Gee, You Have Foul Breath
Everyone has their fair share of mouth odor when they wake up in the morning. This can usually be eliminated through brushing or gargling. There are some people though, who may need more than just brushing to get rid of the odor. Bad breath, also known as halitosis in medical terms, can be a big problem. The smell stems from the mouth, tongue and tonsils due to the growth of bacteria and the waste it produces. There can be different causes for the growth of bacteria in the mouth and bad breath.
Poor oral hygiene. As stated earlier, bacteria are the main culprit in bad breath. The more bacteria there are, the worse the problem is. The bacteria coat the mouth, tongue and teeth mixing with saliva and food particles left behind. They then breakdown these down and release a foul smelling gas that causes bad breath. One of the best ways to ensure that the mouth stays germ free is by keeping it clean. Brushing and flossing regularly will keep both bacteria and food particles away from the mouth.
Dry mouth. Also known as xerostomia, this condition has the mouth producing less saliva causing it to dry up. Various reasons can cause this, such as medications and the weather. The lack of saliva induces the growth of bacteria since it does not get flushed out. Saliva acts as a natural mouth cleanser by neutralizing the acids and washing away dead cells and bacteria that get left behind on the tongue. When these acids and dead cells are not removed, they can decompose and bring a bad smell. Bacteria on the other hand, tend to multiply when not washed out. Keeping the mouth moist by chewing sugar free gum may help it from drying out.
Your diet and eating habits. The food that people eat can also have a role in bad breath. Certain foods may have strong smells that can be left in the mouth and throat. Brushing or gargling only masks these smells. Aside from this, the food byproducts also enter the blood stream and bad smell can be emitted through the lings. These foul odors only become eliminated once the food has been passed out of the body. Aside from this, unhealthy habits such as smoking may also cause bad breath. Aside from the odor it leaves it can also dry out the mouth. Choosing food intake and eliminating smoking may help reduce bad breath.
Illnesses. Certain diseases have been linked to bad breath. In some cases a foul odor in the mouth can simply be a sign of a more serious problem. Food reflux and gastritis can both cause the mouth to emit bad smells. Diabetes, respiratory illnesses (pneumonia, bronchitis and the like), liver problems, kidney problems and post nasal drip are some other illnesses related to bad breath. In some cases the disease may be in the mouth itself. Gum diseases and yeast infections inside the mouth may also lead to bad breath.
Low-carb diets. When the body does not receive enough carbohydrates it tends to breakdown stored body fats for energy. The result is a condition called ketosis. As the system breaks down the fat a chemical known as ketones is produced. The foul smelling chemicals are then expelled out of the body through breathing causing bad breath.
