Bad Breath and what you can do

Do you have bad halitosis? Halitosis is the fancy name for bad breath. If bad breath is ignored it can cause a major problem in one’s life.

Even if you don’t have bad breath, what people may not realize is that half of the adult population suffers from persistent bad breath. It can affect us in our personal lives at home and in our professional lives at work.

 

The big questions are why do we get bad breath, and what can we do about it?

Bad breath can be caused by a myriad of reasons including things you eat, your health but can be other things you would never consider

·         Foods à some foods such as garlic and onions. In fact garlic can form something called methyl sulfide cannot be digested. Instead it is passed through your blood stream to your lungs and skin.

·         Dry mouth à When your mouth is not moisturized it can lead to bad breath. This can happen due to medications, health and even right after exercising, we also produce less saliva when we sleep leading to dry mouth.

·         Germs à Germs that exist in our mouth can cause 90-95% of bad breath. The mixture of germs and protein cause bad breath through by producing a sulfur gas.

·         Health issues à People that have liver problems, kidney problems and diabetes tend to have more bad breath problems. The build-up of wastes in the blood leads to a metallic taste in the mouth that produces the odor. Acid reflux can also be a major contributor to bad breath.

There are many ways to prevent bad breath. Some of the most popular methods such as mouth wash with alcohol could actually make your breath worse so be sure to check labels and stay away from those with alcohol. In addition the Australian Dental Journal concluded there is sufficient evidence that mouthwashes with alcohol increase your risk of developing oral cancer. There are several rinses and mouthwashes without alcohol that may help, check with your dentist about these.

Chewing fresh herbs such as parsley, thyme and rosemary also helps prevent bad odors after a smelly meal. The chlorophyll in the leaves help neutralize.

Drinking more water can help keep you more moisturized and lessen bad breath

Eating cheeses like mozzarella can prevent bad breath since some dairy products help neutralize acidity.

Xylitol which is available in many gums and dental products can help lessen bacteria and helps keep your mouth more moisturized.

Of course brushing and flossing as taught by your dental health team and visiting them at least twice year will help tremendously.

 For more information about steps you can take to avoid and get rid of halitosis, log on to our website at LevineDental.com or our facebook page or subscribe to our YouTube channel. We're always happy to answer your questions at (414) 355-0213.