6 Top Causes of Bad Breath
You can develop bad breath if you're not careful. Bad breath may occur due to one's bad habits and unhealthy lifestyle. If you want to keep your breath fresh all the time, you should memorize the six top causes of bad breath. And try your best to prevent them. They are:
1. Dry Mouth
When the mouth becomes dry, bad breath occurs. Chronic dry mouth is called xerostomia, which is the medical name for dry mouth. Dry mouth happens for a number of reasons, and it's the main reason for morning breath. During sleep, the flow of the saliva is reduced. Saliva serves as the mouth's natural cleanser of bacterial growth. In its absence, bad breath forms.
Dry mouth is also the reason why people whose line of work that has to do with speaking for long hours tend to experience souring in their mouth and throat. So if you're a lawyer, teacher, or a telephone operator, you have to bring some mints with you to keep your breath fresh.
2. Gum Diseases
Gum diseases are one of the most common culprits of why bad breath form. If you have infections in your mouth, the presence of bacteria can be expected. And as you already know, the bad odor in the breath is primarily caused by the formation of bacteria in the mouth. Periodontal diseases are common in people 35 years and older. See your dentist regularly to prevent gum infections.
3. Underlying medical conditions
If you suffer from any diseases of the kidney, liver, stomach, intestine, or lungs, your breath can become effected. In cases like these, it is important that you undergo a full checkup. This is most advisable if you have already tried everything your dentist recommended and yet, problems with your breath still persist.
4. Smoking
You already know that smoking stains the teeth and damages the gums. But do you realize that it can cause bad breath too? A lot of people consider smoker's breath to be synonymous to bad breath. It has a lot to do with the amount of tar present in the cigarette that was transferred to your mouth and lungs.
5. Pungent foods
There are certain food items that can trigger bad breath. Thus, you have to be very careful of what you eat during meals. Onions and garlic are common food items that may leave an unpleasant odor in your mouth. So if you eat burgers during lunch, it may be best to skip the onions.
6. Poor dental habits
This is the most common reason for halitosis or bad breath. If you don't like the idea of brushing your teeth or flossing after eating, then you have high chances of developing bad breath. The use of mouthwash would also help a lot. Also part of good dental habits is to visit your dentist every six months for checkup.
These are the main causes of halitosis or bad breath. By knowing these causes, you will be aware of the things you have to do, and the things that you have to avoid, to keep your breath fresh.
