Franklin Dentists Share Facts for Fighting Halitosis, Bad Breath
As the weather gets cooler and we start to spend more time in close proximity to others there’s one thing people often become more conscious of – bad breath. Bad breath, or halitosis, can be caused by a number of things but can usually be managed with proper care. Here are some of the reasons your breath might not be as fresh as you’d like and how to ensure you’re putting your freshest face forward.
Slacking On Your Routine
When it comes to your oral hygiene, a routine is everything. If you don’t brush and floss regularly, food stays in your mouth and collects bacteria that causes bad breath. In addition, food that remains in your mouth and between your teeth will begin to rot and smell bad.
The back of your tongue is another place where these bad bacteria like to congregate. For that reason, the addition of scraping your tongue may also help you ward off that bad breath.
Eating the Wrong Foods
All the foods you eat begin to be broken down by your body in your mouth. Some foods just have stronger tastes and odors than others and stick around longer. Foods like garlic, onions, and cheese for example. But even soda can be a major cause of bad breath. That’s because once the food is absorbed into your bloodstream, it’s transferred to your lungs and expelled through your breath.
Moderation and timing are key to managing these food symptoms. Brushing and flossing soon after partaking in these foods helps, but the odor won’t go away completely until the foods have passed through your body.
Medical Disorders
You may not realize it, but your oral health is closely linked to your overall physical health. In fact, bad breath could be the first sign of a medical condition. One major symptom of dental diseases such as gum disease is severe and persistent halitosis. Untreated, gum disease can damage your gums and your jawbone.
Dry mouth is another common condition also associated with bad breath. Your mouth needs saliva to keep it moist and clean away dead cells that accumulate on the tongue, gums, and cheeks. If not removed, these cells decompose and cause bad breath. Dry mouth is a known side effect of some medications or can be caused by constant mouth breathing. Drinking lots of water is the best way to combat dry mouth.
Bad breath can also be an indicator of sinus infections, pneumonia, chronic acid reflux, diabetes, and liver or kidney issues.
