What is Bad Breath Caused By?
Bad breath, also known as halitosis, can affect anybody, at any point in their lives. While the condition isn’t life-threatening or dangerous, what it is, is a condition which can make people feel extremely self-conscious.
While bad breath itself isn’t serious, it can potentially be caused by something a little more serious such as an infection, which will need addressing as soon as possible.
The good news is that, despite being a very common condition, bad breath can easily be treated, providing we know what’s causing it and providing we speak to the professionals. But what is bad breath caused by, and is there a way of avoiding it in the future? Let’s take a look, shall we?
How to tell if you have bad breath
Bad breath can be an embarrassing condition to suffer with, and to add insult to injury it’s very hard to tell whether your breath smells bad or not.
If you’re worried you may have sweaty armpits, you can simply lift your arm and have a quick sniff. With bad breath however, it’s much harder to tell. There is, though, a simple trick you can do, and that is to lick the inside of your wrist (make sure it’s clean first) and then sniff it after a second or two.
Another option is to ask somebody you’re comfortable with, if they wouldn’t mind smelling your breath when you breathe in their face, though obviously, make sure you ask their permission first, otherwise you might need a dentist because you’ve had a tooth knocked out after being punched.
What is bad breath caused by?
Bad breath is caused by a whole range of different things, including the following:
Food
While strong scented foods such as garlic, onions, and fish can cause bad breath, it turns out that any type of food can.
When you chew your food, tiny particles can get stuck between your teeth. If left, bacteria grows on them, they begin to break down, and this causes a bad taste in your mouth and a bad smell.
Smoking
Smoking, and using other tobacco products, can also cause halitosis.
Cigarettes smell can carry over into a person’s breath.
Smoking causes deposits and build ups on the tongue which are hard to get rid of, plus it can also increase your risk of gum disease and tooth decay, which both can lead to halitosis and other health issues.
Infection
If you suffer from an infection in your mouth, the infection will cause an accumulation of bacteria and pus, which will taste vile and cause a putrid and disgusting smell.
In terms of what is bad breath caused by, an infection is certainly up there amongst the worst. Just to make matters worse, an infection can also lead to more serious health issues, which is why you need to visit your dentist asap if you’re worried you may have an infection.
Dry mouth
Dry mouth can lead to halitosis because saliva is responsible for washing away excess bacteria and keeping it under control before it has a chance to breed.
If you have a dry mouth you aren’t producing enough saliva, which in turn will allow bacteria to build up in your mouth, which can lead to bad breath and other dental problems.
How to permanently get rid of bad breath naturally?
For some people, bad breath is always going to be an issue, regardless of your dental habits and oral hygiene. There are, however, some things you can do to control your bad breath and reduce it.
For other people, bad breath can be treated and managed permanently, and here’s a look at how:
- Brush your teeth twice daily
- Floss after every meal
- Use specialist mouthwash
- Use dentist recommended medication
- Keep your gums healthy
- Brush your tongue
- Don’t smoke
- Drink plenty of water
- Avoid foods which cause bad breath
- Use chewing gum and minty products
- Chew on fresh mint leaves
- Drink mint-infused tea/water
Why does your breath smell bad after brushing your teeth?
While brushing your teeth is a good way to freshen up the mouth and help keep the teeth, tongue, mouth, and gums healthy, some people find that their breath still smells bad even after brushing, but why is that?
The truth of the matter is that bad breath could be caused by any number of things. For example, it may be that you have a chunk of meat or food stuck between your teeth that your toothbrush simply cannot reach. If this food has started to rot and break down, bacteria will be breeding on and around it and that could cause your halitosis.
Another possible cause in terms of what is bad breath caused by, could be an infection. If you have a tooth, gum, mouth, or bone infection, brushing your teeth simply won’t do the job. The only way to treat this will be to visit your dentist and have them examine you properly, and then they can act accordingly.
What does bad breath indicate?
As mentioned, some people naturally have bad breath due to their genetics. For others however, bad breath could indicate problems with their dental hygiene habits, or something more serious such as an infection.
Can halitosis be cured?
Yes! We’ve looked at what bad breath is caused by, and most of the time if you practice good oral hygiene and know what’s causing your bad breath, you can make the necessary changes to your dental habits.
Fix your bad breath woes now by calling Tuart Hill Dental
If you’re being affected by bad breath and you can’t seem to cure it, no matter how much you brush, pick up the phone and give us a call now on 9349 3006.
Here at Tuart Hill Dental, we’ve years of experience under our belts, and have dealt with more cases of halitosis than we care to remember.
Whether it’s down to your diet and lifestyle, or an infection or other dental issue, we can get your breath smelling healthy and fresh in no time at all.
