Frequent toothbrushing helps reduce bad breath.
Extremely bad breath is an embarrassing problem that can be difficult to treat successfully. While everyone suffers from the occasional bout of bad breath, some people experience chronic bad breath so severe that it limits social interactions with others. Identifying the cause of the problem is necessary before treatment can begin.
Dental Hygiene
Poor dental hygiene often results in food particles being trapped in your teeth and gums. When these food particles aren't removed by daily brushing and flossing, they start to decay, producing a very unpleasant odor. Failing to clean dentures on a daily basis may also result in a build up of food particles on the dentures and can cause bad breath. Keeping up with brushing and flossing helps reduce bad breath. The American Dental Association recommends brushing your tongue when you brush your teeth in order to reduce bad breath. Because bacteria that causes bad breath can live on in your toothbrush, it is a good idea to replace your toothbrush at least every 3 months.
Mouth washes and rinses may be helpful in reducing bad breath. While some mouth rinses only provide temporary relief of bad breath, a study by Z. Fedorowicz, H. Aljufairi, M. Nasser, T.L. Outhouse and V. Pedrazzi showed that mouth rinses that contain cetylpyridinium and chlorhexidine may play an important role in reducing bacteria on the tongue. The study also found that mouth rinses that contain zinc and chlorine dioxide can be effective in neutralizing odor-causing sulphur compounds. The study was published in the Cochrane Database of Systemic Reviews in October 2008.
When teeth are not cleaned well, a build-up of plaque can cause pockets, or gaps, to form between the teeth and gums. Plaque is a sticky film that accumulates to teeth and can lead to tooth decay. If these pockets become large enough, they may harbor bacteria, resulting in extremely bad breath and gum disease. A periodontist, a dentist who specializes in gum disease, can clean out these pockets with a deep dental cleaning. During a deep cleaning, plaque and tartar is scraped away both above and below the gum line.
Food
If you enjoy healthy amounts of onions, garlic or pungent spices on your food, you may be sharing that fact with the world. While these foods can be immediately smelled on your breath after you eat them, the odor may continue to linger for a few days longer, thanks to the body's digestive process. Spicy or smelly foods are absorbed by the bloodstream and circulated throughout the body, including the lungs. Until your body completely breaks down those onions or other smelly foods, your breath will continue to smell bad. If there is an important event in your future, you may want to say no to onions or garlic a few days before the event to avoid bad breath.
Other Causes
Dieting, smoking and dry mouth can contribute to bad breath. If your mouth becomes too dry, dead cells begin to build up on the lining of your mouth, your gums and your teeth, resulting in bad breath. Drinking water during the day can help, particularly if your dry mouth is due to the side effects of medication.
Illnesses and diseases may also cause bad breath. When you have a sinus infection, bacteria-laden discharge drips down your throat. Every time you breathe, you exhale the odor coming from the discharge. Antibiotics can help treat the infection and improve your breath. If you have a serious disease, such as kidney failure, liver failure, uncontrolled diabetes, lung abscesses, some types of cancer or chronic lung disease, you may also have bad breath. In these cases, it may not be possible to completely eliminate bad breath. If your illness is not under control, beginning treatment for the disease may also prove beneficial in reducing or eliminating bad breath. In other cases, mouth rinses will help mask any unpleasant odor.
Tags: mouth rinses, food particles, reduce breath, your breath, your mouth