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Bad Breath: Causes, Treatment and Prevention
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Did you know that nearly 1 in 4 people are affected by bad breath or halitosis? If you’re one of these people, you would agree that bad breath can be embarrassing and cause serious psychological distress.
While simple home remedies and lifestyle changes can mostly help get rid of this problem, medical help might be needed in more serious cases. But what causes bad breath, and how can you prevent it? Let’s find out.
Bad Breath Causes
Let’s start by addressing the most important question – what really causes bad breath? The first and most common reason for bad breath is undoubtedly poor dental hygiene. Failing to brush and floss your teeth properly can lead to a bunch of dental issues, and halitosis is one of them.
Residual food, if left on the surface of your teeth for longer durations, can lead to plaque which is the arch nemesis of dental hygiene. This is why it’s advisable to brush your teeth twice a day to get rid of any impurities which can later develop into serious dental health conditions.
Aside from poor dental hygiene, there can be a bunch of other bad breath causes, such as-
1. Tobacco
Tobacco products have a very strong odour. In addition to this, tobacco also leads to gum diseases which can cause bad breath.
2. Dry Mouth
Saliva is known for naturally cleaning your mouth. If you have a dry mouth, it can lead to the accumulation of certain impurities, which can cause bad breath.
3. Mouth, Nose, and Throat Conditions
Sometimes bacterial infections can develop on your tonsils or at the back of your throat. This can lead to infections and bad breath.
4. Medical Conditions
Certain cancers, liver diseases, and other metabolic conditions can cause bad breath due to the specific chemicals that they produce in the body. The medication taken for certain medical conditions can also lead to halitosis.
Teeth Misalignment
Misaligned teeth can also cause bad breath. Since misaligned teeth are more difficult to clean, impurities can stay stuck in the nooks and crannies of our mouth. These impurities can lead to a foul smell in our mouth and also cause tooth decay.
Read Now: Types of Teeth Problems & Their Fixes
Problems Caused Due to Bad Breath
Although bad breath is a big concern in itself, it can also lead to a bunch of health problems. The first and the most common of these health problems is tooth decay. In fact, halitosis is often the first symptom of major oral health conditions. This is why, its important to keep your breath in check and make sure to treat any problems before they become serious.
How to Prevent Bad Breath?
Now that we have discussed the causes of bad breath, it’s easy to understand how to prevent it. What follows are a few steps that you can take in order to maintain fresh breath.
1. Brush Your Teeth Properly
As mentioned above, brushing your teeth regularly can help avoid bad breath to a great extent.
2. Clean Your Tongue
Bacteria, impurities, and dead cells can accumulate on your tongue. This is especially common in the case of smokers. This can lead to bad breath. Cleaning your tongue regularly can help prevent this accumulation and help you maintain a fresh breath.
3. Avoid Dry Mouth
Drinking water can have a multitude of benefits, and one of them is the prevention of bad breath. Water can help wash down any impurities and keep plaque at bay. This is why dentists always recommend drinking a lot of water to maintain your oral health.
4. Changing Diet and Lifestyle Habits
Lifestyle habits play a big role in your well-being and can impact your health in a bunch of ways. Oral health is also impacted by these factors. For example, smoking and consuming alcohol can be some of the biggest factors contributing to bad breath, and avoiding these habits can help you prevent halitosis.
How to Treat Bad Breath?
Sometimes, despite taking all the necessary precautions, we can get halitosis. While most halitosis cases can be reversed through home remedies, you might need to visit the dentist in extreme cases.
Simple dental procedures like scaling can help treat most halitosis cases. However, if you’re suffering from certain underlying conditions, the treatment can vary. In addition to this, if you’re suffering from misaligned teeth, getting them fixed as soon as possible would also help combat this problem.
At toothsi, we offer the most convenient and hassle free solution for misaligned teeth. Our clear aligners are removable, which allows you to brush and floss your teeth easily, keeping bad breath at bay.
Needless to say, prevention is better than cure and taking a few precautions can help you prevent the embarrassment that comes with bad breath.
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