Having bad breath is usually an indication that something is wrong in your mouth. Sometimes it’s merely a matter of laziness towards oral hygiene. But it may also mean that you have an undetected dental problem or medical condition. But whatever it is, it’s an indication that there is something wrong.
Perhaps the fastest and easiest way to cover up bad breath is to use breath sprays, mint candies or gums and mouthwashes. However these aides just mask the problem. They don’t actually solve it. If you just continue to rely on them chances are, the problem with bad breath will worsen. Plus you run the risk of developing cavities in your teeth from frequent use of mint candies. What you need to do is seek medical help.
If you notice that your breath smells bad and there’s a peculiar taste in your mouth, maybe it’s telling you to brush your teeth or floss in between your teeth. After eating, food gets stuck in between our teeth or below the gum line. We should be able to clean our teeth at least twice a day to get rid of these food particles.
Bacteria can also hide in your tongue and in dentures (if you’re using one). After you brush your teeth, clean your tongue as well. You can either brush your tongue with your toothbrush or use a tongue scraper. If you’re using dentures, clean your dentures after meals. If food is left in your dentures, they breed bacteria and cause your breath to smell bad.
We should be diligent in cleaning our teeth. If we don’t, food particles will stay in our mouth and it will become a breeding place for bacteria. And you’ll have a mouth full of cavities, gum problems and you’ll have bad breath.
However sometimes no matter how much you brush or floss regularly, you might still have bad breath. It could be because you have teeth that are tight together. This is why dental cleanings are important. So you can clean areas where you can’t reach. It could also be because of ill-fitting dentures. Loose dentures can easily hide leftover food. Medication or medical conditions like gastrointestinal problems, sinuses, liver or kidney problems can also cause bad breath.
If you’re serious about finding out on your own, keep a mental note of what you ate. Observe if your breath smells bad after eating that. If so, your bad breath is just temporary and will go away with brushing, flossing and mint candies as a temporary solution. Food with lots of garlic and onions will give your mouth a strong odor.
Sometimes it’s not in the food we eat but on what we don’t eat. When we’re hungry, it causes chemical changes that produce a foul odor. Aside from the food you eat, record also the medication you are currently taking. Certain prescription drugs cause bad breath. When you go to your dentist for check-up don’t forget to mention to him if you are feeling something different with regards to your health. It might have something to do with your dental health.
If you’re suffering from dry mouth, you should drink a lot of liquid and chew gum or eat sugar-free candy to stimulate saliva production. Why? Because saliva washes away food particles so they don’t stay stuck in your mouth. So if you suffer from dry mouth, food particles cannot be cleaned from your mouth.
If you’ve done all that is necessary to manage bad breath but it continues to persist, it’s time you seek professional help. Your dentist can determine if your halitosis is caused by a dental disorder or there is a medical problem behind it. If this is the case, your dentist will refer you to a medical doctor so you can get further diagnosis.
Through regular dental visits, your dental team can help you maintain clean, healthy teeth. And if a problem surfaces, they can detect it while it’s still early and treatable.
