Bad Breath-How To Know If You Have It
March 13, 2010 by Robby Thomas
Filed under Fitness
Have you ever wondered whether you have bad breath? Do you know what can cause it? Statistics show that one out of four people have this problem with other studies reporting half of the adult population have this condition.
Eating certain foods, health conditions and habits are major causes. In many cases, the problem can be resolved with proper dental hygiene. If you’ve tried improving your dental hygiene through better brushing and flossing and still don’t see improvement, you should consult with your dentist or doctor to rule out a more serious health problem as a cause of your condition.
External Causes: There are external and internal causes. External causes can be the kinds of foods you eat, especially if you eat spicy or smelly foods (such as cooking spices, garlic, onions, and even tuna). If you suspect the odor in your breath is caused by this reason, you may want to make entries in a food log to see if the problem appears when you eat certain foods. Individuals who use alcohol and tobacco can also have bad breath.
Internal Causes: Internal causes are conditions in your mouth that can affect the whole body. Your tongue provides a breeding ground for bacteria to attach and grow. Bacteria that produce odor release a chemical called volatile sulfur compound (VSC’s). The VSC’s that cause odor are hydrogen sulfide and methyl mercaptain. These odor causing bacteria live in the back area of your tongue.
Other Reasons: There can be many reasons that cause an odor to form in your mouth including: Systemic diseases such as infections of the lung and abscesses, diabetes, GI conditions, and kidney/liver failure; Dry mouth from loss of saliva flow, especially when taking medications or going through radiation therapy for cancer; Infections of the throat and sinus; Poor denture cleaning leading to food and plaque buildup; and dental conditions such as improper brushing and flossing, gingivitis, and gum or periodontal disease.
If you’ve tried to be diligent with your daily dental hygiene and the bad breath still persists, make an appointment to have your dentist find out the cause of the problem. He or she may carry mouthwashes designed to eliminate the VSC’s in your mouth.
Meanwhile, you should continue to focus on proper dental hygiene care by brushing with a flouridated toothpaste, flossing or using other aids such as a gum stimulator or interproximal brush cleaner, and cleaning your tongue with a tongue scraper.
Learn more about finding the right orange dentist or pasadena dentist just for you. Stop by our directory to view their profiles and photos.
