Do you have bad breath? How to avoid it?

TechnoparkToday.com >> Having bad breath can be a hassle, especially if you’re one whose livelihood depends on mingling with other people. How do you feel when you talk to a person with bad breath, especially if its your boss or even the subordinate?

Halitosis or bad breath is one of the most frequent complaints heard in our dental office . The science so far has identified a plethora of reasons contributing to bad breath. I intend to deliberate on a few of those factors

Most common cause of halitosis is definitely of dental origin and to be precise it comes from the gums. Gingivitis or inflammation of the gums due to deposition of debris , tartar , plaque ,calculus etc can cause gingivitis which inturn results in halitosis. This can be treated by the routine scaling ( tooth cleaning) and polishing. Root stumps or remnants of decayed teeth can also lead to bad breath which is overcome by the removal of the offending root stumps

ENT cause also contribute to a substantial percentage of halitosis cases. They include nasal polyps , infected tonsils and adenoids , sinusitis and the like. Many of those with throat disorders are often mouth breathers during sleep and complain of dry mouth . All these need medical or surgical management after arriving at a conclusive diagnosis.

Gastrointestinal system disorders can also lead to bad breath but to a comparatively lesser extend. Consumption of large quantities of onion and potato has been noticed as a contributory factor for halitosis

Here is some quick tips to avoid the bad breath

• Drink lots of water. If you’re like a lot of people who are used to drinking soda or sugary drinks, try going back to plain water. Water helps loosen bacteria from the mouth and flush it out of the system, avoid bacteria build-up.
• Minimize your alcohol consumption. The stench of the alcohol sticks to the mouth, giving you bad breath. If possible, drink water with your alcohol, to wash down the odour.
• Cut back on sugar. Bacteria feeds on sugar. The more it gets to feed, the more by-products it gets to dump into your mouth, leading to undesirable breath odours. Minimizing sugar in your diet avoids that as well as lessens the chances of forming tooth decay.
• If you are unable to brush after meals, make do with water. Swish water around the mouth to loosen bacteria in the mouth and food stuck in between teeth.

Causes leading to halitosis are completely curable if a timely and proper management is instituted