A lot of things can embarrass you, but nothing can quite do it like bad breath. What’s worse about it is that you might not have an idea that you have it, and you only find about it by looking at the flinches and the reactions of the people around you.
Medically known as halitosis, bad breath does not only cause embarrassment. You can even feel stress and anxiety because of it. Thankfully, the causes of bad breath can be easily pinpointed. And working on it should be easy, knowing that many over-the-counter-products provide solutions. However, you must also understand that bad breath can be a sign of another condition.
Here are some of the reasons behind it:
The Food That You Eat
The number one cause of bad breath can be found in the food that you eat. It is worth noting that food breaks down in your mouth, and the sugar it produces becomes the food of the bacteria. The longer the food particles stay in your mouth, the more chances of you getting bad breath. Moreover, certain foods and spices, such as garlic, onions, and even fish and shellfish, can cause a foul oral odor. The takeaway here is you need to be careful of your food choices; more importantly, always brush your teeth.
Bad Habits
Poor dental habits cause bad breath. But your lifestyle choices can also make your breath stink. One of the bad habits that you need to avoid is smoking. The chemicals in the cigarette can cause bad breath, and sometimes, it can be difficult to remove.
Not only that, as smoking can also cause periodontal diseases (gum-related conditions). In turn, such diseases cause bad breath. If you want to avoid that stinky breath, you need to gradually reduce your cigarette consumption until you can finally let it go.
Poor Dental Structure
The look and arrangement of your teeth also cause bad breath. Crooked teeth and misaligned molars and incisors are not always easy to clean. Some food particles often get caught within the weird angles and in hard-to-reach places. The stuck food particles are often the source of bad breath. If you want to improve your oral hygiene, visit your dentist or orthodontist to correct the arrangements of your teeth. This should be efficient, knowing that a lot of clinics nowadays are utilizing digital orthodontics.
Other Medical Issues
As mentioned at the beginning of this article, bad breath can be a sign of another medical issue. Diseases, such as diabetes and cancer, can produce foul breath. Stomach acids in conditions such as GERD (gastroesophageal reflux disease) can also make a person’s breath stink.
Have it checked
In the end, you should remember that bad breath is a normal human condition. But that does not mean that you should not do something about it. Practice good oral hygiene, and always visit your dentist. If you think that the stinky breath does not go away, you should then see your doctor for further checkups.
