Dental health is an integral part of overall health and happiness. Not only that, but one's dental health might reveal information about the body's inner workings. The medical professional obtains insight into the genuine state of your mouth and body, whether you have bad breath, yellow teeth, or ulcers.
What is bad breath?
Bad breath, commonly known as halitosis, is a symptom in which your breath gives an unpleasant sensation. People typically use the term "morning breath" to describe unpleasant breath experienced when a person first wakes up in the morning. It's a condition that affects a lot of people.
Causes of bad breath
Many factors can cause you to suffer from bad breath. Some of them are
- Food particles in between teeth, on the tongue, or around the gum line
- Smoking can also cause bad breath
- Dry mouth, as with inadequate saliva, bacteria will be able to build up more often
- Breathing through the mouth other than nose or snoring heavily tend to have a drier mouth and is more likely to have bad breath in the morning
- Poor oral hygiene is a common cause of morning breath
- Untreated diabetes can be a cause of bad breath
- Tonsillitis, sinusitis, and bronchitis — and fungal infections of the mouth, lips, and tongue
- Acid reflux or heartburn can also be a reason for the foul odour
- Also, rule out underlying liver or kidney disease
How to prevent bad breath
People can often improve their morning breath by doing the following:
Brushing and flossing
Brush teeth twice a day, and cleaning between them through dental floss helps you maintain good oral hygiene. This can keep mouth bacteria under control. One can also use mouthwash to help clear bacteria.
Scrape your tongue
Brushing your tongue might help you get rid of bad breath. Many individuals are unaware that bacteria can build up on the tongue, one of the leading causes of bad breath.
Clean your dentures
Those who use removable dentures should take them out before sleeping and thoroughly clean them before putting them back on.
Stay hydrated
Water is probably the simplest cure for poor breath. It keeps your mouth moist while also rinsing dirt from your teeth, limiting the growth of harmful bacteria. Saliva is our mouth's first line of defence against microorganisms, and drinking water boosts saliva production.
Chew xylitol gums
Chewing xylitol-containing gum regularly can assist in producing more saliva, which helps clean your mouth naturally.
Eat healthy
Eat a balanced diet and limit sugary beverages and snacks to get rid of bad breath. Moreover, it's been suggested that eating raw, high-water-content fruits and vegetables can help you maintain oral health and keep your mouth hydrated. The water content is supposed to remove plaque and bacteria from your teeth and gums naturally.
When to look for a dentist
If your foul breath is caused by poor dental hygiene, your dentist will likely treat the underlying reason. Your dentist may be able to treat the issue if the cause is underlying gum disease. As bad breath may signify an underlying health problem or disease, your dentist may refer you to a specialist when needed.