Halitosis, commonly known as bad breath can result from poor dental healthcare and maintenance or even be a sign of other health problems. For some, bad breath is caused by a dietary issue of a diet filled with unhealthy habits.
The first thing that causes bad breath is if you don’t brush and floss daily to clean your mouth and teeth of bacteria and plaque. So make sure you’re doing the basics of brushing and flossing. Poor dental hygiene can also lead to gingivitis or gum disease which leaves an even worse odor in the mouth. Not a way to live if you’re in contact with others.
How Does What You Eat Affect Breath?
The food we eat is broken down in our mouth and sits in our stomach for hours where the acid continues to break it apart. If you’ve recently eaten garlic, onions, or drank a coke you know what it is to end up with bad breath caused from the food or drink you’ve had in the past few hours.
While brushing and flossing can help, even mouthwash will only cover up the odor temporarily. Cleansing your stomach and intestines through fasting or sticking to bland foods can also help.
Even mouthwash only temporarily covers up the odor.
For the odor to go away completely, the foods need to have passed through your body.
Why Do Poor Habits Cause Bad Breath?
Failing to maintain proper dental hygiene such as brushing and flossing daily, food particles will end up left in your mouth, surrounding your gums, and living on your tongue. This will cause extensive bad breath. Antibacterial mouth rinses can help, but also cause other problems such as dry mouth.
Smoking and drinking also increase the chance for gum and mouth diseases as well as bad breath.
What Health Problems Are Associated With Bad Breath?
Persistent bad breath or a bad taste in the mouth may be a warning sign of gum (periodontal) disease. Gum disease is caused by the buildup of plaque on teeth. Bacteria cause the formation of toxins to form, which irritate the gums. If gum disease continues untreated, it can damage the gums and jawbone.
To avoid bad breath, make sure to improve your dental hygiene and diet as well as avoid terribly bad habits such as drinking alcohol and smoking.
