk to your dentist or doctor if your bad breath does not go away despite good oral health and changes to your lifestyle. They can find out what is causing it and suggest ways to treat it.
