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10 Most Common Causes of Bad Breath

Causes of bad breath; Studies show that the most common reasons for bad breath or Halitosis are bacterial plaques, especially on the teeth, gums and tongue.

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"Kya aapke toothpaste mein namak hai?" You must have heard this phrase countless times if you live in India. But despite using the best toothpaste, do you suffer from bad breath? If yes, then this article is for you. We are here to save you from such embarrassment. Let us tell you the causes of bad breath and more.

Bad breath is a medical condition, also known as halitosis. There is a wide range of causes that make your breath smell bad. Your style of living, hygiene habits, and food choices are some factors that majorly affect how your breath smells.

Facts About Bad Breath

  • Covering up your mouth does not help.
  • Bad breath is a very common condition in India.
  • Symptoms of bad breath include an unpleasant odor or taste in the mouth.
  • Morning breath is inevitable.
  • Replacing your toothbrush with a new one every three months reduces bad breath.

Causes Of Bad Breath

Here is a list of causes of bad breath:

Food

Garlic naan or parantha? You may choose it based on your taste buds. But your choice will be reflected as an aftereffect. Some food items are known for causing bad breath.

  • Garlic and onion top this list. This is because of the smelly sulfur component present in them.
  • Beverages like coffee and alcohol also come under this category. These items also have a drying effect in your mouth.
  • Some dairy products also trigger bad breath.
  • Some forms of meat such as fish also fall in the class of food items which may be a reason for bad breath.

Tobacco

Apart from lung cancer and heart disease, tobacco has one more disadvantage. It causes a stinky smell in your mouth. Smoking cigarettes also stains your teeth and introduces gum diseases.

Bacteria On Your Tongue

Next time you stare into a mirror, stick your tongue and notice its color. If your tongue is white instead of pink, you have a problem. The bacteria that collects in your mouth sticks to the tongue. This pile of bacteria on the tongue produces foul breath.

Dry Mouth

Saliva is very important for oral health. It keeps the mouth moist and washes away dead cells and bacteria. If there is a shortage of saliva in the mouth, the dead cells would build up. They further cause bad breath.

A dry mouth is also called xerostomia. So if you have a dry mouth, better drink some water and wash away the unwanted bacteria.

Poor Oral Hygiene

Nobody is pleased with poor hygiene. Like the rest of your body, your mouth also requires proper sanitation. If you do not brush your teeth regularly, the food particles remain in your mouth. These particles will soon begin to rot and produce bad breath.

There would also be the growth of plaque on teeth if you do not brush your teeth properly. Complete oral hygiene includes cleaning teeth, gums, and tongue. It is equally important to floss every time you brush.

Some Medical Conditions

There are a number of medical conditions that lead to a bad odor in your mouth. Some of these include sinus infection, sore throat, nose inflammation, dental cavities, gum diseases, the common cold, pneumonia, diabetes, and more. Bad breath created by such conditions is mostly temporary. Proper treatment of these conditions is required.

Dieting

Various methods are used to lose weight. One of them is dieting. People purposely restrict their food consumption in order to maintain the desired weight.

But dieting has negative effects too. And one of them is bad breath.

A low-carb diet tends to produce a stinky smell. This smell is generally known as keto breath. This occurs when you are not eating enough. An empty stomach produces not only a specific odor but also a weird taste in the mouth.

Braces

Those who have braces on their teeth have higher chances of having bad breath. This is because bacteria in the mouth hide behind and under the braces. Maintaining good oral hygiene with braces may be difficult but not impossible. Braces give more space for the bacteria to pile up and become a reason for bad breath.

Acid Reflux From The Stomach

Chronic acid reflux is a gastric problem. The reverse flow of undigested food and stomach acid into the food pipe is called acid reflux. This medical condition leads to a stinky odor in the mouth. Acid reflux not only produces bad breath but also causes damage to the teeth.

Exercising And Working Out

You must be definitely aware that exercising causes sweating. And sweat has a stinky smell.

But do you know that intense exercises also create a foul smell in your mouth? This is because exercising leaves us dehydrated. And we already know that a dry mouth leads to bad breath.

Also, read about 10 Common Misconceptions About Your Dental Health

How To Prevent Bad Breath?

The best of us suffer from bad breath. It is a very common issue. However, it needs both attention and prevention. This is because bad breath can be embarrassing and may lead to anxiety in some people.

The prevention of bad breath is easy but needs immediate correction. We present to you some ways to avoid having bad breath:

  1. Brush your teeth twice regularly
  2. Floss daily
  3. Clean your tongue by brushing or scraping
  4. Rinse your mouth
  5. Do not smoke
  6. Keep your mouth moist
  7. Chew on sugar-free gum

Also Read: Home Remedies For Bad Breath

Summing Up

We hope that we took your (bad) breath away. The overall hygiene of your body is mandatory to lead a healthy life. Oral hygiene should not be sidelined.

Bad breath may result in awkward situations and a bad social presentation for you. The article is based on the lines of explaining the causes of bad breath and some ways to avoid it.

If your bad breath is persistent despite taking these preventions, visit Dental Doctors in India. A piece of advice from a specialist would be helpful in case the bad breath continues. It can further lead to more oral problems and hence should not be avoided.

Also, read about Top 3 most common causes of Halitosis For more information and free personalized guidance, talk to Credihealth Medical Experts today