Chatting with a boss or a date with bad breath can definitely be the stuff of nightmares for some people. In fact, there might have been times when your breath didn’t smell as fresh and clean as you wanted it to be even after several minutes of intense brushing and gargling.
Halitosis is one of the most common and inconvenient oral health problems people have to deal with. Unlike morning breath, which usually goes away on its own after a while, halitosis can often be a very persistent and stubborn problem. Understanding how exactly halitosis occurs can help delay the resurgence of this problem and save you from countless embarrassing situations.
Lack Of Saliva
Morning breath and halitosis can both occur because of a dry mouth. Our mouths usually don’t produce much saliva when we sleep so we don’t end up choking on our own spit while lying in bed. Without any saliva to keep them at bay, bacteria can multiply and produce compounds that cause foul-smelling breath. If you feel like your mouth is too dry and uncomfortable even while you’re up and about, you can chew on some sweet candy or citrus fruit to stimulate saliva production. Drinking plenty of water can also keep the mouth moist and free from odor-causing bacteria.
Smoking
It’s no secret that plenty of tobacco products can cause quite a lot of dental problems, including bad breath. Smoking can dry out the mouth and create an environment where bacteria can thrive and grow. Chemicals from nicotine and tobacco can also produce odor-causing bacteria that can stick to all corners of the teeth, including the gums and teeth. Even if you do brush and floss afterward, bacteria from smoking can still stick to the teeth and continue to produce odor-causing compounds.
Dental Problems
Improper oral hygiene and the presence of cavities and inflamed gums can lead to stubborn recurrent halitosis. Plaque and bacteria stuck to the gums can rapidly decay and cause foul breath. In a similar fashion, bacteria stuck to cavities and hidden corners of the teeth can also decay and emit odorous compounds. People suffering from cavities, gingivitis, and other periodontal and dental diseases are often more prone to suffering from persistent halitosis than people with healthier dental hygiene since bacteria and other harmful microorganisms can multiply and thrive at a faster rate. Saliva can also become infected with numerous unhealthy compounds and further accelerate the decay of bacteria and teeth, thus causing a constant resurgence of halitosis.
Food
The food we eat can sometimes increase our chances of developing halitosis. When we digest certain food and drinks, like onions and garlic, odorous substances can enter our bloodstream and exit out through the lungs. This can cause us to not only let out an unpleasant burp every once in a while but also develop bad breath that can last throughout the day. Food debris that hasn’t been brushed away properly can also lead to halitosis—bacteria that gather on crumbs or starches in the mouth can rapidly multiply and decay, leading to persistent bad breath.
Nose And Throat Problems
When the nose and sinuses become swollen and infected due to a cold or other illness, excess mucus can mix with saliva and lead to halitosis. Excess mucus that has accumulated and dried can also become infected and produce a foul odor known as ozena. People who have lots of abscess at the roots of their teeth are also more likely to develop halitosis due to sinus infections and other problems with the nose and throat.
Other Diseases
Halitosis can often be a sign that there’s something serious going on with your body. If frequent brushing and gargling aren’t making the problem go away, you should probably check with your doctor and find out if your body is struggling with a deeper problem or condition.
Anyone can suffer from halitosis without knowing about it at some point in their lives. You don’t have to worry about walking around with bad breath, though, so long as you practice proper dental hygiene and keep oral bacteria at bay. Our online store offers a high quality and durable dental scaler that can eliminate odor-causing bacteria and keep your breath fresh. Order yours today without the hassle of long lines or high prices!