The bad breath is widespread healthcare problem, affecting up to a quarter of adults on a regular basis. It means that one in four persons suffers from this problem, which can negatively impact the individual's personal and business relationships, leading to poor self-esteem and increased stress.
The bad breath could be transient or chronic.
The transient bad breath is a very common temporary condition caused by such things as oral dryness, stress, hunger (ketosis), eating certain foods such as garlic and onions, smoking, or poor oral hygiene. "Morning breath" is a common example of transient bad breath. Transient bad breath gradually disappears on its own, with the aid of chewing gum or brushing one's teeth.
On the other hand, chronic bad breath is a more serious and persistent condition affecting up to 25 percent of the population in varying degrees. This condition is usually caused by persistent overpopulation of certain types of oral bacteria, primarily streptococcus mutans, and requires specialised treatment.
Xerostomia (dry mouth syndrome) will increase bad breath problems. Fetor hepaticus is a type of severely bad breath caused by chronic liver failure. It has been said to resemble the smell of a freshly opened corpse.
Bad breath, medically known as halitosis, is usually brought on by the breakdown of proteins by bacteria somewhere in the mouth, though, there are several other possible causes that affect the airways, esophagus and stomach that can also lead to bad breath.
According to doctors, these factors that affect the airways might cause bad breath: sinusitis, polyps, dryness, foreign body, hindered air mucus flow, bronchitis, pneumonia, and bronchietasis (dilation of the bronchi of the lungs, usually from previous infection), while factors that affect the esophagus and stomach and cause bad breath are gastritis and food reflux and food stagnation. Taking vitamin supplements (especially in large doses), poor dental hygiene, dentures, cavities, smoking, alcoholism, and gum disease (gingivitis, gingivostomatitis) are some other causes of bad breath.
In rare cases, bad breath can be a sign of a significant general health problem, so it should not be ignored. However, the usual cause is oral, which can often be treated to resolve the problem. The bad breath sometimes could indicate chronic bronchitis or sinusitis, postnasal drip, gastrointestinal illness, and liver or kidney disease.
Generally bad breath is curable. As it is almost always caused by a problem in the mouth, it is helpful to visit a dentist. Do not try to mask the odour before the visit, as it would not help in diagnosis. If there is any dental treatment required eliminating disease or avoiding food stagnation areas, this will be carried out. If no oral cause can be identified by the dentist, it may be necessary to attend a clinic that specialises in breath odours, or to visit other health professionals.
Some people become excessively concerned about bad breath, in which case a psychological professional can help put what may in reality be a minor problem into perspective.
To keep your mouth free from the bad breath, on should maintain a high level of oral and dental hygiene. In addition to brushing, it is important to clean between the teeth using dental floss, wood-sticks or an inter-dental brush as recommended by your dentist or pharmacist.
It so good to use a tongue cleaner and clean right to the back of the tongue. Use a mouthwash recommended by your dentist or pharmacist. The best time to use it is just before sleeping.
A simple method to fight bad breath is drinking plenty of fluids, avoiding too much coffee, and cleaning your mouth after eating milk products, fish and meat.
Following simple tips are found helpful in beating bad breath: Brush your teeth or use a mouthwash after you eat. Brushing is best. If you use a mouthwash, swish it around for 30 seconds before spitting it out.
Floss your teeth at least once a day. Flossing removes decaying food. Brush your tongue. Brush the back of your tongue while brushing your teeth. Or, scrape it with a tongue scraper, which can be purchased at a pharmacy.
Drink water to keep your mouth moist. When your mouth is dry, there's insufficient saliva to wash away dead cells. Chewing sugarless gum or sucking on sugarless hard candy can help stimulate saliva production. Avoid foods that may cause bad breath. This often includes onions and garlic. Oils from these foods are transferred to the lungs and exhaled. Clean your dentures daily. They can harbour bacteria and food particles.
And if these simple measures don't improve your bad breath, see your doctor or dentist. Persistent bad breath may be a sign of periodontal disease, an abscessed tooth, infection, chronic sinusitis, postnasal drip, chronic bronchitis, certain kinds of esophageal problems, and other health conditions.
As a home remedy cure for bad breath chew some cardamom seeds to sweeten your breath. Parsley leaves could also be used as they rich in chlorophyll, nature's own deodoriser. Chew some leaves regularly for fresh breath. Another home remedy is add the juice of half a lemon to a glass of water and use as a last rinse.