Bad Breath Causes, Treatments, and Prevention

Bad breath, also called halitosis, can be embarrassing and in some cases may even cause anxiety. Patients often ask questions like what is the best chewing gum for bad breath? Or should I use a tongue scraper? It’s no wonder that store shelves are overflowing with gum, mints, mouthwashes and other products designed to fight bad breath. But many of these products are only temporary measures because they don’t address the cause of the problem.

Certain foods, health conditions, and habits are among the causes of bad breath. In many cases, you can improve bad breath with consistent proper dental hygiene. If simple self-care techniques don’t solve the problem, visit Dr. Robin’s Dental Ahmedabad the best dental care center to be sure if a more serious condition isn’t causing your bad breath.

In this blog, I will be answering many related questions I frequently get from my patients suffering from bad mouth odor.

Symptoms

Bad breath odors vary, depending on the source or the underlying cause. Some people worry too much about their breath even though they have little or no mouth odor, while others have bad breath and don’t know it. Because it’s difficult to assess how your own breath smells, ask a close friend or relative to confirm your bad-breath questions. You can also ask us the top-rated dentists about your bad breath levels, we will assist you in the best way possible.

When to see a doctor

If you have bad breath symptoms, review your oral hygiene habits. Try making lifestyle changes, such as brushing your teeth and tongue after eating, using dental floss, and drinking plenty of water, especially warm water plays an important role in prevention. Brush and floss your teeth twice a day.

If your bad breath persists after making such changes, visit Dr. Robin’s Dental Ahmedabad to meet the best dentist. If our best-rated dentist suspects a more serious condition is causing your bad breath, he or she may refer you to a physician to find the cause of the odor.

Causes

The foulest odor starts in your mouth, and there are many possible causes. They include:

• Food:- The breakdown of food particles in and around your teeth can increase bacteria and cause a foul odor. Eating certain foods, such as onions, garlic, and spices, also can cause bad breath. After you digest these foods, they enter your bloodstream, which then is carried to your lungs which leads to bad breath. A good diet should be followed to maintain your oral health.
• Tobacco products:- Smoking causes its own unpleasant mouth odor. Smokers and oral tobacco users are also more likely to have gum disease, another source of bad breath which also affects the taste buds.
• Poor dental hygiene:- If you don’t brush and floss daily, food particles remain in your mouth, causing bad bacteria. A colorless, sticky film of bacteria (plaque) forms on your teeth. If not brushed away, plaque can irritate your gums and eventually form plaque-filled pockets between your teeth and gums (periodontitis). Your tongue also can trap bacteria that produce odors. Dentures that aren’t cleaned regularly or don’t fit properly can harbor odor-causing bacteria and food particles.
• Dry mouth:- Saliva helps cleanse your mouth, removing particles that cause bad odors. A condition called dry mouth or xerostomia can contribute to bad breath because the production of saliva is decreased. Dry mouth naturally occurs during sleep, leading to “morning breath,” and it worsens if you sleep with your mouth open. Chronic dry mouth can be caused by a problem with your salivary glands and some diseases.
• Medications:- Some medications can indirectly produce bad breaths by contributing to dry mouth. Others can be broken down in the body to release chemicals that can be carried on your breath.
• Infections in your mouth:- Bad breath can be caused by surgical wounds after oral surgery, such as tooth removal, or as a result of tooth decay, gum disease or mouth sores.
• Another mouth, nose and throat conditions:- Bad breath can occasionally stem from small stones that form in the tonsils and are covered with bacteria that produce odor. Infections or chronic inflammation in the nose, sinuses or throat, which can contribute to postnasal drip, also can cause bad breath.

Other causes:- Diseases, such as some cancers, and conditions such as metabolic disorders, can cause a distinctive odor as a result of chemicals they produce. Chronic reflux of stomach acids (gastroesophageal reflux disease, or GERD) can be associated with bad breath. Bad breath in young children can be caused by a foreign body, such as a piece of food, lodged in a nostril.

Diagnosis

Dentists at Dental Ahmedabad will likely smell both the breath from your mouth and the breath from your nose and rate the odor on a scale. Because the back of the tongue is most often the source of the smell, our dentist may also scrape it and rate its odor.

There are sophisticated detectors that can identify the chemicals responsible for bad breath, though these aren’t always available.

Treatment

To reduce bad odor, help avoid cavities and lower your risk of gum disease, consistently practice good oral hygiene. Further treatment can vary, depending on the cause. If your mouth odor is thought to be caused by an underlying health condition, your dentist will likely refer you to your primary care provider.

For causes related to oral health, your dentist will work with you to help you better control that condition. Dental measures may include:

• Mouth rinses and toothpaste. If your bad breath is due to a buildup of bacteria (plaque) on your teeth, your dentist may recommend a mouth rinse that kills the bacteria. Your dentist may also recommend a toothpaste that contains an antibacterial agent to kill the bacteria that cause plaque buildup.

Treatment of dental disease. If you have gum disease, you may be referred to a gum specialist (periodontist). Gum disease can cause gums to pull away from your teeth, leaving deep pockets that fill with odor-causing bacteria. Sometimes only professional cleaning removes these bacteria. Your dentist might also recommend replacing faulty tooth restorations, a breeding ground for bacteria.

Home Remedies to fight mouth odor.

To reduce or prevent bad breath:

• Brush your teeth after you eat:- Keep a toothbrush at work to use after eating. Brush using a fluoride-containing toothpaste at least twice a day, especially after meals. Toothpaste with antibacterial properties has been shown to reduce bad breath odors.
• Floss at least once a day:- Proper flossing removes food particles and plaque from between your teeth, helping to control bad breath.
• Brush your tongue:- Your tongue harbors bacteria, so carefully brushing it may reduce odors. People who have a coated tongue from a significant overgrowth of bacteria (from smoking or dry mouth, for example) may benefit from using a tongue scraper. Or use a toothbrush that has a built-in tongue cleaner.
• Clean dentures or dental appliances:- If you wear a bridge or a denture, clean it thoroughly at least once a day or as directed by your dentist. If you have a dental retainer or mouth guard, clean it each time before you put it in your mouth. Your dentist can recommend the best cleaning product.
• Avoid dry mouth:- To keep your mouth moist, avoid tobacco and drink plenty of water — not coffee, soft drinks or alcohol, which can lead to a drier mouth. Chew gum or suck on candy (preferably sugarless) to stimulate saliva. For chronic dry mouth, your dentist or physician may prescribe an artificial saliva preparation or an oral medication that stimulates the flow of saliva.
• Adjust your diet:- Avoid foods such as onions and garlic that can cause bad breath. Eating a lot of sugary foods is also linked with bad breath.
• Regularly get a new toothbrush:- Change your toothbrush when it becomes frayed, about every three to four months, and choose a soft-bristled toothbrush.

Schedule regular dental checkups:- Visit dentist on a regular basis — generally twice or thrice a year — to have your teeth or dentures examined and cleaned.

Why does bad breath occur after eating any meal?

Bad breath starts with what you put in your mouth. Garlic for lunch? A late-morning latte? They may taste delicious, but consider yourself warned.

The food you eat:- Although garlic and coffee are two main offenders, others eat like onions and spicy food also can bring on bad breath. The odors of these foods enter your bloodstream and head right to your lungs, coming out with each exhale.

Food “trapped” in your mouth:- We’re not talking about just a little spinach on your teeth. After a meal, any food particles that remain between your teeth, in your gums, or on your tongue can release their odor into your breath — which gets worse as that food decays. And without good care of your teeth and gums, this stuck food can set off a cascade of events leading to gum disease. Diets that lead to weight loss: We agree that it seems unjust, but when your body breaks down fat, the process releases chemicals that can give your breath an unpleasant smell.

What can cure bad breath of mouth and nose?

There main rules to follow to have good breath :

Lick:- We become accustomed to the smell in our own mouths and can’t detect it, which is why blowing into your hand won’t reveal the true quality of your breath. Instead, press your tongue (as far back as you can reach) against the back of your hand. Let the saliva dry for 10 seconds, then smell.

Scrape:- Sixty percent of bad breath is due to plaque that accumulates in the tongue’s folds, particularly toward the back. One of the best ways to clear it away is with a tongue scraper twice daily.

Rinse:- Many common types of mouthwash use alcohol to kill bacteria — which is not the best ingredient. Instead, gargle once a day with a solution containing zinc chloride. An intense green or blue color is your clue to the right stuff.

Keep the mouth moist by drinking water and chewing sugarless gum or sugar-free hard candy to stimulate the production of saliva. Mouthwash may temporarily mask bad breath odors, but it may not treat the underlying cause.

What are some ways to alleviate bad breath?

1. Brush and floss more often.
2. Rinse your mouth out.
3. Scrape your tongue.
4. Avoid foods that sour your breath.
5. Kick the tobacco habit.
6. Skip after-dinner mints and chew gum instead.
7. Keep your gums healthy.
8. Moisten your mouth.

Do teeth cleaning remove bad breath?

As a Dentist I have to say, in some of the cases, the ToothBrush and Toothpaste will remove Bad Breath (Halitosis). If you have bad breath from your food (Alcohol, Garlic, Tobacco, etc.) you may not require to read further. But if you have a severe bad breath problem, there should be an underlying condition. Note that 75million Americans have bad breath problems.

However, you have to understand the causes of bad breath. The root cause of bad breath is sulfur compounds produced by bacteria (germs).

Should I use a tongue scraper?

Tongue scraping is a fast way to remove extra particles — including the ones that cause bad breath — from the surface of your tongue. It’s done with a small, slightly rounded tool made from plastic or metal.

Although no amount of scraping can replace a good toothbrushing, its purported benefits have enticed quite a few to add this extra step to their morning and evening routines.

Debris, bacteria, and dead cells can build up on your tongue over time. This can lead to bad breath and have a negative impact on your overall oral health.

Using a tongue scraper can help remove this buildup, as well as:

• Improve your sense of taste. Older research suggests that using a tongue scraper twice daily can improve your sense of taste. Your tongue may be able to better distinguish between bitter, sweet, salty, and sour sensations.
• Improve the appearance of your tongue. The buildup of excess debris can cause your tongue to take on a white, coated appearance. Daily scraping can help remove this coating and prevent it from returning.
• Remove bacteria. Researchers in one 2005 study found that using a tongue scraper twice a day for seven days reduced the overall incidence of Mutans streptococci and Lactobacilli bacteria in the mouth. These bacteria types are known to cause bad breath and dental decay.
• Improve overall health. Removing bacteria is key to preventing cavities, gum disease, and other conditions affecting the mouth. Tongue scraping can help clear these bacteria from the mouth, improving your tongue’s appearance and overall sensation.
• Reduce bad breath. Although tongue scraping can’t replace brushing your teeth, scraping may do some things better. Researchers in one 2004 study found that scraping was more effective than brushing at removing odor-causing bacteria.

Tongue Scraping side effects.

One of the biggest concerns about tongue scraping is stimulating the gag reflex. This could make you vomit while tongue scraping.

To avoid this, refrain from placing the scraper too far back on your tongue. When you first start scraping, you may find it helpful to scrape from the middle of your tongue to the tip. You can gradually start from farther back as you get used to the sensation.

It’s also possible to accidentally cut the surface of your tongue with the scraper.

To prevent this from occurring, make sure your tongue scraper doesn’t have any uneven or rough edges. You should inspect your scraper before every use to ensure that it’s still safe to use.

You should be mindful of how much pressure you’re applying. You want to be gentle enough to avoid harming your taste buds or breaking the skin, but firm enough to scrape up excess debris. When in doubt, start soft and gradually increase the pressure.

What is the best home remedy for bad breath?

When we talk about home remedy in India, we always think of Ayurveda. Ayurveda has helped solve many health-related problems which are simple natural remedies for bad breath you can find lying around in our home.

Here are some ingredients you can use to fight bad breath:-

• Fennel Seeds. Fennel seeds have antiseptic properties that help get rid of bacteria that cause bad breath.
• Cinnamon.
• Lemon Juice.
• Parsley.
• Cloves.
• Apple Cider Vinegar.
• Baking Soda.
• Water.

Which cancers cause bad breath?

Stomach Cancer is a serious cause of bad breath.

But that may change with the development of breath-test technology called nanoarray analysis, which identifies the levels of certain compounds that are linked to stomach cancer.

Lung Cancer also indicated bad breath symptoms.

How to cure bad breath permanently?

Having established that there is a problem, do the following to get fresh breath;

• Don’t slack off about brushing and flossing your teeth. Do so after every meal. Carry a travel toothbrush and toothpaste to work if you have to so you can brush your teeth after lunch. Getting dental check-ups twice a year is also important. Sometimes, bad breath is an indicator of a serious problem like unclean dentures, an abscess, gum disease or a tooth that is decaying.
• Clean your tongue as you clean your teeth. The top of the tongue is a place that bacteria love to lodge, especially at the back of the mouth. If the mouth is not cleaned after eating, a lot of remains are left here which bacteria start working on and causing the odor. Swirling water around the mouth after eating can take care of this such as after having a snack when the teeth won’t be brushed. Using a tongue scraper every time along with brushing the teeth is also advisable.
• What you eat also matters in you are trying to get rid of bad breath. Crisp, fresh foods naturally clean the teeth. This includes fruits and vegetables like apples, lettuce, carrots, pears, and raw cucumber. Such foods also add antioxidants that boost health, including dental health.
• Another way to use what Mother Nature provides to get rid of bad breath is to use herbs. Chewing raw parsley naturally cleans the palates and gets rid of odors. Cardamom is also effective in fighting bad breath when used to cook meals. Sipping on black and green tea, as well as herbal tea like peppermint tea, also works
• Eating a diet low in carbohydrates to lose or maintain weight can also result in bad breath. Such a diet makes the body release ketones. These are foul-smelling chemicals that are released from the body through the breath.
• Chewing gum increases the flow of saliva in the mouth so bacteria are washed away. The key is to ensure that the gum is sugarless. Gum with sugar should be avoided because sugar ferments bacteria which will worsen the problem. Apart from sugarless gum, try and drastically cut down or completely avoid sugary foods and drinks and minimize the amount you add to your tea and coffee.
• Dehydration also causes bad breath. Increase your intake of water. Keep sipping water all day rather than lug it down only after meals. It will keep your mouth clean and odor-free.
• If the problem of a smelly mouth comes on suddenly, the culprit might be the medication you have started taking. Some drugs are given for high blood pressure, allergies and depression may make your mouth dry which can cause it to smell. Talk to your doctor or take extra water and chew sugarless gum.
• Using mouthwashes also helps to get rid of bad breath. Just avoid the type with alcohol as they make the mouth dry and worsen the problem.
• If all fails, visit Davis and Dingle. We’ve got you covered.

Book Your Appointment at the Best Dental Clinic & Implant Centre in Satellite, Ahmedabad.