What Causes Halitosis ?
Halitosis is an oral condition which in everyday terms means severe bad breath. It effects over 20% of the worlds population and can manifest itself to varying degrees of strength. This article will help you understand the major causes of bad breath (severe halitosis) and hopefully allow you to find and decide on a suitable treatment for your personal circumstances.
High Protein Diets
Despite halitosis having a number of source factors one of the main reasons is the consumption of certain food types that actually promote bad breath. These foods are generally high protein foods such as meat and certain dairy products which are fed on by the bacteria in the mouth. The bacteria synthesize this protein creating a smelly by product (sulfur compound) which is a major cause of the foul stench associated with halitosis.
Poor Oral Health Care
Another much neglected area which can cause halitosis is not keeping good oral health care. To promote a healthy mouth you should brush your teeth atleast once a day if not after every meal. Combining regular brushing with flossing and tongue scraping will further enhance oral cleanliness by helping to remove additional food particles which the bacteria feed on. A clean mouth is a fresh smelling mouth so always brush as much as you can.
Xerostomia - Dry Mouth
Dry mouth also known as xerostomia is another cause of severe halitosis. There are several factors causing xerostomia including disorders in the salivary gland or the taking of certain medications that lessen saliva production. Regardless of the cause a dry mouth is considered by many oral hygenists to be one of the core reasons of major halitosis. Saliva is the mouths regulator and cleanser, without it the ability of the mouth to clean it self is much reduced. In the long term this means food particles remain in the mouth longer which increases the ability for bacteria to survive in the mouth.
Periodontal Disease
In extreme cases if simple home remedies don’t work it might be that you’re suffering from periodontal disease. If you feel you might have periodontal disease then you need to consult a dentist and get it checked out. Simple halitosis home remedies will not be enough to address this condition so the sooner you visit your dentist the better.
Other Conditions
Other medical conditions like respiratory infections, diabetes, and gastrointestinal problems may also cause halitosis. In these cases you will need the attention of a medical professional who can properly diagnose your problem and offer the right medications and/or advice. Just remember that it’s very rare that your halitosis will be caused by other medical conditions, in most cases simple cleaning, flossing and a good mouthwash will probably solve all your problems.
Smoking & Tobacco
Lastly if you smoke or use other tobacco related products you might be contributing not only to halitosis but even worse periodontal disease which would further increase your bad breath symptoms.
We hope the above sections have given you a better understanding of halitosis and it’s major causes. If you have any further questions feel free to leave a comment or send us your questions.