Bad breath is known in the dental world as halitosis. This condition affects everyone at some point. Thankfully, no matter how many first impressions may have been ruined with bad breath, there are simple steps to drastically reduce halitosis, if not completely eliminate it.
Symptoms
You know that you have bad breath if you can clear a 75 maximum occupancy room with a hearty “hello.” Before this happens, you can check your breath by cupping your hand over your mouth and nose and exhaling from the back of your throat. This is where most bad breath originates. If this exhale causes you to lose a little bit of respect for yourself, then it’s time to do something about it. Before we find a solution, let’s learn more about halitosis.
Causes
Halitosis has multiple causes, which come to no surprise to anyone who’s been on the receiving end of morning breath after it’s mixed with a cup of coffee!
The morning time is a trigger for most people to experience bad breath. The flow of saliva nearly stops while we sleep, which causes a buildup of bacteria in the mouth. Brushing away the bacteria in the morning is helpful. Remember to brush your tongue!
Certain foods can make our mouths smell. Think onions! Some foods, like garlic, are absorbed into our blood stream and exhaled through our lungs. All the toothpaste in the world can’t cover this smell. Engaging in some activity to make yourself sweat might help speed along the process.
When your body burns fat, ketones are produced which are released through your breath. These ketones usually have an sticky sweet odor. Staying hydrated and making smart dieting choices will help avoid the ketac smell.
Treatment
The best thing you can do to prevent halitosis is to practice good oral hygiene. This includes flossing and brushing your teeth and tongue. Paying clear attention to the very back of the tongue can help eliminate some of the more stubborn bacteria which may be hiding out there. It’s also important to take note of what foods give you the worst breath. Hopefully the combination of all of these tips will help prevent your bad breath.
