Health
Bad breath can cause a lot of trouble to its owner.
However, this problem is very common, and halitosis affects almost 50 percent of people at some point in their lives.
The difficulty lies in the fact that the person himself may not know about bad breath until someone tells him about it.
This creates an awkward situation, which is why people simply avoid talking about it.
Read also: Why does bad breath appear in the morning?
However, there is a surefire way to determine how fresh your breath is. All you have to do is take a look at your language.
Bad breath and plaque on the tongue
© Science Photo Library
According to Dr. George Preti, about 10 per cent of people suffer from chronic halitosis.
Halitosis is a condition caused by bacteria that accumulate on the back of the tongue. It is very difficult to get rid of them and you need to clean your tongue.
The researcher claims that some of his patients complained of bad breath and had a coating on the back of their tongue that looked like cream cheese.
Our tongue is covered with various kinds of papillae that help process food. They not only keep bacteria away, but also dead cells that cause halitosis. In other words, your tongue is like a sponge, covered with cracks and crevices where various particles remain.
In addition to testing your tongue for white plaque, it is important to understand what exactly causes bad breath.
Why does an adult get bad breath
Most often, there are 4 main causes of halitosis:
© Getty Images
Meals
You've probably heard the expression: You are what you eat. This is especially true when it comes to your breathing.
The breakdown of food particles leads to an increase in bacteria and can cause an unpleasant odor. Also, certain foods such as onions, garlic, and various spices can cause bad breath.
Their oils travel from your stomach to your bloodstream and eventually to your lungs, where they can affect how you smell for days.
Alcoholic drinks, coffee and smoking can also cause bad breath.
Non-compliance with oral hygiene
While it seems obvious, not everyone practices good oral hygiene, which can affect your bad breath.
It is enough to brush your teeth twice a day and clean the space between your teeth with dental floss to get rid of bacteria that cause halitosis.
Dry mouth
Saliva helps cleanse your mouth. If you don't have enough saliva, food and bacteria can remain in your mouth, causing bad breath.
If you feel dry in your mouth, you are most likely suffering from xerostomia. This disorder occurs when the salivary glands do not produce enough saliva, which causes noticeably bad breath.
Read also: How to get rid of bad breath once and for all
Medications
Often, taking certain medications can indirectly lead to a bad smell due to the fact that they cause dry mouth. Talk to your healthcare provider about potential side effects and how to prevent them.
Tips on how to eliminate bad breath
Brush your teeth and the space between your teeth after every meal.
If you can't brush your teeth, use chewing gum.
If you notice plaque on your tongue, use a tongue scraper or spoon to clean your tongue.
If you have plaque, cleaning by a dentist can help you deal with the problem.
If your mouth is dry, try holding ice cubes, chewing gum, or sugar-free candy.
Smoking causes bad breath. The best solution is to stop smoking. If you're not ready yet, brush your teeth and use freshening lozenges immediately afterwards.
Try chewing parsley after eating. This freshens the breath and reduces the smell caused by the breakdown of food.