Why Do You Have Bad Breath?
Bad breath can have a massive toll on your confidence and self-esteem. It can make people back away from you, adversely affecting your relationships and pushing you to deep emotional stress. Luckily, bad breath is not a permanent condition. If you understand the causes of this dental issue, you are in a much better position to do something about it.
Discover some causes and remedies for bad breath.
Dry Mouth
Perhaps you have been brushing after every meal, watching your diet, and even tried prescription medication, but your breath still won't improve. In such a case, you might be suffering from xerostomia, a condition characterized by saliva shortage. Saliva rinses out food particles from the mouth. So, if your mouth is dry, you will have food particles hanging around much longer than they should.
Xerostomia happens naturally when you sleep, which is why nearly everyone wakes up with a bit of a bad breath. However, if the issue persists throughout the day, it could indicate an underlying problem.
The best solution for dry mouth is to drink lots of water to keep your mouth hydrated. You should also chew sugar-free gum throughout the day to encourage even more saliva production, especially when working in a quiet environment.
Depending on the severity of this issue, your dentist may recommend antibacterial toothpaste and mouthwash to rinse out bacteria that might be causing your bad breath.
High-Sugar and Protein Diet
Most people don't know this, but your diet can significantly contribute to bad breath. Sugar and proteins, to be precise, are the major culprits of persistent bad breath.
Consuming high protein and low carbs puts a strain on your metabolism. Protein is hard to digest and tends to come out in the form of sulphurous gases, which in turn causes bad breath.
Similarly, eating too many sugary foods will ruin your breath. Sugar creates a thriving environment for harmful bacteria in your mouth and puts you at risk of plaque formation. Eventually, the plaque starts to eat away at your gums and causes periodontitis. The gum disease puts you at risk of oral infections, which give your mouth a bad smell.
The remedy is to avoid sugary foods and try to eat a balanced diet. Also, brush and floss your teeth after you take any sugary foods to eliminate the chances of plaque formation.
Visit a doctor in general dentistry for a dental exam to identify the exact cause of bad breath. Depending on what they find, your dentist can get you a long-lasting solution to keep bad breath away.
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