Guide to Preventing and Treating Halitosis
Who would want to be ignored by their friends because of bad breath? An estimated 25% of people suffer from bad breath. Having this condition can really ruin you and might lose you some friends or people to talk to. If you suffer from halitosis, this can be very embarrassing and often hard to recognize since it is very hard to smell your own breath.
Bad breath, or medically known as halitosis, isn’t something that you should ignore. This condition is caused by a lot of things. Practicing good oral hygiene can reduce or eliminate this condition. If you think you have this medical condition, this article will help you provide knowledge about this oral problem.
What Causes It?
Having bad breath can be because of a lot of things. These include:
Food
After eating your meal, breakdowns of food particles which get stuck on your teeth can cause some bad odors. After being digested, the breakdown products of the food you eat are carried in the blood going to the lungs, where they can affect your breath.
Poor Dental Hygiene
When you brush or floss your teeth, this can cause the small particles of food which builds up and breaks down producing the odor, removed. If not brushing regularly, a film of bacteria could build up in your teeth, called plaque, which can irritate the gums and cause inflammation between your teeth and gums.
Drugs
There are some medications which can increase the bad odor since they reduce the saliva. Some drugs also produce bad odors when they breakdown and release the chemicals in the breath.
Smoking
Smoking also causes bad breath since smoking products can dry your mouth, and also leave their own odor on your breath. Smokers have a great chance of developing gum disease, which then adds to halitosis.
Diseases
Some metabolic diseases can also cause halitosis. This is because of the specific mixes of chemicals which they produce.
Symptoms of Bad Breath
The only way to know if you have bad breath depends on the smell of your breath. Depending on the cause of the problem, the specific odor of the breath can vary. It can be difficult to assess it yourself, but if you don’t have the courage to ask someone if you have bad breath, you can try licking your wrist, and when it’s dry, smell it. If you smell something bad on the area of your wrist, it is likely that you have halitosis.
How to Prevent Bad Breath?
There are certain home remedies which can help you whether you want to eliminate or prevent having bad breath. These includes:
Brush the teeth
Always remember to brush your teeth at least twice a day, morning and evening. But dentists recommend that it should be after each meal you eat.
Brush Your Tongue
Bacteria, food and dead cells commonly build-up on the tongue. This is common especially to people who smoke or those with dry mouth. So, it’s important to include your tongue every time you brush.
Floss
After brushing your teeth, floss. It can help reduce the build-up of food particles and plaque which are stuck from between your teeth. This should be done after brushing, since brushing only cleans around 60 percent of the surface of your tooth.
Avoid having dry mouth
To avoid having bad breath, it is important that you also avoid having dry mouth, since it is one of the causes. To help stimulate the production of saliva, you can chew gum.
Use mouthwash
Mouthwash provides a temporary way in order to mask bad breath. However, this does not treat the underlying cause of the condition.
Diet
Watch what you eat. Avoid food which can add to bad breath, including onions, garlic, spicy and sugary food. Reduce also alcohol and coffee consumption.
Halitosis Diagnosis
Your dentist should take your complete medical and dental history and will also rate the odor of your breath on a six-point intensity scale. There are detectors which can rate this odor more precisely, such as:
Halimeter
This instrument detects low levels of sulfur from your mouth.
BANA Test
This instrument measures the levels of a specific enzyme which is produced by halitosis-causing bacteria.
Gas Chromatography
This instrument tests three volatile sulfur compounds such as Hydrogen sulfide, methyl mercaptan, and dimethyl sulfide.
Beta-galactosidase Test
This instrument tests the levels of the enzyme beta-galactosidase, which have been found to correlate with the mouth odor.
If you suffer from halitosis, or if you just want to prevent having this embarrassing condition, here are some products available on the market today which can help you:
Dental Probiotic
This product helps destroy bacteria which causes the bad breath so the good ones can create a healthy environment in your mouth. It improves and treats upper respiratory and oral health and also protects teeth and gums.
TheraBreath Oral Rinse
This product has been clinically tested and is one of America’s best-selling specialty oral hygiene treatments. It neutralizes sulfur-producing bacteria and also destroys morning breath and food odor.
CloSYS Mouthwash
This product has advanced oral care benefits without the feeling of burning. It is made for sensitive mouths since it does not contain alcohol which can burn your mouth. It works gently and effectively and kills 99.9% of germs for a noticeably cleaner and fresher mouth.
Dr. Tungs Tongue Cleaner
This product has curved cleaning edge and t is the best remedy for bad breath WIth this product, cleaning your tongue now feels comfortable, quick and effective. It is made of stainless steel which is more comfortable and gentle on the tongue compared to plastic.
TheraBreath Toothpaste
This toothpaste is recommended by the dentist since it formulates all types of bad breath. The proprietary blend of ingredients of this toothpaste fights harmful germs and also contains certified vegan ingredients. It contains fluoride which helps control the build-up of plaque, tartar, and cavities.
OralWellness Mouthwash
This herbal liquid toothpaste oil is made for toothache, abscess, bad breath treatment, sensitive, bleeding and receding gums since it restores wellness and balance to your mouth for you to have healthy and strong teeth and gums.
TUNG Tongue Cleaner
This product is trusted for over 15 years and made in America. This product helps you reach and clean the far back of your tongue without gagging. 90% of users prefer this tongue cleaner compared to all the other tongue cleaners.
Probiotic Charcoal Toothpaste
This toothpaste is formulated with the perfect combination of ingredients to support periodontal health at its core. It contains activated charcoal which maintains your oral PH. Adding this to your oral care routine is the best way to polish and whiten your teeth in order to restore a beautiful, healthy smile.
Halitosis BM
This product helps you battle halitosis. It is made in FDA-Registered facility to exacting HPUS standards and ISO Manufacturing excellence. This product is completely safe even for small children with no interactions with other medications drugs.