Bad breath causes more than 90 million Americans to seek professional dental help every year. Clinically referred to as halitosis, bad breath is described as the pungent odour that originates from the mouth and nasal cavity. Like any other body odours, bad breath is caused by the millions of tiny microbes that live in the mouth. Bad breath can reveal a multitude of problems and is generally used as an indicator of one’s health and hygiene habits. Bad breath is caused by a number of factors, including poor dental hygiene, dental problems, dry mouth, diseases, and spicy foods.
Poor dental hygiene – This is one of the main causes of bad breath. Failing to carry out a proper brush-and-floss regimen, halitosis emerges from the decay of food particles stuck in the gums and those spaces in-between the teeth. As these particles decompose, they lead to the production of sulphuric vapours in the mouth such as hydrogen sulphide. Improper cleaning of dentures is also a cause of bad breath due to foreign (outside of the mouth) bacteria.
Dental problems – There are a number of internal mouth conditions that count as bad breath causes. Gingivitis, periodontitis and gum disease are just some of the few cached bad breath culprits. Gingivitis is basically gum irritation which is caused by the continuous build-up of bacterial plaque on the teeth. Periodontitis, on the other hand, occurs when gingivitis is at its worst and plaque-filled pockets appear between the gums and teeth. Similar bad breath causes are plaque build-up which, if left untreated for long periods of time, leads to gum disease.
Dry mouth – This is a medical condition called xerostomia that causes bad breath by limiting the amount of saliva that is produced in the mouth. Saliva is not only a natural lubricant, but it is also one of the best bad breath treatments there is for non-chronic cases. This situation occurs mostly during sleep which leads to the most common bad breath condition, ‘morning breath’. Sometimes use of certain medications leads to halitosis by causing dry mouth.
Diseases – Aside from the 80 to 90 percent that suffer from oral bad breath, there is a special 10 percent whose bad breath is more a result of other diseases in the body. For instance, cancer and a number of metabolic disorders can lead to bad breath. The bad breath caused in this case is a by-product of the chemical reactions that take place in the body. Diabetes, kidney and liver failure, and GERD lead to the production of various odours from the mouth that differ in the pungency. The first case, for instance, leads to a fishy bad breath while uncontrolled diabetes causes a sweet smell from the chemicals used.
Foods – The primary digestion location is in the mouth. As proteins and amino acids break down, certain odours are released. The most common bad breath causes in this category are spicy foods (especially onions and garlic) as well as low-carb diets. Low-carb diets lead to the production of ketones which cause bad breath. Such diets generally cause the body to burn its stores of fat for fuel which leads to ketosis, a situation where there is ketone build-up in the body. As they are being digested, the pungent oils present in them are absorbed into the body system and carried to the lungs where they give off bad odours when exhaled.
Though it can be an embarrassing condition, bad breath is a universal phenomenon. Bad breath causes are numerous; however, so are the bad breath remedies. All you have to do is search for the right treatment for you and enjoy fresh breath. There are generally two levels of bad breath treatments: the clinical and home remedies (or the herbal). Under the first category, treatment generally entails brushing, flossing, gargling, and other reactionary measures. In the second category, treatment involves preventative measures that revolve around various herbal products that can be found in the home.
Dealing with bad breath through oral hygiene:
Ninety percent of bad breath causes originate from the mouth. Thus dealing with this organ directly should eliminate or limit the pungency of the odours. The very first form of treatment for the mouth is brushing and cleaning the tongue. In fact, many dentists say that cleaning the tongue is more important while eradicating bad breath causes. The second form of action is ensuring that the mouth remains in balance at all times i.e. that it stays moist and healthy. Since dry mouth facilitates the growth of bad breath-causing bacteria, ensuring that the mouth is moist at all times will work towards eliminating bad breath. This can be easily done by chewing gum, sucking on mints or even having a cup of unsweetened green tea periodically.
Herbal and traditional bad breath remedies:
Bad breath causes can be treated with herbal home remedies. Herbal bad breath remedies for curing bad breath range from drinking unsweetened green teas or chewing on mint leaves to gargling with freshly squeezed lemon juice (or pineapple juice if one does not like lemons). Traditional Ayurvedic medicine advocates for betel leaf and Areca nut chewing so as to eliminate bad breath. However, care must be taken when opting for this option since both betel leaf and betel nut are mild stimulants that can be quite addictive if used repeatedly.
For more information on bad breath causes visit: www.en.wikipedia.com/Halitosis#causes.
