Causes of Bad Breath and How to Treat It

Bad breath is something that affects a large percentage of the population, and because most of the people affected do not understand the causes they temporarily mask the problem with different products. Masking bad breath only means that you will have to spend a lot of money on products when the solution could be a simple change in your diet or new oral hygiene methods. The first thing that you need to do is to learn the causes for your bad breath so that you can go ahead and target the problem at its root. Here are a few common problems and the ways to fix them.

Tobacco

According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), Tobacco is one of the leading causes of bad breath. Smoking gets a different reaction from different people; that means that two smokers who suffer bad breath may have two different smells, but that happens because of the chemical reaction from that individual. Cigar smokers are even more likely to suffer from bad breath as they are holding the smoke in their mouths for a longer time. Researchers at the Wrigley Company found that bad breath is a result of a combination of chemicals. The solution is of course to give up the habit, especially if the habit involves smoking cigars.

Dirty Mouth

Your mouth is warm and humid which is a great environment for bacteria. If you do not floss and brush your teeth after every meal, then you are leaving food particles between the teeth and bacteria forms. Bacteria can also form even if you have not had anything to eat, but some time has passed since your last brush. The American Dental Association recommends that you brush your teeth a minimum of two times a day and that you do not forget about your gums. If you wear dentures, then you should clean them on a daily basis. Brushing your tongue while you brush is also recommended.

Dry Mouth

Dry mouth or xerostomia is also one of the causes of bad breath. Saliva is not only necessary to moisten your mouth, but it also washes away dead cells which would otherwise accumulate on a patient’s tongue. Saliva also neutralizes acids produced by plaque. When a person suffers of dry mouth, the dead cells are not washed away and will therefore start decomposing. That decomposition is what causes the bad breath. Constant hydration is then necessary to keep the mouth moistened or you could also chew sugarless gum. In some cases dry mouth happens because a person is breathing through the mouth a lot. Changing or avoiding this habit will also help.

Visit Your Dentist

There are other reasons that could cause bad breath, so you should make it a point to visit your dentist at least twice a year. A professional will be able to tell you the reason for your particular case of bad breath as well as perform a professional cleaning. An oral exam will be administered to find the reason for bad breath. In some cases the solution could be as simple as drinking more water or avoiding certain foods. If when you visit your dentist it is determined that the cause is not in your mouth, then he/she may give you a referral to see a family doctor.