Controlling Your Bad Breath - A Practical How-To Guide.
Bad breath hits us all at some point in our lives. It can last a short time or stick around —lasting for days or months. We will touch on some causes of bad breath and give some tips on how to control it.
WHAT CAUSES BAD BREATH?
There are several things can contributes to bad breath. Some examples are particular conditions in your mouth, systemic ailments, new medications, or certain foods and beverages.
Conditions in your mouth
A lot of the time, constant bad breath is caused by a problems in your mouth. Most commonly these conditions are:
large decay on teeth;
not enough saliva;
blanketing of food and bacteria on the tongue;
active gum disease.
Illnesses in other parts of your body
Bad breath can be a signal of an possible ailment involving other parts of your body. One example is when bacteria is associated with bad breath. Bacteria can grow in your nose, sinuses, or tonsils and cause inflammation. This results in tissues that are swollen like when you have an active infection or an allergic reaction to something. Another times debris can harbor and solidify in the crevasses of the tonsils resulting in tonsil stones that can cause bad breath. Other conditions that affect the digestive system, like indigestion or peptic ulcers, also can contribute to bad breath. Common diseases that have been known to affect breath odor include diabetes and liver or kidney failure.
Medications
Ofttimes a person can develop bad breath while taking certain medications. Several examples of meds that might make bad breath more noticeable include:
Acetaminophen
Medications for allergies
Chemotherapeutics.
Particular foods and drinks can also contribute to breath odor. Certain foods and beverages can be the cause of temporary bouts of bad breath. Probably the most well known are garlic, onions, and fish, including tuna. Coffee and alcoholic beverages have a tendency to dry out your mouth. A dry mouth and bad breath can go hand-in-hand.
CONTROLLING BAD BREATH
Since most bad breath begins in the mouth, good oral home care is a smart first step to controlling breath odor you may be experiencing. To help keep your mouth clean you can brush twice a day with a fluoride toothpaste; clean daily between your teeth with floss or tiny brushes, picks, or water flossers.
Over-the-counter mouth-rinse and sugar-less gum can be an aid in improving your breath. It’s important to look for products that have the ADA Seal of Acceptance for the relief of bad breath. The seal on a product means it has been demonstrated to meet ADA Seal standards for safety and efficacy.
Pay careful attention to what you eat and drink - a daily log of foods you eat may help. Avoidable foods like garlic and onions and as well as coffee and alcoholic beverages is recommended. In contrast, drinking plenty of water and using sugar-free candies or gum will moisten your mouth and improve your breath.
Talk to Dr. Chamberlain if you are concerned about your breath. Sometimes a professional cleaning and ridding any infection that may be in your mouth may solve the problem. If your breath is still a concern, Dr. Chamberlain may suggest that you speak with your physician.
CONCLUSION
There are number of things that can cause bad breath, which include one’s oral and general health. To start out, brushing and cleaning between your teeth as recommended may freshen up your breath. If this does not help, talk to Dr. Chamberlain about other possible causes and options for improving your situation.
