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Bad Breath-How To Know If You Have It
By Robby Thomas | February 20, 2010
Nobody wants to have bad breath, but how do you know if you have it? It’s been reported that one out of four people suffer with this condition with some studies even reporting up to half of the adult population having this.
Some of the main causes are eating certain foods, compromised health conditions and having certain habits. Most of the time, you can treat the problem with proper oral hygiene. But if you’ve been diligently practicing good dental hygiene by brushing better and flossing more and still don’t see any change, you should make an appointment with your dentist or doctor to eliminate other serious causes of your condition.
External Causes: There are external and internal causes. External causes can be the kinds of foods you eat, especially if you eat spicy or smelly foods (such as cooking spices, garlic, onions, and even tuna). If you suspect the odor in your breath is caused by this reason, you may want to make entries in a food log to see if the problem appears when you eat certain foods. Individuals who use alcohol and tobacco can also have bad breath.
Internal Causes: Internal causes are conditions in your mouth that can affect the whole body. Your tongue provides a breeding ground for bacteria to attach and grow. Bacteria that produce odor release a chemical called volatile sulfur compound (VSC’s). The VSC’s that cause odor are hydrogen sulfide and methyl mercaptain. These odor causing bacteria live in the back area of your tongue.
Other Causes: There are other factors that can cause odors in your mouth including: Dry Mouth from lack of saliva flow. Reduced saliva can be caused by medications or radiation therapy for cancer; Dental issues like poor dental hygiene, gingivitis and gum disease cause odors to develop in your mouth; Poor denture cleaning habits can cause food and plaque to stick to the denture leading to odor formation; Sinus or Throat Infections; Systemic diseases such as diabetes, kidney/liver failure, GI problems, and lung infections or abscesses; and patients who diet regularly.
If the problem doesn’t go away with good daily hygiene care, schedule an appointment with your dentist to find out why. He may stock products designed to get rid of the VSC’s in your mouth.
Don’t give up on your efforts to improve your home dental care, continue brushing with a flouridated toothpaste, flossing, and using other dental aids such as a gum stimulator and a tongue scraper.
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Topics: Bad Breath |