Bad Breath: Prevention And Treatment

• by Elena Anne in wellness
  One of the primary dating rules is to never order a dish with onions and garlic. It may seem silly, but bad breath can lead to a failed first impression in both social and professional atmospheres. Past the days of shooting a spray of Binaca, it is important for us to prevent bad breath. Having bad breath often leads to false judgments of poor hygiene, when in reality there are some health conditions that may be the culprit. It can even be a sign for further health problems that may seem unrelated, so it is important to educate yourself and be proactive in your oral health.

  Why me?

  Halitosis is an oral condition that causes persistent bad breath. This can be the result of a history of poor oral health. When your dentist nags you to floss more, heed his words wisely! The plaque build-up can turn into stubborn tartar, which may lead to bad breath. There are some genetic components to this, so don’t go blaming yourself if you feel like you truly have been committed to your oral hygiene.

  The Usual Reason Behind Unpleasant Breath: Diet
  

  On the other hand, certain foods that you eat and health habits may be too powerful for flossing and brushing efforts. Foods like garlic and onions, especially, tend to stay in your bloodstream, lungs (leading to bad breath), and even seep out your pores, depending on how much you consume. It is best, then to know your personal triggers so that you can prevent such embarrassment. It is a good idea to keep a food journal to track and record which foods in particular, lead to bad odors in the mouth. People who are lactose intolerant can often have bad breath when they do consume dairy. Think about foods that you may also be sensitive to. This may be a good place to start when it comes to eliminating items from your diet.
   Low carb diets and restrictive diets in general can also lead to what is known as “ketone breath.” This is the result of the body using fat as energy rather than carbs stored in the body. If this is a serious issue for you, you may want to rethink or prioritize to determine if your restrictive diet is worth it.

  Poor Habits

  If you are one of the many who skimp on flossing or even brushing, you are leaving tons of food particles and bacteria on the surface of your teeth, tongue and under your gum line.  If you wear dentures or even braces, you should take extra care of these items, making sure that they are properly cleaned each time. If you are a smoker and you need yet another one of the millions of reasons to quit, know that tobacco not only causes immediate bad breath, but also leads to teeth stains and gum irritation, which will leads to chronic bad breath.

  Associated Health Conditions

  Obviously, periodontal (gum) diseases will cause an unpleasant odor. There are other less anticipated conditions, such as diabetes, acid reflux, bronchitis, sinus conditions and ailments of the liver or kidney.  Certain medications that you may be prescribed may also cause dry mouth, which is another cause of bad breath.