Unmasking the Culprits of Bad Breath: Potential Causes

Almost everyone has experienced the discomfort of bad breath at some time in their lives, either their own or being in the proximity of someone else whose breath smells unpleasant. Known as 'halitosis', it can be quite embarrassing for the person having it, and often make them anxious.

In some situations, it may be temporary, and could possibly be due to certain foods eaten that day e.g., raw garlic, onions or similar. In others, it may be a regular challenge. Those who have had this condition for a while, know that even the constant use of mouth rinses, mints, chewing gums, and 'fresh-breath' promising toothpastes, give barely any relief. This is mainly because its underlying causes have not been addressed.

A good way to check if your own breath smells unpleasant, hold your palm close to your face and breathe outwards with a little force. Then check if it smells okay. If you are unable to discern, you can ask a close family member to help you confirm. Make small changes like gargling, brushing, tongue cleaning and flossing after meals, drinking more water and being mindful of certain foods.

If the situation persists for several days, keep an appointment with your dentist.

Halitosis can be caused by several factors. Some of the most common ones are:

- Food. Eating garlic or onion based foods, raw onions or certain spices may cause more bad breath than other foods. That is because, after you have eaten the food travels to your lungs as well as the digestive system, affecting your breath when you exhale.

- Lack of oral hygiene. Those who skip basic oral care steps in their daily routine should know that the food they eat may remain stuck between teeth and gums. This causes the mouth bacteria to act upon it and lead to plaque, which in turn may cause a gum disease like gingivitis.

- Tobacco. People who smoke or consume tobacco products like gutkha are always prone to having bad breath.

- Dentures and braces. People who use either are susceptible to getting food stuck in their teeth, attracting odor-causing bacteria, when not rinsed and cleaned thoroughly twice a day.

- Mouth dryness. Occasionally caused by certain medicines, mouth dryness occurs when saliva is not present in sufficient quantity in the mouth, preventing the proper cleansing of the mouth palate. It could also be due to people sleeping with their mouths open and waking up to 'morning breath'. Constant mouth dryness may be due to a problem with the salivary glands or a medical condition.

- Mouth infections. Whether it is a gum infection, a blister or tooth decay, oral hygiene gets disrupted due to the discomfort caused by the condition, and causes bad breath.

- Medication. Specific prescribed medicines have a tendency to cause dry mouth and bad breath.

- Nose and throat conditions. A bad cough leading to phlegm, sinuses releasing a drip down the nasal passage into the throat, or a tonsil infection, can all be the reason for bad breath.

- Other health issues. Underlying health conditions or even acid reflux can cause odor in the breath, as the digestive system is not functioning at optimum.

Though not a cause for concern when it is a temporary situation, it is important to visit the dentist if the condition persists, so that one can preempt other complications later on.

The best way to deal with bad breath is to maintain a consistent routine for your oral hygiene, drink lots of water, quit smoking and avoid certain foods and spices.

To know more about halitosis or consult one of our specialists at Apollo, please contact: 18001020288