Tags
bad breath, Conditions and Diseases, Dentist, Dentistry, Halitosis, Health, Mouth, Oral hygiene, prevention, Salivary gland, Xerostomia
Halitosis is the technical name for bad breath. Halitosis may occur occasionally or in some cases be a permanent characteristic.
The main causes of bad breath is the tongue. At the bottom of the tongue live millions of bacteria and due to the heat and humidity of the mouth they are quickly able to reproduce.
There are many causes of bad breath some of which are symptoms for other issues. Some types of unpleasant breath like morning breath are considered normal and can be quickly and easily cured. Common causes of halitosis include poor oral hygiene, tooth infections, respiratory tract infections, dry mouth, diabetes, liver and kidney problems, lung disease and sinus issues. There are also many external causes such as foods containing garlic and onions, coffee, cigarettes, and chewing tobacco.A person with unpleasant breath often is not even aware of their problems because the olfactory cells of the nose are acclimated to the odor. A dentist can detect bad breath while examining a patient and possibly determine the cause. A dentist will examine teeth, gums, mouth, salivary glands, head and neck. If the dentist is unable to determine a cause for the unpleasant breath, they will refer the patient for further treatment to his doctor.
In many cases Halitosis is treatable. Appropriate professional and personal dental care can prevent occurrence of unpleasant breath. Regular oral hygiene including brushing your teeth, gums and tongue after each meal, as well as regular flossing will frequently remove or at least reduce the occurrence of bad breath.
Additional at-home prevention includes the use of a mouthwash, and the increased consumption of water which will stimulate saliva production in the mouth. Sugar free chewing gum and candies will also inhibit the formation of plaque and making your breath fresher.
