What Causes Bad Breath
Bad breath – also known as halitosis – is something that everyone has but some more than others. There are different methods that we are able to use – which will help to reduce and eliminate bad breath. But in order to know how to treat the problem you should understand first what causes it.
Dental Hygiene
The most common cause of bad breath is poor dental hygiene. People who do not brush their teeth at least twice each day and do not floss will have excess food stuck in between their teeth. The bacteria that lives in our mouth will feed off of this food and multiply. This causes our breath to smell horrible all day long.
Food
We all know that there are certain types of foods that we eat – which will affect our breath no matter how clean our teeth are. When these foods are digested they are sucked into the bloodstream and carried to the lungs – which then is spread through our breath. Foods that have strong odors like garlic and onions are the worst. For some people no amount of brushing or mouthwash or even mints will help. You have to wait for it to leave the body.
Health Problems
There are some people who have constant bad breath due to health conditions like gum disease. This is caused when there is a buildup of plaque on the surface of the teeth. The bacteria in the mouth will irritate the gums and if not treated it will not only cause bad breath – but will also damage your gums and jawbone.
Dry mouth is another condition that is able to cause bad breath. Saliva is important in helping to keep the mouth clean and moist. It is also what helps in cleaning out the dead cells that build up on the tongue, cheeks, and gums. When there is not enough saliva the cells will remain and decompose.