4 Tips to stop foul breath Written By: Dr. Ankita Shah, March 2019

Hallitosis commonly known as bad breath is a very common and embarrassing condition affecting more than 80 million people. In most cases it originates from lack of oral hygiene and tonsillitis.

HOW DOES BAD BREATH ORIGINATE?

A group of anaerobic sulphur producing bacteria are mainly responsible for foul breath. These bacteria assist in digestion and hence naturally occur in the mouth. They feast on the proteins and release hydrogen sulphide, mercaptan and other volatile sulphur compounds which makes the breath smell foul.

COMMON CAUSES OF BAD BREATH:

Poor dental hygiene

Dry Mouth

Certain foods

Illness and disease

Smoking

Follow these 4 easy tips and tricks to prevent foul breath and make your mouth feel fresh and clean.

TIP #1 VISIT THE DENTIST

Brushing and flossing cannot completely take care of all the plaque and tartar that accumulates in certain areas of the mouth. Professional dental cleaning biannually is a must to maintain a good oral hygiene.

TIP #2 BRUSHING, FLOSSING AND RINSING YOUR MOUTH

Plaque formation i.e. the sticky build-up on teeth starts to form within few seconds of tooth brushing which increases in thickness attracting more and more bacteria. In addition to this trapped food particles also cause foul breath. This makes it necessary to brush twice a day. Flossing and using a mouthwash once a day removes plaque from areas that are inaccessible by the toothbrush. The mouthwash also destroys the bacteria and makes your mouth feel fresh. Furthermore, rinsing your mouth after a meal helps to remove any food particles stuck in between your teeth.

TIP #3 TONGUE CLEANING

The plaque that forms on the tongue is a storehouse of bacteria. Tongue cleaning helps to scrape off bacteria, debris and food particles thereby reducing bad breath.

TIP #4 AVOID CERTAIN FOODS AND MEDICATION

Onions and garlic leave behind an awful odour in the mouth. These foods have certain ingredients that travel to the bloodstream and to the lungs from where the odour is exhaled out continuously. Even brushing cannot help you get completely rid of the smell.

Medicines like antidepressants, diuretics, pain relievers, antihistamines etc. decrease the salivary flow which in turn leads to a dry mouth.

A healthy mouth is often a good indication of good overall health. Armed with this knowledge, you should be able to tackle your bad breath problem once and for all!

Please feel free to ask me any questions.

Keywords : Hallitosis, Children, child, oral hygiene, kids, facts, tonsillitis, toothbrushing, bad breath, flossing, mouthwash Poor dental hygiene