Avoid Bad Breath

Do people immediately step back when you open your mouth? Is this hampering your social life?

If so, take heart. Halitosis or bad breath is mostly a result of poor hygiene and is completely treatable.

What Causes Bad Breath?

The reasons for bad breath range from very simple to very complex. Bad breath may be a result of local or systemic causes. Local causes are the result of a factor present in the mouth or the throat region. Systemic causes however, are the result of a severe underlying medical condition.

Common Local Causes for Bad Breath

• Foods like onion, garlic, cabbage and cauliflower have a pungent odour that may give you bad breath. This kind of bad breath is momentary and it will go away without any medication.
  


• Chewing tobacco or smoking causes your breath to stink and increases the risk of severe halitosis. Smoking irritates the gums too.
  


• Alcohol also makes your breath stink, that is until the alcohol is drained out of your system. Excessive alcohol can cause severe halitosis.
  


• Morning dragon breath is caused dues to accumulation of plaque and bacteria. This occurs as your mouth is shut throughout the night and there is a lack of salivation. Bad morning breath will vanish once you brush or eat something.
  


• Poor dental hygiene may cause plaque to accumulate on your teeth. This gives rise to bacteria and causes bad breath
  


• Tooth decay, swollen and bleeding gums and other periodontal (the area around the tooth) problems may cause halitosis. It needs to be controlled by proper dental treatment. In some cases dental experts recommend surgery to correct the problem.
  


• Xerostomia is another cause for bad breath. This is a disorder where the salivary glands don’t function properly. As a result, food particles don’t get washed down completely. They rot and cause foul breath.

Systemic Reasons for Bad Breath

• Severe sinusitis or bronchitis can lead to postnasal discharge. This discharge enters the oesophagus (food pipe) and causes bad breath.
  
  
• Diabetes may cause acetone odour to the breath, as insulin is absent in the stomach to break it down.
  
  
• If there is kidney dysfunction, your breath might reek of urine as it is not properly disposed off from the body.
  
  
• Any form of cancer treatment affects the salivary glands and causes Xerostomia, which leads to bad breath.
  
  
• Acidity and gastro-intestinal problems also cause foul breath.
  
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