How to Fight & Prevent Bad Breath| Causes | Cure

How to Fight & Prevent Bad Breath || All About Oral Hygiene || (Photo by Riccardo Fissore on Unsplash)

Do you remember going up to anyone and complain about bad breath, No…It’s rude but then you don’t feel comfortable talking to people facing this problem either. Time for self-assessment, try to smell your breath by placing your hand over your nose and mouth and if you are the victim of an unpleasant odour then read on to know more about it.

Causes:

Poor Oral Hygiene: If you don’t brush and floss daily, food particles can remain in your mouth, promoting bacterial growth between teeth, around the gums, and on the tongue. This is the major culprit of bad breath.

Unhealthy Habits: Smoking and alcohol intake can also cause bad breath.

Medical Conditions: dry mouth, diabetes, respiratory tract infections, kidney, liver and lung diseases, gastrointestinal issues, digestion problems or throat infections can also be the reason.

Mouth infections: Cavities or gum disease may cause bad breath. In some cases, individuals experience more blood loss due to bleeding gums. Bad breath can surface from decomposing blood too.

Dentures or braces: Food particles not properly cleaned from braces or dentures can rot or cause proliferation of bacteria hence emitting the odour. Loose-fitting dentures may cause sores or infections in the mouth, which can also lead to bad breath.

Prevention:

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1. Oral care products – Use oral care products such as mouthwashes and toothpastes that are effective in fighting bad breath.
2.  Proper oral care – Brush and floss your teeth at least twice a day with fluoride toothpaste. This helps to remove any food and plaque which can cause bad breath. Don’t forget to brush the tongue, too. Practice the same hygiene with your dentures. Also go for a dental checkup twice a year.
3. Saliva stimulation – Prevent dry mouth with chewing gum, lozenges, or mints that are sugar-free.
4. Fibrous fruits and vegetables– One of the best ways to remove bacteria in the mouth is to eat fibrous food especially apple.
5. Avoid carbohydrates- Avoid eating heavily processed foods that contain refined carbohydrates such as cookies, cakes, sweets and ice cream.
6. Drink tea– Green Tea and Black Tea contain polyphenols that help eliminate sulphur compounds and reduce oral bacteria.
7. Rinse- your mouth after eating meat, fish or dairy products.
8. Stop smoking and alcohol – Studies have shown that smokers present a higher risk of developing periodontal disease and bad breath because smoking causes dry mouth which can cause bad breath so does alcohol
9. Breathe through your nose-  Always try to breathe through your nose instead of the mouth. Snoring or sleep apnea issues should be treated because that could be affecting your breath and causing dry mouth.
10. Drink water – Keep your mouth moist by drinking plenty of water. It also flushes away the food particles from your mouth so they don’t stick to the teeth.

Natural Remedies:

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– Instead of commercial mouthwashes, you can also use essential oils like thyme, peppermint, wintergreen, and eucalyptus they perform better.

– Chewing on mint or parsley.

– Brush your teeth with baking soda to neutralize the acidity of your mouth

•brushing: Wet your toothbrush and dip it into the baking soda and brush teeth.

•rinsing: Add a teaspoon of baking soda in a small glass of water. Swish it around in your mouth and spit out.

Bad breath is an embarrassing condition that lowers self-esteem and is a big turn-off if you suffer from this condition, high time you should take measures. Also, keep a pack of mints or mouth freshener handy for a quick fix to bad breath.

Also Read: Tips to cure Bad Breath

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