Thursday, February 17, 2011

Bad Mouth Odor: Tips To Avoid It?

By Victoria Morris


The bad odor that comes from the mouth, halitosis, is most times quite embarrassing. Know that the bad breath is a sign that something is not right with your health. It often comes as mild halitosis but if the issue becomes more permanent, then it should be checked by a doctor. It could be a sign of intra oral or even external oral problems.

Intra oral problems can make one to have bad breath which can be because of poor dental hygiene. Periodonititis, food that remains too long in the mouth within the tooth cavities can be another suspect. Then of course some people have problems because of the type of foods they eat regularly like garlic, raw onions and so on. Xerostomia or dry mouth can also do the same but other causes are tonsillitis, cancer, diabetes and kidney cases.

Other conditions like pneumonia, sinuses, bronchitis and gastritis can also be to blame. The condition is easy to test even at home, which you do by covering the nose and mouth by the hand then exhaling. The bad smell is normally very strong in the morning.

The reason it happens is due to less saliva in the mouth while one is asleep. The smelly mouth becomes fresh as soon as the teeth are brushed each morning, but of course if you are a smoker the halitosis will definitely continue.

One thing you must do is to see your dentist regularly to ascertain the reason for the bad breath. If it persists, you should first of all make a list of all the foods and medication you use.

The dentist should also be informed if you had any surgeries of late that could have any bearing to this. If nothing intraoral is detected, the next step is to get a medical practitioner to perform some tests.

Once the doctors have diagnosed the right cause of the halitosis, they would put you on a treatment plan. Remember to get on to good oral hygiene by getting rid of any dental diseases you might have and cleaning the teeth regularly to maintain fresh breath. Make sure you brush the teeth at least twice a day and clean your mouth after every meal to minimize bad breath.

The experts in dental hygiene have advised that you brush your tongue too when cleaning the mouth as bacteria is bound to inhabit the area between the papillae. When you use the mouth rinses, it provides extra protection from microorganisms. Make the habit of using the dental flosses to reach the areas in between the teeth. Tobacco smoking and chewing is extra dangerous so get your GP to help with advice on how to stop it.




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