Halitosis
Millions of people suffer from
chronic halitosis. If you have any of the following symptoms, you might
have a problem with bad breath:
*Frequent bad taste in your
mouth.
*Someone has offered you mints or commented on your bad breath.
*You have dry mouth or cotton mouth often.
*People step back from you when you talk.
*You use breath mints or gum often.
*You are ashamed of your breath.
Causes of Bad Breath
Bad breath or halitosis is caused mainly by
poor oral hygiene and food particles in the mouth. Other causes of
Halitosis include medical infections, diabetes, gum disease, kidney
problems and liver problems. Smoking can also be a cause of bad breath
because not only does cigarette smoke smell bad, it also dries out the
mouth. A dry mouth without saliva to fight bacteria is prone to bad
breath.
Ways to Treat Halitosis
The best way to treat Halitosis is through
proper oral hygiene. This includes thorough brushing of your teeth,
tongue, cheeks and roof of our mouth. Follow brushing with flossing to
remove particles of food and bacteria from between your teeth. Do
this at least twice a day.
If you find that you do not have time to
brush, chew sugar free gum after meals to clean your teeth and mouth.
Saliva and Bad Breath
Saliva is very important in controlling bad
breath. It helps to wash away both food particles and bacteria. This is
why we get morning breath. At night, our saliva glands shut down and
without saliva, bacteria grows unchecked.
Food and Bad Breath
Some foods can also cause bad breath. Spicy
foods like onions and garlic can cause bad breath for hours and even days
after they are eaten.
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