While you may feel the bad breath you’re experiencing is simply a result of not brushing your teeth properly, there could also be other reasons contributing to it. Halitosis (another name for ‘bad breath’) can also be an indicator of other health problems that are aggravated by the types of food consumed and various unfit lifestyle habits.
Type of Foods You Eat
The food you eat typically begins to break down right inside your mouth at the time of chewing it. After they are digested, they reach your bloodstream from where they are eventually passed into your lungs. Now this where they are let off in your breath and you figure the smell, which is an inevitable outcome of the process involved. Therefore, even if you floss or use a mouthwash post having strongly flavoured foods, such as garlic or onions, it does not rid you of the odour completely until the time these foods pass from your body.
Poor Habits Causing Bad Breath
Poor brushing habits also tend to cause harm to your overall mouth health. As such, it is important for you to brush and floss your teeth on a daily basis lest you shall experience undue bacterial growth around your gums, tongue, and teeth. These are the primary reasons that cause bad breath, but these can also be combatted with proper care. Use of antibacterial mouthwashes also works toward eradicating bacterial growth in the mouth. For those who use dentures, it is equally important to clean their artificial teeth properly otherwise, various odour-causing bacteria and food particles can cause bad breath if dentures are not properly cleaned. Ill-habits like smoking cigarettes or using tobacco-based products also leads to bad breath, stained teeth and causes irritation in gums.
Health Problems Caused by Bad Breath
Occasional bad breath can be tackled but if it happens persistently, it might as well be a warning sign of a gum or periodontal disease. Periodontal problems are usually caused due to the plaque that builds up on teeth resulting in toxins formation which is further aggravated by bacterial growth. This further irritates the gums and if gum disease carry on for a longer duration, they can damage the gums as well as the jawbone.
Besides the aforementioned problems, other issues such as poorly fitted dental appliances, any cavities in the teeth or yeast infections inside the mouth are largely responsible for bad breath and resulting dental problems.
Preventing Bad Breath
You can and must definitely control bad breath by following routine practices such as maintaining oral hygiene. Also, brushing your teeth twice a day with a fluoride based toothpaste will help remove food debris and plaque from your mouth. A good practice is to replace your toothbrush every 2 to 3 months or after experiencing any kind of illness. Use a floss or an effective interdental cleaner once in a day that will help you remove sticky food particles and plaque hiding between the teeth. At the same time, make sure you remove dentures during the night and clean them thoroughly before placing them back in your mouth the next morning.