Your diet can play a significant role in preventing bad breath. Certain foods and drinks can contribute to bad breath, while others can help freshen your breath. Here are some foods and drinks to be aware of:
There are many risk factors and causes for halitosis, and even healthy people have bad breath on occasion.
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Halitosis, which is simply the official term for bad breath that is chronic and persistent, can have a wide variety of causes, ranging from simple to serious. Some of the most common offenders include:
Quitting smoking is not only beneficial for improving bad breath but also for overall health. By quitting smoking, you can reduce your risk of developing various health conditions, including oral cancer, gum disease, and respiratory problems.
Halitosis, or bad breath affects an estimated 65% of Americans. Over 40 million Americans have "chronic halitosis," which is persistent bad breath. 90% of all halitosis is of oral, not systemic, origin.
At Capital Dental, we treat halitosis with a professional cleaning and oral cleanse to reach crevices not normally accessed through regular brushing and flossing. Occasionally, a deep cleaning, consisting of scaling and root planing, is needed to remove bacteria trapped below the gum line. We also can perform tongue scraping, if the tongue is the source of the smell.
The medical condition dry mouth (also called xerostomia) also can cause bad breath. Saliva is necessary to moisten the mouth, neutralize acids produced by plaque, and wash away dead cells that build up on the tongue, gums, and cheeks. If not removed, these cells decompose and can cause bad breath. Dry mouth may be a side effect of various medications, salivary gland problems, or continuous breathing through the mouth. In fact, morning breath is worse for people who sleep with their mouths open.
Walking around with bad breath is something that’s not only detrimental to your health but also a nuisance to those around you.
Maintaining good oral hygiene is crucial in preventing tonsil stones and bad breath. This includes brushing your teeth at least twice a day, flossing daily, and using mouthwash to kill bacteria in the mouth. It is also important to clean your tongue regularly, as bacteria can accumulate on the surface of the tongue and contribute to bad breath.
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Even more concerning to us, as dentists, are the potential health implications of chronic bad breath. Persistent bad breath that does not respond to home care may be the result of a serious health problem. Your bad breath could be a warning sign that you have a dental infection or other medical condition.
This one is, obviously, the simplest to understand and to address. For example, raw onions give you bad breath. Don’t eat raw onions. At least, you have the option to choose when to eat foods that have a particularly strong smell that lingers for a while after eating.
If you use tobacco, it’s a good idea to quit, and not just for your breath, either. Tobacco use can lead to tooth loss as well as dental implant failure.
Digestive tract infectionsGastrointestinal diseasesNasal infections, such as sinusitis or rhinitisHepatitisHaematological or endocrine system disorderIntraoral halitosis
Tonsil stones smell so bad because they house anaerobic bacteria that produce volatile sulfur compounds which smell like rotten eggs. If you want the smell to go away, you can remove your tonsil stones by gargling a vinegar solution or peroxide and adding probiotic-rich foods like yogurt to your diet.
Put this mixture on the toothbrush and brush the tonsils with them. You can also swish the tablespoon with the oil for 10 to 20 minutes. This also helps to keep off any gum diseases and cavities. Although garlic has a strong smell of its own, the cloves have the potential to kill the strongest bacteria. Several cloves of garlic can easily alleviate tonsil stones symptoms as this is rich in an antimicrobial agent- allicin.
Bad breath is just one reason why you’d want to treat heartburn or GERD. Acid reflux can be pretty uncomfortable and can cause long-lasting damage to the esophagus if untreated. Treatment options include avoiding certain foods, taking antacid, or, in the most severe cases, surgery.