Royal Oak and Birmingham, MI
The idea of bad breath, also referred to as breath odor or halitosis, is enough to cause social anxiety. Many people are concerned about their breath, and as many as 30% of the population should be. They know that no one wants to be around someone with bad breath. It is unpleasant and can lead to the avoidance of a person that normally would be pleasant to be around. In some cases, when it is malodorous enough, it can lead to professional limitations. Halitosis, in fact, is one of the most unattractive aspects of social interactions. While there are many causes of breath odor, there are also many ways to banish it.
Usually, bad breath is a result of poor oral health. The oral cavity is responsible for about 90% of bad breath cases. This means that this breath odor can be caused by oral diseases (such as gingivitis and periodontitis) , tongue coating, food impaction, dry socket, dry mouth, an accumulation of oral bacteria, stress, and age-related factors (decreased oral mobility or the use of removable prostheses).
Halitosis can also result from outside of the oral cavity. This means it can come from ear/nose/throat (ENT) or respiratory diseases (sinusitis, tonsillitis, bronchiectasis), specific chronic diseases, drugs and certain chemicals or medicines.
So, if there are many causes of bad breath, how can it be corrected? Other than not eating foods that smell bad themselves, this article will detail eight ways to do that.
Brushing teeth
Teeth brushing is the number one thing that prevents or helps bad breath because it prevents the buildup of bacteria on decaying food particles that get stuck on teeth or gums. These bacteria produce sulfur compounds that can lead to bad breath. However, brushing just one time daily is not enough. Because people eat and drink multiple times a day, they should also brush their teeth multiple times a day, ideally after every meal, and they should rinse their mouths with water after drinking a beverage that isn’t water.
Floss more often
Flossing is one of the most effective ways to conquer bad breath because it lifts away food particles that are trapped between teeth, and it controls plaque buildup which is a sticky film of bacteria that forms between teeth on the tooth itself. Flossing gets in places that brushing cannot reach. By removing the residual food particles and plaque between the teeth, flossing prevents the bacteria from breaking down into lactic acid that eats tooth enamel.
Brush or scrape the tongue
Tongue coating is one of the most prevalent causes of halitosis, but it can be removed. The easiest way is to brush the tongue gently with a toothbrush, but sometimes even that is not enough. A tongue scraper is a small metal or plastic tool that is designed to apply even pressure across the surface of the tongue to remove bacteria, food debris, and dead cells. A 2008 study compared teeth brushing alone and teeth brushing plus tongue scraping and found a significant reduction in the bacteria present when tongue scraping was included in oral hygiene.
Drink water throughout the day (or use mouthwash)
Often, breath odor is caused by a dry mouth. Some people do not make enough saliva, a condition called xerostomia, which can lead to tooth decay and bad breath. Saliva is needed to moisten the mouth, rinse away acids produced by plaque and dead cells that accumulate on the tongue, gums, and cheeks. Drinking water throughout the day will help with these processes. It will also rinse away excess sugar that has been consumed.
A mouthwash can serve the same purpose. As a matter of fact, there are certain mouthwashes that are supposed to treat dry mouths.
Chew gum
Chewing sugarless gum can help eliminate bad breath because chewing gum stimulates saliva. Studies have shown that chewing gum for at least 20 minutes after a meal can lower the risk for cavities and dental erosion. In addition to the fresh scent, which is part of the gum, it reduces the chance of tooth decay that can also cause bad breath.
Stop smoking (or chewing tobacco)
Smokers have an increased risk for halitosis. Smoker breath is not only bad because it smells like stale cigarettes but because smokers actually have bad breath. The reason for this is that the chemicals in tobacco increase the synthesis of toxic volatile sulfur compounds in diseased pockets. Smoking causes a decrease in the normal flora (good bacteria) in the mouth which causes an increase in the pathogenic microbes. In other words, smoking causes an imbalance in the mouth. It also leads to low saliva production.
Change your diet
Diets can affect the way a person’s breath smells too. A high-sugar diet without sufficient brushing, flossing, and scraping allows bacteria to grow on the teeth leading to bad breath. A low carb diet or high protein diet can also affect the way breath smells. Low carbohydrate diets can cause the breath to smell like ketones – or a very metallic smell.
See a dentist
If bad breath continues after trying all the above solutions, it is time to see a dentist. They can check to see if the halitosis is related to a dental problem.
If you need to see a dentist about bad breath in Royal Oaks, MI or the surrounding areas, Dr. Nancy Hartrick at Hartrick Dentistry PC will be happy to help! Call today at 248-712-1149