Bad breath can be a deeply embarrassing problem. Unfortunately, it can hamper the social lives of people and also can really dent the self-confidence of the individuals who are suffering from bad breath. In severe cases, people with bad breath choose not to talk and interact less out of their insecurities. Fortunately, it is a treatable condition. The right information and a few minor tweaks can really help in getting rid of the foul breath.
Bad breath is medically known as halitosis. According to a survey conducted by the Medical News Today, around 25% of the world population suffer from this condition. This condition, however, cannot be fixed with some quick brushing, as the problem runs deeper than that. We often make this mistake that taking care of our mouths can only help us get rid of our bad breath. But, there are many other reasons behind it that give rise to this problem. A few of such reasons are listed below.
1. Food Habits
Food habits are often the reason behind several of our health issues. The food that we eat contributes heavily to our oral health. According to the leading Mayo Clinic, the food that we eat gets broken down to pieces inside our mouths and around our teeth. These food particle can accumulate around and on our teeth. This can often lead to the production of germs and bacteria inside our mouths. Thus, the breakdown of the food along with the activity of the bacteria can give rise to bad breath.
There are also many food items like garlic that can specifically cause bad breath. Certain foods like onions and garlic have very strong pungent aromas, which can leave behind a stench after their consumption. Sometimes, after the breakdown of certain foods, the smell travels back to the lungs via blood, which can affect the breath. Beverages like coffee and tea can also aggravate bad breath due to their strong aromas.
2. Tobacco-Rich Products And Smoking
It is no hidden secret that smoking or consumption of tobacco is very bad for our health. But, smoking or tobacco also has other side effects. Halitosis happens to be one of them. Smoking can leave behind a stench of tobacco and weaken the gums. Smoke can irritate the gums, stain the teeth and aggravate many other oral problems. According to the National Health Services, smoking is one of the leading causes behind bad breath.
3. Dry Mouths
Saliva provides many unique benefits to our well being that we hardly know about. The contents of the saliva help in killing halitosis causing bacteria and maintain a good oral hygiene. For some people, production of the saliva decreases which causes a condition called dry mouth or xerostomia. According to the National Health Services, dry mouth can cause increased build up of bacteria in the mouth, which is a major cause behind bad breath. Dry mouth often occurs due to the dysfunction of the salivary glands.
4. Low Carbohydrate Diet
This might seem odd but it is true. Low carbohydrate diets can cause bad breath. People who are trying to lose weight often switch to low carbohydrate meals. When our bodies are provided with insufficient amount of carbohydrates, our bodies start burning fat for energy. This state of ketosis releases ketones in the blood which is responsible for bad breath.
5. Effect Of Medications
Some medications can aggravate the problem of dry mouth and hence, halitosis. Medications used for treating high blood pressure, urinary conditions and medications containing nitrates can aggravate the condition of halitosis.
6. Bad Oral Hygiene
This is one of the prime contributing factors to halitosis. Brushing and flossing can clean our teeth, as well as remove unwanted particles from our teeth. The food particles stuck between our teeth can cause plaque and aggravate halitosis.
So, now that you know the reason behind bad breath, you can make a change today.
