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Are you suffering from bad breath? Do you clean your tongue daily? Taking care of our oral hygiene is one of the important things we consider in health. Bad breath is also known as Halitosis. It is a condition which causes a bad smell or odor in our mouth leading to unease, worry and embarrassment. There can be multiple causes of bad breath with certain remedies but if the halitosis is not going away with the natural remedies then you have to consider going to a dentist or a physician.
What causes bad breath?
- Poor oral hygiene
Lack of regular brushing and tongue cleaning gives the opportunity to the bacteria in our mouth to build a layer of plaque and producing odor. Due to improper oral hygiene maintenance, The small particles of food stuck in the gums and impact in the taste buds of the tongue. Imagine a rotten fruit or food closed in a bag for several days! The smell would be awful right?
- The food we eat!!
Consumption of carbohydrates can enhance halitosis due to production of ketone which is produced during the breakdown of fats. Ketones are famous for producing pungent halitosis in our mouth. Garlic and onions are the foods which cause bad breath even after digestion.
- Tobacco
It is obvious that Smokeless tobacco and cigarettes have a harmful impact on our body but one can not ignore the fact that it can cause many other oral problems such as halitosis. The chemical released from the tobacco accumulates on the tongue which leads to bad breath and ultimately lack of confidence.
- Drugs
Some of the medicines used for allergies can cause bad breath upon their longer use. The intake of these drugs leads to dry mouth causing halitosis and other oral health-related problems.
- Other health conditions
Sometimes systemic problems can be involved in causing bad breath and other oral health-related issues such as kidney infections, lung problems, gastrointestinal problems and diabetes.
What are the remedies?
Maintenance of good oral hygiene is the key to a healthy and halitosis free mouth. If you are really concerned about bad breath and other oral health problems following the below-mentioned remedies will help you to restore your confidence to smile.
- Avoid dry mouth
Water is a universal fluid used to neutralize all kinds of acidic and alkaline medium, drinking water frequently would help you to avoid dry mouth which ultimately causes halitosis. Drinking water and chewing gums will stimulate the production of saliva to keep the mouth moist.
- Take good care of your mouth
Proper brushing and flossing are very important to remove food debris from the surface of teeth and underlying part of gums. Clean your tongue with a tongue cleaner to smell good and to smile wider.
- Adjust your diet
Avoid intake of foods such as garlic and onion that can cause halitosis. Cut down the intake of sugary foods because it is one of the causes of halitosis.
- Use mouth rinses
Gargle with medicated mouthwashes and saltwater to control the bacterial count which are responsible for halitosis. Along with the use of the mouth, rinses avoid using any kind of tobacco for a fresh and confident smile.
When we talk about oral well-being it means more than brushing twice a day and flossing once rather it means a fresh breath, healthy mouth and good overall health. Bad breath can lead to lack of confidence to smile and to interact with others so For proper care of your mouth, it’s significant to visit a dentist twice a year for regular checkups.
