Maintaining good oral hygiene is crucial in preventing bad breath. Brushing your teeth at least twice a day helps remove plaque and food particles from the surfaces of your teeth. It's important to use a soft-bristled toothbrush and fluoride toothpaste to effectively clean your teeth without causing damage to your gums.
Americans spend more than $1 billion a year on over the counter halitosis products, many of which are ineffective because they only mask the problem.
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Halitosis: An unpleasant odor from the mouth, commonly referred to as bad breath. Halitosis can be caused by the consumption of certain foods, poor oral hygiene, alcohol or tobacco use, dry mouth, or by certain chronic medical conditions. Drug Categories Drugs & Medications Pill Identification Tool Vitamins, Herbs, & Dietary Supplements Dictionary RxList About Us Consumer Contact RxList Terms of Use Privacy Policy Sponsor Policy
Lifestyle changes for maintaining fresh breath
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.
Talk to your dentist or hygienist about the best practices for oral hygiene and get regular professional cleanings.
Natural remedies for freshening your breath
Bad breath in smokers is caused by the tobacco itself—the lungs retain a measure of the tobacco smoke for a while after the cigarette has been extinguished and these chemicals remain in the mouth, making a greater case for halitosis.
Viruses and illnesses, especially those that affect the sinuses, nasal passages, and throat, can sometimes result in halitosis. Offensive breath often accompanies colds and sinus infections. The American Dental Association has reported that chronic bad breath can sometimes also be a sign of certain liver and kidney diseases.
Bad breath in babies or young children may be a sign of infection or undiagnosed medical problems. Consult the child's doctor or dentist if an infant or young child has bad breath. A complete medical and dental history should be taken. The patient will be asked about their bad breath problem, dietary habits, tobacco use, medications, medical conditions, and family history.A dentist will examine the patient's mouth. X-rays may be taken, and periodontal charting may be done to determine if the odor is due to gum disease.
Bad breath can happen to anyone. The American Dental Association reports that about half of adults in the US have or will have to deal with bad breath at some point in their lifetimes.
Your breath is composed of complex substances with variable odors that can generate unpleasant situations such as halitosis that affects more than 50% of general population[iii]. The odor is caused by the presence of bacteria in the mouth, tooth decay, presence of waste materials, leftover food particles and etc. Numerous causes can contribute to halitosis and induce this bad breath that is difficult to eliminate. Some of the most common causes[iv] include:
The main symptom of halitosis is a bad odor from the mouth. The odor can be worse in the morning or after smoking, drinking coffee, or eating certain foods, such as garlic.
Besides food items, medical conditions like a build-up of calculus, gum diseases, dry mouth, poorly fitted dentures, acid reflux, and tonsil stones are often found to be some of the causes. Halitosis should not be left untreated because it can be one of the symptoms of severe problems like chronic sinus infections, bronchitis, diabetes, pneumonia, and even kidney-linked issues.
There are also small monitors available which can detect certain gases, but the limitation here is that it only includes some gases and not others. Finally ‘gas chromatography’ – a technique to separate complex mixtures of gases – can measure the quantity of sulphur in the air, but involves specialised equipment that you won’t find in many doctors’ offices.
St. Louis Sinus Center has solutions for allergies, sinus, and snoring problems that help you live more comfortably. For more information on our services, call our St. Louis or Festus office.
There are several natural remedies that may help alleviate the symptoms of tonsil stones and halitosis. These remedies can be used in conjunction with medical treatments or as a preventive measure.