Are you living with a constant and disturbing odor that haunts you when you wake up in the morning, throughout the day or before you go to bed at night? Bad breath is a problem that occurs for various reasons that bother both you and those around you and that needs to be resolved as soon as possible. Now, let's discover together the causes of bad breath and how you can get rid of this problem.
What is Bad Breath?
Bad breath (halitosis) is the name given to chronic odors that occur inside the body and are released through the mouth, nose or breathing, or sometimes through various combinations of these three pathways, and that last for at least two months or close to this period, either intermittently or continuously.
How Does Bad Breath Occur?
When we look at the main causes of bad breath, we see that 90% of this discomfort is caused by oral problems. The remaining factors are 9% caused by respiratory, digestive and urinary tract disorders. Only 1% is caused by eating habits and medications used.
Inadequate hygiene is one of the most common causes of bad breath. It is very important to brush your teeth at least twice a day and use dental floss. This is because plaque and food residue accumulated in the mouth can accumulate between your teeth and gums, causing bad breath. In addition, tongue cleaning should not be neglected, as bacteria accumulated on the surface of the tongue can also cause bad breath.
Other oral problems can also cause bad breath, including tooth decay, gum disease, and oral infections. Tooth decay and gum disease allow bacteria to grow and cause bad breath. If these problems are not treated, bad breath can get worse.
Dietary habits are also factors that affect bad breath. Especially foods with strong odors, such as onions and garlic, can cause bad breath due to the release of sulfur compounds from the digestive process. In addition, low-carb diets can cause ketosis, which can increase bad breath.
How to Take Precautions for Bad Breath?
There are various methods to prevent and control bad breath.
Brush your teeth at least twice a day and floss to clean between your teeth. Tongue cleaning is also important because bacteria and food particles can accumulate on the tongue.
You can reduce the amount of bacteria in your mouth by rinsing your mouth with antibacterial mouthwash.
If you use dentures, braces or oral appliances, these appliances need to be cleaned regularly.
Avoid foods that may cause bad breath and choose healthy foods such as fresh vegetables and fruits.
Drinking plenty of water prevents dry mouth and reduces bad breath by increasing saliva secretion.
By visiting your dentist regularly, you can detect and treat tooth decay and other oral health problems early.
Smoking and drinking alcohol can cause bad breath. Avoiding these habits is effective in reducing bad breath.
Although bad breath can usually be controlled with simple steps, it is important to consult a dentist or specialist if it has become persistent.
How Does Tongue Cleaning Affect Bad Breath?
One of the most common causes of bad breath is the accumulation of bacteria on the tongue. Food debris, dead cells, and bacteria accumulate on the surface of the tongue, causing a bad odor.
Tongue cleaning is critical to preventing bad breath. Regular tongue cleaning reduces the number of bacteria in the mouth and provides fresh breath. Brushing the tongue while brushing your teeth or using special tongue cleaning devices are effective methods in this regard.