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Sweet Breath For You And Your Sweetie
By Steven H. Poulos, DDS | October 9, 2009
Bad breath (halitosis) can be an unpleasant and embarrassing condition. Many of us may not realize that we have bad breath, but everyone has it from time to time, especially in the morning.
The main cause of bad breath is bacteria deposits on the tongue, particularly in the back. Simply brushing the tongue can definitely reduce bad breath.
Causes of bad breath vary. Here are the main ones:
- Morning time - saliva flow almost stops during sleep and its reduced cleansing action allows bacteria to grow, causing bad breath.
- Foods which contain odor-causing compounds enter the bloodstream and are transferred to the lungs which exhale the odors. Garlic and onions are well known for this.
- Poor oral hygiene habits - food particles remaining in the mouth promote bacterial growth.
- Food particles and bacteria living under the gums cause gum disease and bad breath.
- Dental cavities and improperly fitted dental appliances - may also contribute to bad breath.
- Dry mouth (Xerostomia) - may be cause by certain medications, salivary gland problems, or continuous mouth breathing.
- Tobacco products - dry the mouth, causing bad breath.
- Ketones - these are chemicals released by the body in the breath as the body burns fat, so sometimes dieting can cause bad breath.
- Skipped meals, hunger and lack of water - saliva flow is increased when one drinks water and chews food. Saliva washes away bacteria.
- Illnesses - liver and kidney disease, chronic sinus infections, diabetes, pneumonia and bronchitis are among the diseases that have bad breath as a symptom.
In your next visit to the dentist you may want to go over any illnesses, medications or surgeries with him to help identify the cause of bad breath. Also, you can keep a record of what you eat in comparison to your breath and learn what to eat and what to avoid.
Things you can do to handle bad breath are:
- Keep your mouth clean. If you wear dentures, clean them and put them back in your mouth in the morning. Brush your teeth twice a day with toothpaste. Floss every day ? this will remove plaque and food particles from between the teeth and under the gums. Clean your tongue with a toothbrush or a tongue scraper. Buy a new toothbrush every 2 or 3 months.
- Get a check up and tooth cleaning from a dentist at least two times a year. You should have your teeth cleaned more often if you ever had gum disease.
- Stop smoking/chewing tobacco - ask your dentist what they recommend to help break the habit.
- Drink lots of water - it will keep your mouth wet, and wash away microbes.
- Water will keep your mouth moist and help wash away bacteria, so drink lots of water.
- A mouthwash or rinse can be helpful - ask your dentist what he or she recommends. Some products on the market only mask bad breath temporarily, but antiseptic rinses can also kill the germs that cause bad breath.
Topics: Bad Breath |