Ever sat closely in a meeting or in a cab with someone with bad breath? If you are the type that gets easily irritated, I bet your next resort would be a quick and easy way out, irrespective of what brought you there in the first place.
The official name of bad breath is halitosis and it can be a sign of some health problems or bad dental habits. Besides being a medical problem, bad breath can become a social one. No one wants to hang around someone with bad breath.
What causes bad breath?
The bad breath condition can be triggered by different factors:
- Not brushing your teeth.
- Dental and gastrointestinal tract diseases, respiratory infections, liver and kidney diseases, chronic sinus infections, , diabetes, and acid reflux
- Eating foods such as garlic, raw onions, mustard seeds, etc cause bad breath. Drinking coffee also causes bad breath.
- Chewing tobacco and smoking
If you identify with any of these causes, here are some simple and effective ways to help you fight bad breath:
- Oral hygiene: Brush your teeth at least twice a day and don’t forget to brush your tongue thoroughly each time you brush. It’s also advisable to floss at least once a day.
- Visit a specialist: Visit your dentist at least twice a year. The doctor can examine your teeth and recommend if you need them professionally cleaned. If there’s any tooth decay or gum infection, your doctor will be able to treat you.
- Quit smoking: Lighting up a cigarette actually reduces the flow of saliva, which is your mouth’s method of getting rid of bacteria.
- Take probiotics: A probiotic supplement may help to cut down on candida yeast that lives on the surface of the tongue.
- Drink more water: Water will help to keep the cavity moist. Besides, it is good to chew gums or suck candies (better sugarless). They stimulate saliva production, which helps washing away bacteria and food debris.
Like I said earlier, treatment of bad breath usually depends on the cause. To prevent it from happening, brush your teeth everyday, floss, maintain a healthy diet and visit your dentist.
By Amara Esinna :
Photocredits:healthportal.co.ug, madamenoire.com, www.livestrong.com