BAD BREATH EVEN AFTER BRUSHING? HERE IS WHY.

Almost everyone deals with bad breath at some point in their lives and it can be really embarrassing, as it can put you in a situation where people may get an idea about how unhygienic your lifestyle is. In some cases, bad breath can persist even with good dental hygiene. But is bad breath only a result unhygienic lifestyle?

Bad breath has many potential causes. In most cases, the underlying cause originates in the mouth. The rest of the time, factors outside your mouth may be at the root of the problem.

Poor Dental Hygiene

The first reason why your mouth is smelling is poor dental hygiene. If you are not brushing your teeth regularly or flossing them daily, there remains a possibility of the food sticking in the gaps inside your mouth, which can cause bad breath. Your tongue also can trap bacteria that produce odors. Dentures that aren’t cleaned regularly or don’t fit properly can harbor odor-causing bacteria and food particles.

Dry Mouth

Did you know saliva helps in cleansing your mouth naturally? It keeps the bacteria in your mouth at a manageable level, washes food particles out of your mouth, and keeps your mouth hydrated. . Dry mouth also known as xerostomia occurs when you cannot produce enough saliva, which often causes bacteria in your teeth to build up. Dry mouth naturally occurs during sleep, leading to “morning breath,” and it worsens if you sleep with your mouth open. 

Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)

GERD, or chronic acid reflux, is a digestive disorder that causes your stomach contents to flow backward into your esophagus. The regurgitation of undigested food and stomach acid can be a cause of bad breath. GERD can also cause heartburn and a sour or bitter taste in your mouth.

Smoking

People who smoke often deal with bad breath from the tobacco smoke that stays in their mouths. This habit also increases mouth dryness, which increases the risk for gum disease, and both conditions can cause foul breath.

Mouth Infection

Bad breath can be a warning sign of something really odd happening inside your mouth – most commonly mouth infections. Some of the mouth infections that can cause bad breath are – tooth decay, gum diseases, and plaque. It can also be caused by surgical wounds after oral surgery, such as tooth removal.

Postnasal drip

Cold or flu symptoms, a sinus infection, or strep throat can leave you with postnasal drip, which happens when mucus from your nose drips down your throat. With postnasal drip, the mucus in your throat attracts bacteria that contribute to the bad odor in your mouth.

Cavities and gum disease

The bacteria that cause bad breath can hide in cavities in your teeth. This makes it difficult to get rid of the bacteria when you’re brushing your teeth because it’s hidden in places that you can’t reach.

Certain foods

If you love onions or garlic-rich foods, you can expect some stinky breath to linger after brushing, even for a day or two. That is because, during digestion, oils from the garlic enter your bloodstream and travel to your lungs.

Remedies to get rid of bad breath naturally

It’s easy to improve your breath and keep your teeth and gums healthy at the same time. No matter what the cause, bad breath can be controlled with a good dental routine. Try these simple steps to make your mouth feel fresh and clean.

1. Brushing your teeth twice a day with toothpaste and cleaning between your teeth daily with floss.
2. An antiseptic mouthwash can help kill off the bacteria, and also wash away the food particles from hard to reach places, leaving your mouth clean.
3. Don’t forget to scrape the tongue clean when brushing your teeth. We tend to ignore this organ, but residual food and bacteria on the tongue can cause mouth odor.
4. Combat dry mouth by sucking on a piece of sugarless candy or chewing a sugar-free gum. This helps stimulate the saliva glands and keeps the mouth wet.
5. Make some lifestyle changes, like quitting smoking, and eating a healthy diet to maintain good oral health.
6. Drinking more water. If the underlying cause of your bad breath is mouth dryness, increasing how much water you drink each day may help keep your mouth more lubricated.
7. If the cause of smelly breath is internal or medical, you need to get to the root of the problem. Visit a dental professional for proper diagnosis and treatment. It is advisable to visit a dentist at least twice a year.