Halitosis — or bad breath — may be due to poor oral hygiene, but this isn't always the case. It can also occur due to a number of health conditions, including dry mouth, heartburn or even disease in another part of your body. Treatment for halitosis depends on the underlying cause.
Mouth infections can cause bad breath. However, if your dentist has ruled out other causes and you brush and floss every day, your bad breath could be the result of another problem, such as a sinus condition, gastric reflux, diabetes, liver or kidney disease. In this case, see your healthcare provider.
Causes of bad breath include: eating or drinking strong-smelling or spicy foods and drinks. problems with your teeth or gums, such as gum disease, holes in your teeth or an infection.
If your bad breath persists despite good oral hygiene habits, it's a good idea to visit your dentist. Your dentist can help you identify signs of gum disease or mouth dryness that might be contributing to your bad breath. The best treatment option will depend on the underlying cause.
The rotten egg smell comes from the breakdown of microbes that live in your digestive system. It may be as simple as addressing acid reflux with an over the counter antacid or with a stronger medication if it is more persistent.
The research published in the International Journal of Dental Hygiene has shown that drinking or rinsing the mouth with a glass of water helped remove up to 60 per cent of the substances which contribute to bad breath1.
Everyone has had bad breath at some point. Halitosis could be caused by pungent foods and drinks, medication or a respiratory problem. This kind of bad breath is easy to get rid of. Bad breath that does not go away in spite of daily brushing and flossing could be a sign of a health issue, dental or otherwise.
One way is to lick your wrist, let it dry for a second, and sniff it - you would know if your breath stinks. Another way is to take a floss or tongue scraper and gently move it towards the back of your mouth or tongue and then smell it. This should also give you a fair assessment whether your breath smells bad.
If you can't get rid of bad breath on your own, see your family doctor to find out if a more serious problem is causing it. Bad breath may be a sign of a health problem. Sinus infections, chronic lung infections, liver or kidney diseases, and diabetes are some health conditions that may cause bad breath.
Some research suggests that our brain automatically filters out triggers or receptors that it deems to be non-threatening through a process called sensory adaptation. According to this theory, our nose may filter out any bad smells coming from the mouth because we have grown accustomed to our own odors.
Your digestive tract may be the cause of your foul breath if you frequently get heartburn or reflux after eating particular meals, such as dairy and spicy cuisine. These acids may smell sour, which causes gaseous odors to impact your breath.
Postnasal drip, respiratory and tonsil infections, sinus problems, diabetes, liver and kidney issues, as well as certain blood disorders can all cause bad breath. In some rarer cases, bad breath could be a sign of cancer or other serious conditions like metabolic disorders.
A: While there is no cure for chronic halitosis, following proper oral hygiene habits and using an effective treatment regimen can help to control the condition and keep bad breath at bay.
Black tea is one of the best drinks for controlling bad breath. It's rich in polyphenols, which work double time to keep your breath smelling great. First, they inhibit the growth of foul-smelling bacteria, and second, they reduce the rate at which the bacteria in your mouth produce unpleasant odors.
Halitosis treatment depends on the root cause of the issue. For example, if bad breath is due to poor oral hygiene, a dental cleaning and improved oral hygiene at home will likely help.
If you think you might have bad breath, there is a simple test that you can do. Just lick the inside of your wrist and sniff – if the smell is bad, you can be fairly sure that your breath is too.
"Most people do have bad breath and just do not know it," he says. Walking around with bad breath is obviously something that most people would prefer to avoid. But before you can cure bad breath, you need to be able to tell if you have it.
The argument hinges on the fact that in 1921, George Lambert, the son of Listerine founder Jordan Wheat Lambert, coined the term “halitosis” to describe bad breath. This is true, but it's a far cry from Dr. Listerine actually inventing bad breath or creating a need that people didn't perceive before.
Zinc supplements are available over the counter, or you can try to fill your diet with some zinc-filled foods like pumpkin or other squash seeds, dark chocolate or cocoa, or chickpeas in order to curb your bad breath naturally. Believe it or not, poor belly health can directly affect your breath!
Everyone also should be aware of other new symptoms, in addition to bad breath, that are possible signs of oral, oropharyngeal (throat) or laryngeal cancer.