Bad breath is breath that has an unpleasant odor. It's also known as halitosis.
This odor can happen from time to time, or it can be long permanent, depending on the cause.
Millions of bacteria live in the mouth, particularly on the back of the tongue. In many people, they are the primary causes of bad breath.
The mouth's warm, moist conditions are ideal for the growth of these bacteria. Most bad breath is caused by something in the mouth.
Bad breath is a very common problem and there are many different causes.
Persistent bad breath is typically caused by the smelly gases at large by the bacteria that coat your teeth and gums.
Bits of food that get trapped between the teeth and on the tongue will rot and can sometimes cause an disagreeable smell.
So correct and usual brushing is very important to keep your breath smell fresh.
However, strong foods like garlic, coffee and onions can add to the difficulty.
The bacteria on our teeth and gums (plaque) also cause gum illness and dental decay.
One of the warning signs of gum illness is that you forever have bad breath or a bad taste in your mouth.
Causes of Bad Breath
Most people believe bad breath is caused by eating or drinking consumables that are especially odorous.
While this is partly true, a more in depth explaination is helpful to those of us who suffer from bad breath and are pointed for the causes and cures.
According to experts. Bad breath is caused by "volatile sulfur compounds" in your mouth. These compounds are produced by the bacteria in your mouth.
The odor causing compound is found in amoung your teeth, under the top layer of your language and in your throat and tonsils.
Remember your high school biology class... I didn't think so. One thing I do remember from that class is that organisms such as bacteria pass the tests which classify them as "living".
Symptoms of Bad Breath
It's possible to have bad breath without knowing. That's because you get used to the smell of your own body.
Most people are too polite or uncomfortable to observation on bad breath, so you may need to rely on a family member or close friend to tell you if you have it.
1. A white or Yellow Film on the Tongue
2. Dry Mouth
3. Bitter, Sour, or Metallic Tastes
4. Post Nasal Drainage
5. White Nodules on the Tonsils
6. Brushing and Dental Flossing the Teeth Makes no Difference
7. A Loss of Self Confidence and Self Esteem
Treatment of Bad Breath
Bad breath is one of the most common but most of the time, undetected problems in the society.
Bad breath, as the words clearly show, is the unlikable smell, which is most likely smelled by other people instead of the person having the bad breath himself.
It is important that we know how to determine if we have this disorder and know how to prevent or treat it before it can greatly affect our social life.
This disorder is also known in a lot of names such as halitosis, breath odor, mouth odor, oral malodor, foul breath, fetor oris, and fetor ex ore.
Bad breath has several causes, which may come from the mouth, tongue, gum diseases, nose, tonsils, stomach and systematic diseases.
This may also be caused by the food we intake, dental problems, dry mouth, sinus infections, smoking, and severe dieting.
Home Remedies for Bad Breath
1. Brush your teeth with baking soda first, then rinse out your mouth with plain or warm, salty water. Follow this with regular toothpaste and you are on your way.
2. Floss
Your teeth daily. The gunk (plaque) between your teeth may be causing your bad breath.
3. Scrape your tongue with a spoon or one of those particularly designed tongue scrapers. Get as far back on your tongue as possible to scrape off the offending bacteria.
4. Rinse your mouth out with a little lemon or lime juice assorted with water.
5. Brush your tongue when you brush your teeth and after meals too. The tongue is like a lint catcher and it has to be clean off every so often to get that nice aroma to come through.
6. Chew on some fresh parsley or alfalfa, especially after eating garlic, onions, or fish. The chlorophyll in these two plants kills the offensive bacteria in your oral cavity.
7. Drink green tea. And it doesn't hurt to swish it around in your mouth before you swallow it: it will kill the harmful bacteria in your mouth.
8. Avoid eating cheese, milk, products contain yeast, garlic, onions, and any other odorous food.
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