Why do I have bad breath?

19 May 2014

Why do I have bad breath?

It may be that your bad breath is a symptom of some underlying serious non-oral medical condition like diabetes, liver or renal failure, carcinoma, or respiratory tract diseases. It may be that your bad breath is an indication that you have infections, lesions or ulceration in the mouth, gums, tongue, nose, throat, or stomach. It may also be that you smoke too much, or you drink coffee or liquor too much, or you eat too much very pungent food like garlic and onion. But as in the vast majority of cases, it may simply be that you have bad breath because you have very poor oral hygiene. You have bad breath because you don’t brush your teeth and clean your mouth as thorough and as regularly as you should.

If you don’t brush and floss your teeth at least twice daily, food particles can remain in your mouth. This promotes bacterial growth around the teeth and gums, and especially on the tongue. The bacteria when combined with saliva breaks down leftover food particles and proteins, in the process creating and releasing bad smelling gases. The tongue in particular is most often where mouth-related halitosis originates. Large quantities of naturally-occurring bacteria are usually found at the back of the tongue. This part of the tongue is relatively dry as well as hard to reach when cleaning the mouth. It also has a convoluted surface which makes it a good place for anaerobic bacteria to thrive and grow. The waste products from these anaerobic bacteria make the foul smell which we associate with intense halitosis.

To avoid having bad breath, dental professionals recommend that you brush and floss at least twice a day to get rid of the food left between teeth and to prevent the buildup of plaque. You should also brush or scrape off the coating that normally forms on the tongue as they can harbour foul-smelling bacteria. Gargling and swishing your mouth with water freshens your breath by eliminating food particles and stimulating saliva. Anti-bacterial mouthwashes may add extra protection by reducing plaque-causing bacteria. Chewing sugarless gum also helps as it stimulates production of saliva, which is the mouth’s natural defense mechanism against plaque acids which cause bad breath as well as tooth decay. Aside from observing proper oral hygiene, experts recommend that you stick to a healthy diet, reduce alcohol and coffee intake, drink plenty of water, and to get professional teeth cleaning along with your regular dental check-ups.

Regular professional dental cleaning to supplement your own daily teeth and gum cleaning routine at home will help ensure that your mouth stays healthy and disease-free. During a typical professional dental cleaning session, your dentist or hygienist will be able to clean all those areas that are difficult to reach on your own. He or she will remove the hard deposits of tartar that have built up on the teeth and teaching you how to prevent them from coming back. Your dentist or hygienist will also be able to show you the best way to clean your teeth, gums and tongue. Oral health experts recommend at least twice a year in-office professional dental cleaning for best results. A clean, healthy mouth will improve your smile and keep you from having to worry constantly about having bad breath.