BASIC HOME DENTAL CARE: HOW TO FIGHT BAD BREATH?

 

It is ordinary to wake up from bed after sleep and experience bad breath. Once in a while, almost everyone experiences bad breath which we see as humiliating. Nevertheless, it turns irregular when you have brushed, water or dental flossed, mouth-washed, or have not eaten anything garlicky or spicy and you still find the breath foul-smelling.

Where you once told you had a malodorous mouth? You were told at an important meeting and now you are self-conscious to talk because the scent will be disastrous. Therefore, you are afraid to get closer to significant ones thinking you will gross them out. And that made you lose confidence in your abilities because of the bad breath you were once told about.

On the other hand, some people experience bad breath day-to-day which is an enormous problem and they are struggling to find solutions for themselves. This could be a problem with your friend, relative, loved one, or husband.

Bad breath is a very common condition among all populations both rural and urban dwellers and it causes a lot of social embarrassment among many. Marriages, friendships, and even relationships are broken due to the yucky smell in the mouth. It is estimated that 1 in every 4 people have some form of bad breath that is in percentage, 25% of the world’s population have bad breath. Bad breath is a condition in which there is an unpleasant, unfriendly, and repulsive odor from the breath of an individual.

In the sciences term, bad breath or breath odor is also known as Halitosis or Fetor Oris. Surprisingly, some people are not aware of their halitosis. This condition can be treated easily at home or it may require medical attention. Bad breath can be caused by gingivitis, periodontitis, food with strong odors, gastritis (GERD), or poor brushing with leftover food particles. 

Readers, let us find out what causes bad breath in the human mouth and how it affects us in our conversations with others.

• The first cause to highlight is food. Spicy food is one of the common causes of bad breath. The normal food consumed by humans causes halitosis in the mouth. As we chew food whilst eating and/or drinking, particles of these food substances return to the mouth. That is why when you eat meat or any food that sticks in your teeth, you wake up the next morning and feel a burning sensation or pain in the gum. When this stays more than 4 hours in the mouth, it begins to give a scent that reflects in the breath. Moreover, the particles of food that get rotten in our mouth produce bad breath. The presence of food particles in between the teeth or tongue causes bacteria to act on them causing inflammation of the gums and result in a stench. The inflammation caused in medical terms is called Periodontitis.

• The existence of bacteria in the human mouth can cause bad breath. The mouth is such that there are several bacteria in it. Some of these bacteria cause infections like sinusitis, gingivitis that could affect breath smell.

• Gum diseases are another cause of bad breath in the mouth. The gum disease forms a group of underlying diseases that affect the smell and make it awful. Some examples include periodontal caries, tooth decay, and the most recent one tooth crack.

• Smoking - The smoking of tobacco inhibits the saliva protection of gums thus exposing them to gum diseases that ultimately affect breath smell.

• Plaque- The persistent poor oral care leads to deposits of particles on the tooth and gums forming hard most often yellowish substances that give off a scent.

• Dry mouth- The drying of the mouth for longer periods is called Xerostomia which causes bad breath. The saliva clean gums and control the internal environment of the mouth and keep it fresh. When it's dried for longer periods, its function is reduced resulting in bad breath. It is therefore advisable to keep the mouth wet by drinking more water to prevent foul-smell in the breath.

TREATMENT AND PREVENTION OF BAD BREATH

How can we fight bad breath and feel confident when we are around others?

•       Brushing of the teeth with standardized toothpaste and toothbrush. This is one of the things of life that is simple, but it eludes many people because it has to do with habit. One must cultivate the habit of brushing the teeth with a clean sponge or a toothbrush or a chewing stick at least twice a day. And most importantly cleaning with the right toothpaste like Colgate, pepsodent, close-up, and the premium likes after eating a meal in the day or before going to bed. This habit will help keep bacteria, food particles, and plagues from the gums.

•       Flossing of the mouth. This often follows brushing however it has its main importance. It is the act of rinsing the mouth or well with water after brushing the teeth. Flossing enables all particles hidden behind the teeth or in-between them to dislodge out.

•        Avoiding dry mouth. As stated earlier, one cause of bad breath is the act of keeping the mouth dry and not moist. Keeping the mouth moist enables the saliva to clean and control bacterial actions thereby keeping the mouth fresh. It is therefore advised that when you are attending or mixing with others, one should take sips of water to keep the mouth fresh and moist.

•      Quitting smoking- The intake of tobacco has its scent that can make your breath, as well as its presence on the teeth, increase your chance of gum diseases. Anything that produces smoke causes bad breath in the human mouth.

•       Diet- The intake of less fat diets prevents bad breath from indigestion or dyspepsia. When fats are broken down, they yield in aromatic hydrocarbons of which some affect breath smell. Also, eating raw garlic and onion especially when about sleeping at night could result in bad breaths. For daytime, persistent communication could lessen the impact of the smell.

If you are reading this article, and you are facing bad breath and have tried home base treatments but it’s not yielding any positive result then try visiting a dentist or dental care for proper investigation and treatment. they are responsible for cleaning the plaques, tooth extraction, and given antibiotics to cure the bad smell in the mouth. It is also advised to visit the dentist twice a year for a routine medical checkup. It should be noted that bad breath could also be a result of systematic conditions that may require professional assistance to deal with.  

Source: Carl Grant - THE READERS HUB

Written by: Justina Amoah