diet
Halitosis Causes
Understanding The Main Halitosis Causes
The type of food you eat, unhealthy dental and other lifestyle habits are root Halitosis causes. While these are the major causes, it is essential to have an in depth understanding of Halitosis, a medical term for bad breath, so that appropriate remedial action can be taken.
Halitosis Causes: Your Diet
Food items with strong odor are primary halitosis causes. Items that come under this category include garlic, onion, alcohol, some types of fish, certain spices etc. The reason these food items result in bad breath is that after entering the blood stream and getting transferred into the lungs, they are exhaled with a bad odor.
If your diet primarily contains low carb products, it can also be a halitosis cause as it results in a condition known as ‘Ketone Breath’. Since the diet is low on carbohydrates, the body burns fat as its energy source, the final products of which are ketones. As a result, there can be an acetone-like odour when you exhale.
Halitosis Causes: Unhealthy Habits
It should come as no surprise that irregular brushing and flossing of your teeth is another root Halitosis cause. If food particles are not removed from your mouth, it may eventually lead to a Halitosis condition, resulting in you exhaling bad odour. These food particles can be a further cause for concern, as it may end up causing bacterial growth. Not only might this lead to tooth aches and decay, but it might also result in Halitosis.
Another halitosis cause is having a dry mouth. If your mouth is dry, it results in a decreased flow of saliva. Since saliva is an antibacterial agent that is vital to removing particles in your mouth that cause bad odour, lack of it will result in a halitosis condition. Usually dry mouth is caused due to inhaling through the mouth, or even due to some medications.
Consuming tobacco products on a regular basis is also one of the main Halitosis causes. If you frequently smoke or chew tobacco products, you are highly likely to exhale bad odour, apart from leading to yellowing of your teeth and maybe even decay.
Halitosis Causes: Medical Disorders
There are certain medical disorders, which might also be a Halitosis cause, and hence result in foul mouth odour. Some medical conditions that commonly lead to exhaling bad odour include throat infections such as tonsillitis, infections in the respiratory tract, bronchitis, gum infection etc. At times even conditions such as kidney diseases, diabetes, and lactose intolerance might lead to foul mouth odour.
Certain dental appliances might also be a halitosis cause. If you are taking dental treatment, and using dentures or braces, there is a chance that it may lead to halitosis. Often food particles are not properly removed from appliances such as braces, which eventually rot and lead to bad breath. If these appliances are not well fitted, it may even lead to infections in your mouth, which certainly is another halitosis cause!
Cures For Halitosis
Cures For Halitosis
Being a highly common phenomena, today there are numerous successful cures for halitosis, easily available. A few simple changes in your daily habits and lifestyle can prove to be quite beneficial in eliminating bad breath, leading you to a healthier lifestyle. There are multiple available cures for halitosis, ass outlined below.
Dietary Cures for Halitosis:
All food that you ingest begins to breakdown first in your mouth. Some foods stay behind and decay, and other are absorbed in your bloodstream and carried to the lungs. Hence, your diet can majorly contribute to causing bad breath, though it is temporary. Avoiding certain foods like, garlic, onions and strong spices and avoiding a low carbohydrate diet, is an easy cure for halitosis. Balancing your protein rich foods, such as meat, with green vegetables, also helps eliminate halitosis. Taking in foods such as seeds, nuts, fruits on a regular basis can help keep away and cure bad breath.
Getting rid of certain addictive habits such as smoking and drinking alcohol can be a primary cure for halitosis. Smoking not only induces bad breath, it can also aggravate the problem. Regular smoking leaves behind the odour of tobacco and nicotine in your mouth, as it infects the gums, releasing a strong smell of decay. Similarly, avoiding high consumption of alcohol or substances like coffee are easy cures for halitosis on a regular basis.
Dental Cures for Halitosis:
Maintaining complete oral hygiene is a definite cure for bad breath. Always after eating it is advisable to brush your teeth, in order to get rid of remaining food particles. Munching on solid fruits after meals always helps remove entrapped particles. To help cure halitosis, when brushing your teeth, always ensure that your toothbrush is dry, as a wet toothbrush is optimal for bacteria to grow on and get transferred to your teeth and gums. Along with regularly cleaning your teeth, it is often not enough to cure halitosis; tongue cleaning can make a significant difference.
Certain known cures for halitosis, though highly effective can also be risky to a person if used persistently. This includes chewing sugarless gum. It keeps the saliva flowing, avoiding lingering food smells, however it contains aspartame, which is a known carcinogen, able to cause cancer if used too excessively. Along with chewing gum, there are also certain chemicals that can completely cure halitosis, such as chlorhexidine. Though it kills bacteria in your mouth, releasing bad odour, it also results in killing your taste buds and is hence not advised on a continuous basis.
Home Remedial Cures for Halitosis:
There are also several known home remedies that are helpful cure for chronic halitosis in a hygienic and safe manner. Treatment can be done using Fenugreek, which is a tea made from a vegetable seed. It has proved to be most effective when prepared correctly. Eating avocado now and then is a great treatment for halitosis, as it allows the removal of decomposed particles in the mouth region, which highly contributes to bad breath. Another simple cure for halitosis is drinking raw juices of fruits and vegetable with no added substances. Juices from green vegetables are most effective is dissolving food particles and neutralising odour in your mouth, proving to be extremely successful cures for halitosis.