Treatments for Bad Breath

Factors that can cause bad breath

Bad breath can be caused by many factors, the most basic one being you own oral and dental hygiene practices. Keep reading to find out more!

Poorly maintained oral hygiene and bad breath

Not regularly brushing, flossing and failing to clean the tongue can cause bad breath. Plaque buildup on teeth and gums leads to bad breath as bacteria in the mouth digest food particles. This activity acidic chemicals that create a bad smell.

Over time, this leads to tartar and calculus build-up around the teeth, causing periodontal disease, swelling in the gums and the formation of deep pockets between your gums and teeth. These pockets will collect smelly bacteria making halitosis a whole lot worse.

Along with plaque formation on teeth, bacteria present on the back of the tongue have a major role in contributing to bad breath.

Certain Types of Food

Food such as onions, garlic and even certain spices are broken down by the body into strong smelling compounds, which can even enter the bloodstream and be released through the air we exhale. So being mindful of what you eat can help reduce the overall smell exuded from your mouth!

Xerostomia or Dry Mouth Syndrome

If you’re a mouth breather, or don’t drink enough water, your saliva production is greatly reduced, which can lead to pronounced levels of bad breath. Saliva acts as a natural cleanser and buffer, counteracting the acidic environment caused by bacteria. Additionally, its enzymes aid in digestion. During sleep, saliva production naturally decreases, but mouth breathing makes this worse by further diminishing what’s produced, leading to terrible morning breath.

Furthermore, certain medications specific chemotherapeutic drugs and throat radiation therapy are known to affect the salivary glands and reduce saliva production. Low saliva leads to no washing or neutralising action, resulting in severe levels of halitosis along with higher levels of dental decay, swelling in the gums and formation of plaque and tartar build-up.

Tobacco Use

Using products containing tobacco, such as cigarettes, heightens the bad odour from the mouth as smokers ingest hundreds of harmful chemicals which react within the body causing tissue damage. The reduction in salivary flow leads to dry mouth, tartar production and in turn, gum disease.

Infections in the mouth or throat

In cases of tooth extractions, sockets can sometimes become infected if not cared for and cause a very foul scent. Similarly, sinusitis and throat infections such as tonsillitis create pungent, foul scents which are expressed while speaking, coughing or even breathing.

Tonsillitis can also cause growth of stones, which are known to be one of the most unpleasant smelling conditions of the throat and can lead to halitosis.

Alcohol

The more often you drink alcohol the more likely you will experience bad breath. Consuming a lot of alcohol causes dryness in the mouth and reduces your saliva production, which increases the likelihood of bacteria flourishing as it contains.

Digestive Issues

Having digestive issues can lead to bad breath. Acid reflux or constipation is caused when your stomach or intestines are not working effectively. They can release bad-smelling gas that make their way up to your oesophagus and emit through your mouth during social interactions.