Bad breath: causes and remedies

The impression of a person can be completely spoiled by bad breath. This annoying nuance significantly affects the quality of communication with the interlocutor, because after each spoken phrase, an unpleasant odor comes from the mouth, which does not allow you to relax and delve into the essence of the conversation. But if you are faced with such a problem – this is not at all a reason to always keep your mouth closed and avoid contact with others, it is better to start fixing this problem as soon as possible, and for this you need to find out the cause of its occurrence.

Bad breath is called halitosis. Because this is a common problem for many people, it is important to know why bad breath occurs and, just as importantly, how to fix it.

To begin with, it is worth noting that halitosis can be both real and imaginary. The name "real halitosis" speaks for itself. Imaginary bad breath – it is rather a psychological problem resulting from the fear of such a smell.

Causes of halitosis (bad smell)

The following are the main causes of bad breath: 

• poor oral hygiene, in which case food particles get stuck between the teeth, which begin to rot over time;
• diseases of the teeth and oral cavity (caries, inflammation of the gums, etc.);  products containing volatile sulfur compounds (such as onions or garlic); 
• the presence of various diseases, such as liver failure, kidney failure, diabetes mellitus or lung abscess, as well as diseases of the nasopharynx; 
• dry oral mucosa, which can be caused by various types of diseases and drugs used.

Ways to get rid of bad breath

Bad breath occurs mainly due to the multiplication of bacteria, as well as the formation of their waste products.

The simplest causes of bad breath can be eliminated by: 

• observance of proper oral hygiene;
• Regular plaque and tartar removal, teeth cleaning and treatment of dental and gum disease – those. visit to the dentist;
• composing a diet that is dominated by vegetables and fruits;
• Regular use of toothpastes, mouthwashes and dental floss;
• cleansing the tongue while brushing teeth;
• drinking plenty of water (helps fight dry mouth);
• use of herbs (such as parsley, dill, cinnamon, St.

If the usual methods of eliminating bad breath do not help, then its cause lies in a more serious disease of one of their organs. If you regularly take care of your oral health and visit the dentist, but you cannot get rid of bad breath, it is worth getting an examination for the presence of any diseases.

Foods that can cause bad breath

1. Dairy products: Bacteria love any fermented milk products, and when such products are broken down by bacteria, sulfur compounds are released, which are one of the causes of bad breath. 

2. Garlic and onion: it's no secret that these two products are generally desirable not to use if you have to communicate with people. Sulfur compounds, which are rich in these products, are excreted not only from the mouth, but also from the skin.

3. Coffee: A fragrant drink can cause bad breath due to the formation of an overly acidic environment in the mouth, which is a great breeding ground for bacteria.

4. Fish and Meat: Foods rich in protein are good for the body as a whole, but promote the growth of bacteria. 

5. Alcohol and Nicotine: Alcohol is one of the main causes of dry mouth. And, as mentioned earlier, it can cause bad breath.

Prophylaxis of halitosis:

balanced diet (it is also important to mention here that a low-carb diet promotes the breakdown of fats, which results in the formation of ketone molecules that cause bad breath);
oral hygiene;
increased salivation (the following foods can be consumed to increase salivation: parsley, natural yogurt, fruits (apples, pears, oranges), and green tea). 

Let us remind you once again that the methods of such prevention may not work if the cause of halitosis is serious diseases occurring in the body. Therefore, if you are constantly worried about bad breath, the elimination of which has not been successful, undergo an examination.

Source estet-portal.com