The first stop when you have halitosis is usually your dentist. If your dentist determines you have a healthy mouth, you will likely be referred to a physician to look for an underlying health problem. If you have periodontal disease, you may see a periodontist, a dentist who specializes in gum disease and dental implants. If you have braces, it's like your bad breath is caused by food getting stuck in them. You may see your orthodontist for an adjustment. Bad breath in babies or young children may be a sign of infection or undiagnosed medical problems. Consult a child's pediatrician or dentist if an infant or young child has bad breath.
Here are some of the causes of bad breath, so you can be more confident when you show your smile.
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Claudia Hammond analyses the science, the misconceptions – and what you may be doing wrong.
The foods we eat can have a significant impact on our breath. Certain foods, such as garlic, onions, and spicy foods, contain volatile compounds that can be released into the bloodstream and carried to the lungs, resulting in bad breath. These compounds can also be excreted through the pores, further contributing to bad breath.
To carry out a proper diagnosis to combat halitosis or bad breath, several fundamental aspects are taken into account: health status, lifestyle, oral situation and hygiene habits.
Whether you have a tonsil stone, have already removed it, or just want to avoid them, adding a drop of these essential oils to your toothbrush when you brush your teeth can help fight the anaerobic bacteria that give tonsil stones their foul smell.
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:
Ear, Nose and Throat Journal: “Coblation Cryptolysis to Treat Tonsil Stones: A Retrospective Case Series.”
If you have a follow-up appointment, write down the date, time, and purpose for that visit.
Lifestyle changes for maintaining fresh breath
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Halitosis can also be caused by factors outside of the oral cavity, which are referred to as extraoral causes. While less common than intraoral causes, there are a number of non-oral diseases that can trigger bad breath.The following are some of the most common extraoral causes of halitosis:
1. Dietary Changes – When you identify the particular foods in your diet that create a bad smell, you can avoid them. Ask your loved ones to help you monitor times when your breath is worse than others. It may take some tracking to find which foods have the strongest effect. As you adjust your diet, you should experience an almost immediate improvement in your breath.
Drinking green tea can also be beneficial for combating bad breath. Green tea contains polyphenols, which have been shown to have antimicrobial properties that can help kill bacteria in the mouth.
There are several natural remedies that can help freshen your breath. Drinking water throughout the day helps keep the mouth hydrated and washes away bacteria and food particles. Chewing on herbs like parsley or mint leaves can also help mask bad breath temporarily.
Tonsil stones can come out in a cough. Persistent coughing may help in losing some of the stones.
3. Promotes oral hygiene: Using a tongue scraper as part of your daily oral hygiene routine can help maintain a clean and healthy mouth. It complements brushing and flossing by targeting bacteria on the tongue.