What is Halitosis?
Halitosis or a bad breath disorder is a condition that leads to offensive odor from the nasal and oral regions in one’s body. Morning breath may be bad, but if the problem persists all through the day and keeps people away from you, it is in all likeliness halitosis. Chronic halitosis could be caused due to a number of reasons and it does not see, race or gender. Even people who have impeccable oral hygiene can suffer from chronic bad breath.
Signs of halitosis
A few signs of halitosis may include:
-Bad taste in the mouth
-Bad breath seems to be driving people away from you
-People offer you mouth fresheners or breath mints
-Dry mouth not only when you wake up in the morning, but also through the day
Causes of halitosis
There are a number of medical and dental reasons that can cause halitosis. The medical conditions may include- sinus infection, tonsillitis, diabetes, blood disorders, lung disease, liver disease, menstruation, carcinomas and certain foods as well.
Dental conditions that can cause halitosis include: Dental decay, oral cancer, periodontal disease, abscesses, allergies and Xerostomia. Once you know the cause of halitosis, your health care provider can prescribe a treatment that can help you keep the problem of halitosis under check.
How can one lower the Risk of Developing Chronic Halitosis?
If you want to keep the problem of developing halitosis at bay, you have to start maintaining dental hygiene. Brushing and flossing one’s teeth regularly after every meal is a step in the right direction. Make sure that you replace your toothbrush on a regular basis. Try and avoid mouthwashes that have dyes, alcohol and other flavorings. Stress could also lead to bad breath as well. Try and exercise as much as you can.
Sleep well, exercise regularly and get sufficient sunshine to lower the risk of developing chronic halitosis. Spicy foods and foods that are made with garlic can cause a bad breath problem. Try and avoid foods that tend to get stuck in between the teeth, and if you do eat them, make sure you clean your mouth properly after every meal. Parsley is a natural mouthwash, chewing it after meals can help you treat the problem of bad breath.
Saliva in your mouth has anti bacterial properties and is an important component that can prevent halitosis from developing. Try and keep your mouth wet at all times with saliva. In the morning you may experience a dry mouth and bad breath as well, because the production of saliva slows down when you sleep. This will be restored once you brush your teeth.
Halitosis Treatments
It is ideal that you check with your health care provider when you suspect that you may be suffering from chronic halitosis. Your doctor will check your breath with the help of a halimeter, analyze the cause for bad breath and prescribe medication that can help you fight the growing problem.
Over and above taking medicines to treat the problem you need to continue maintaining dental and oral hygiene. Visit your dentist on a regular basis, check for plaques, cavities and gum infections that too can cause bad breath. Floss regularly and keep your teeth and tongue clean.
Chronic Halitosis can lead to many people losing their confidence and face defeat professionally. It is a common problem and there are ways to treat it. The best care however, is to maintain daily checks and ensure that you practice a dental care routine that keeps all the food particles out of your teeth and out of your mouth. If they are allowed to collect meal after meal, it may be too late.