Bad breath (halitosis) is terrible. It can sour your mood and turn a great first impression into a really awful one. Because let’s face it, no matter who you are, people will judge you on the freshness of your breath.

Not only can halitosis sour your mood and create a lousy first impression, it can keep you from gaining the opportunities that you want. halitosis can prevent you from getting a second job interview or a date with someone you’re interested in.

But don’t fear… because hope is here.

In this article, we at Dentistry@Richmond are going to give you some in-depth information about bad breath and how to treat it.

Our goal is to give you enough information to fight off halitosis so that you can unleash your inner confidence.

But first, let’s discover what creates bad breath.

What causes bad breath?

For the most part, mouth bacteria cause halitosis. The bacteria in the tongue and mouth use the bits of food that are left in your mouth as sources of nutrients for it to continue to grow. That is why you need to brush and floss your teeth regularly to get rid of the food that is stuck in your gums. But there are other causes of halitosis, so let’s look into them:

• Disease. Illnesses like Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS), ulcers, and liver disease can harm the beneficial bacteria in your stomach and cause the growth of harmful bacteria in your mouth.
• Smoking. Although you may think it isn’t bad for your health, smoking ‌ is horrible for the health of your mouth. It can increase halitosis and your chances of getting oral cancer.
• Some medications like mood enhancers like Adderall and lithium, can make your mouth dry. This can lead to more odor-causing bacteria in your mouth.
• Dehydration. If you have not been drinking a lot of water, you might be a bit dehydrated. Dehydration reduces your mouth’s production of saliva. When your mouth is dry, it increases the bacteria that cause halitosis.

Treatment of bad breath

Here is the treatment of rotten breath that you need to know about. These treatments will help you get your breath in check. Here are the treatments: 

• Use Mouthwash. Rinse your mouth with mouthwash can help you clean bacteria, causing halitosis.
• Avoid eating sugary snacks. Eating too many sugary snacks will increase the bacteria in your mouth. Because the bad bacteria in your mouth will feed off of the sugars that you have given it. 
• Consider getting chewing gum. Chewing sugar-free gum is a great way to cut down on rotten breath because it makes your breath smell nice. 
• Scrub your tongue. If you scrub your tongue regularly, you will remove bacteria-causing food particles that cause halitosis. 

When to see a doctor

If you still suffer from halitosis, and you have tried every remedy to resolve this issue, consider talking to your doctor. Your breath may be symptoms of much more serious diseases, such as IBS, diabetes, chromic acid reflux, and postnatal.  

Prevention of halitosis

Here is a list of things that you can do to prevent halitosis. 

Manage strees

Anxiety and stress can affect your gut biome, which then influences the freshness of your breath. To help you manage stress and anxiety, try meditation. Mindfulness meditation is a great way to let go of stress and anxiety. 

Brush and Floss

To avoid developing halitosis, it is recommended to maintain a consistent brushing and flossing routine. Daily brushing and flossing will ensure that your breath remains fresh and scented.

Eat less sugar

As stated earlier, it is a good idea to consume less processed sugars, from candy bars, chips, ice cream, and other flavoured foods. However, eating sugars found in fruits and vegetables is good for your breath and may provide vitamins and minerals that protect your teeth.

Contact Dentistry@Richmond

Now that you have learned all about what causes bad breath, how to treat it, and how to prevent it, consider booking an appointment with Dentisty@Richamond. Our team can give you more helpful tips on how to eliminate halitosis and protect your teeth and gums.