Introduction To Bad Breath
Do your colleagues shy away from you? Do people you are talking to distance themselves? Do they cover their mouths when you talk? If you answer “yes” to these questions, it is probably beginning to affect your confidence.
These are all signs that you have halitosis, or bad breath, and if you do not begin to take care of it, it is not going to go away. The problem with halitosis is that it is not easy to understand that you actually have it, the reason being that you can not smell your own breath with your own nose. It always has to be someone else that informs you that have bad breath. In some cases, the odor can be so bad it can even be smelt from a distance.
There are many reasons why halitosis occurs.
If you suffer from bad breath, it may be that you are not correctly practicing proper oral and dental hygiene. If you do not properly brush and floss, particles or food and beverages will remain in between your teeth and around the lining of the mouth. These particles breed bad bacteria, which then cause halitosis.
A dry mouth is another cause. If you do not hydrate your mouth often by drinking enough water, the bacteria that are already accumulated inside your mouth and in your saliva become much more concentrated. The saliva will then alter its acid or base balance, and thus produces a very favorable breeding ground for the bad bacteria. If your mouth stays dry, the changing base balance or acid evaporates into the air, which causes the unpleasant odor.
Another symptom of bad breath is a yellow or white film visible on your tongue. This happens as a result of nasal mucous that drops onto the tongue. The mucous carries bad bacteria, and when it mixes with saliva and the lining of the mouth, bad breath is created. The film can be removed by brushing or scraping, but will not cure the root of the problem. Professional treatment should be sought.
People who regularly take medication may also suffer from symptoms of bad breath. Often, medication results in bad tastes such as metallic, bitter, and sour tastes. This can also cause bad bacteria to develop. Bad tastes are also produced by dental infections, sinus drainage, white nodules from the tonsils, and failed dental restorations. All of these can cause a reduction in the salivary flow, and thus cause bad breath.
If brushing, flossing, and mouth rinsing does not help your halitosis, you should contact your physicianor dentist to ensure the problem is correctly diagnosed and treated.