An estimated 65% percent of Americans and Nigerians have bad breath, and together we spend more than $1 billion a year on over-the-counter products to combat it.
More than 40 million Americans report persistent bad breath, and about 90% of cases are caused by an oral problem rather than a systemic one.
Also known as halitosis, bad breath is an embarrassing and unpleasant problem, and many of the products sold to correct it are ineffective because they only mask the problem.
To truly get rid of bad breath, it's important to figure out what's causing it – read on for common causes, and what you can do to have fresher breath that lasts!
What causes bad breath?
1. Food
In most cases, halitosis is caused by food remaining in the mouth - on the teeth, tongue, and gums, where it collects bacteria. Dead and dying bacterial cells in your mouth release a sulfur compound that gives your breath an unpleasant odor.
Certain foods, like garlic and onions, can also contribute to breath odor. Once the food is absorbed into the bloodstream, it is transferred to the lungs and exhaled. Also, dieters sometimes develop unpleasant breath from fasting.
2. Gum Disease
Periodontal (gum) disease often causes persistent bad breath or a bad taste in the mouth. Gum disease is caused by plaque - the sticky, often colorless, film of bacteria that constantly forms on teeth. As with food residue, plaque harbors bacteria, which produce the unpleasant odor.
3. Dry Mouth
Dry mouth, or xerostomia, may also cause bad breath. Saliva cleans your mouth and removes the particles and bacteria that cause odor, so decreased salivary flow is often the cause of chronic halitosis.
4. Tobacco
In addition to their other health risks, tobacco products cause bad breath, stain teeth, reduce your ability to taste foods, and irritate your gum tissues.
5. Underlying Health Problems
Bad breath may also be a sign that you have a serious health problem, such as diabetes, respiratory tract infection, chronic sinusitis, postnasal drip, chronic bronchitis, gastrointestinal disturbance, liver failure, and many others. If you have chronic bad breath in combination with other serious symptoms, contact your doctor right away.
6. Medications
Bad breath can also be caused by your medications, including central nervous system agents, anti-Parkinson drugs, antihistamines/decongestants, anti-psychotics, anti-cholinergics, narcotics, anti-hypertensives, and anti-depressants. Do not stop taking any prescription medication because of bad breath, but speak to the prescribing doctor if your halitosis is bothering you.
Caring for Bad Breath
Daily brushing and flossing, along with regular professional cleanings, will normally take care of unpleasant breath. Whether your halitosis comes from food particles, plaque, or gum disease, good oral hygiene will go a long way in combating halitosis.
Be sure to thoroughly brush your tongue – it's an often-overlooked source of bad breath. The tongue's surface is extremely rough and bacteria can accumulate easily in the cracks and crevices. Bacterial plaque and food debris also can accumulate on the back of the tongue, so brush it thoroughly!
Improperly cleaned dentures can also harbor odor-causing bacteria and food particles. If you wear removable dentures, take them out each night and clean them thoroughly before replacing them.
If simple oral care doesn't affect your bad breath, your dentist can examine your mouth to make sure it's healthy and the odor is not oral in nature. If the odor is due to gum disease, your dentist can either treat the disease or refer you to a periodontist like Dr. Cain, who is a specialist in treating gum tissues.
Gum disease can cause gum tissues to pull away from the teeth and form pockets. When these pockets are deep, only a professional periodontal cleaning can remove the bacteria and plaque that accumulate there.
If the odor is not caused by an oral source, you may be referred to your family physician or a specialist to determine the cause of the odor and possible treatment. Before this visit, make a list of the foods you eat and any medications you take to rule out those sources.
Over-the-counter mouthwashes are generally ineffectiveon chronic bad breath, though they may temporarily freshen your breath. If your bad breath persists even after good oral hygiene, talk to your dentist or periodontist about prescription anti-halitosis products that have been scientifically proven to kill the bacteria that cause bad breath and neutralize the sulfur compounds they produce.<
More than 40 million Americans report persistent bad breath, and about 90% of cases are caused by an oral problem rather than a systemic one.
Also known as halitosis, bad breath is an embarrassing and unpleasant problem, and many of the products sold to correct it are ineffective because they only mask the problem.
To truly get rid of bad breath, it's important to figure out what's causing it – read on for common causes, and what you can do to have fresher breath that lasts!
What causes bad breath?
1. Food
In most cases, halitosis is caused by food remaining in the mouth - on the teeth, tongue, and gums, where it collects bacteria. Dead and dying bacterial cells in your mouth release a sulfur compound that gives your breath an unpleasant odor.
Certain foods, like garlic and onions, can also contribute to breath odor. Once the food is absorbed into the bloodstream, it is transferred to the lungs and exhaled. Also, dieters sometimes develop unpleasant breath from fasting.
2. Gum Disease
Periodontal (gum) disease often causes persistent bad breath or a bad taste in the mouth. Gum disease is caused by plaque - the sticky, often colorless, film of bacteria that constantly forms on teeth. As with food residue, plaque harbors bacteria, which produce the unpleasant odor.
3. Dry Mouth
Dry mouth, or xerostomia, may also cause bad breath. Saliva cleans your mouth and removes the particles and bacteria that cause odor, so decreased salivary flow is often the cause of chronic halitosis.
4. Tobacco
In addition to their other health risks, tobacco products cause bad breath, stain teeth, reduce your ability to taste foods, and irritate your gum tissues.
5. Underlying Health Problems
Bad breath may also be a sign that you have a serious health problem, such as diabetes, respiratory tract infection, chronic sinusitis, postnasal drip, chronic bronchitis, gastrointestinal disturbance, liver failure, and many others. If you have chronic bad breath in combination with other serious symptoms, contact your doctor right away.
6. Medications
Bad breath can also be caused by your medications, including central nervous system agents, anti-Parkinson drugs, antihistamines/decongestants, anti-psychotics, anti-cholinergics, narcotics, anti-hypertensives, and anti-depressants. Do not stop taking any prescription medication because of bad breath, but speak to the prescribing doctor if your halitosis is bothering you.
Caring for Bad Breath
Daily brushing and flossing, along with regular professional cleanings, will normally take care of unpleasant breath. Whether your halitosis comes from food particles, plaque, or gum disease, good oral hygiene will go a long way in combating halitosis.
Be sure to thoroughly brush your tongue – it's an often-overlooked source of bad breath. The tongue's surface is extremely rough and bacteria can accumulate easily in the cracks and crevices. Bacterial plaque and food debris also can accumulate on the back of the tongue, so brush it thoroughly!
Improperly cleaned dentures can also harbor odor-causing bacteria and food particles. If you wear removable dentures, take them out each night and clean them thoroughly before replacing them.
If simple oral care doesn't affect your bad breath, your dentist can examine your mouth to make sure it's healthy and the odor is not oral in nature. If the odor is due to gum disease, your dentist can either treat the disease or refer you to a periodontist like Dr. Cain, who is a specialist in treating gum tissues.
Gum disease can cause gum tissues to pull away from the teeth and form pockets. When these pockets are deep, only a professional periodontal cleaning can remove the bacteria and plaque that accumulate there.
If the odor is not caused by an oral source, you may be referred to your family physician or a specialist to determine the cause of the odor and possible treatment. Before this visit, make a list of the foods you eat and any medications you take to rule out those sources.
Over-the-counter mouthwashes are generally ineffectiveon chronic bad breath, though they may temporarily freshen your breath. If your bad breath persists even after good oral hygiene, talk to your dentist or periodontist about prescription anti-halitosis products that have been scientifically proven to kill the bacteria that cause bad breath and neutralize the sulfur compounds they produce.<
No comments:
Post a Comment