Chronic bad breath, otherwise known as halitosis, can affect our self-confidence and make us uncomfortable in our day-to-day life.
What causes bad breath?
Contrary to common thinking, bad breath from the gastrointestinal tract is considered to be extremely rare. The most common reasons causing bad breath are:
- Coated tongue with bacterial colonies at the back of the tongue.
- Poor oral hygiene and/or gum disease.
- Smoking.
- Dry mouth.
- Food and drinks like coffee, garlic, onions and spice, however, bad breath caused by these factors are short-lived.
- Crash dieting and low-carbohydrate diets.
- Certain medications like nitrates, chemotherapy medications and tranquilizers.
- Underlying medical conditions like diabetes, liver or kidney disease, acid reflux, and lung, throat, or nose infections.
Tips for fresh breath
There is no one treatment that fits all. The most common solutions are:
- Brush all areas of mouth regularly and floss between teeth. Also include effective scraping of tongue (especially backside) with tongue scraper.
- Regular use of certain mouthwashes, sugar free chewing gum and toothpastes.
- Cut down on smoking, caffeine and other contributing food habits.
- Get help from the dentist to treat and rule out any dental or gum disease and for advice on oral hygiene measures.
If none of the above helped, you might need referral to a medical doctor to treat the underlying medical condition which causes bad breath.
References
- Halitosis, American Dental Association
(http://www.mouthhealthy.org/en/az-topics/h/halitosis)
- Bad Breath: 6 Causes (and 7 Solutions) , American Dental Association
(http://www.mouthhealthy.org/en/az-topics/b/bad-breath)
- Bad breath (halitosis), NHS choices, UK
(http://www.nhs.uk/conditions/Bad-breath/Pages/Introduction.aspx)
- Halitosis or bad breath, Victoria state government, Australia
(https://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/conditionsandtreatments/halitosis-or-bad-breath)