If you suffer from bad breath, also called halitosis, you’re not alone. It’s estimated that 50% of people in the United States complain of having halitosis. Although bad breath isn’t always a serious medical problem, it can negatively impact your quality of life.
The good news is that there are ways to manage halitosis. Discover the reasons behind bad breath, ways to control it and the most effective breath fresheners.
Causes of halitosis
There are many reasons why you may have bad breath. Understanding these reasons can help you take the steps to keep it at bay.
Food and drink
If you tend to have bad breath after a meal, it’s likely due to the type of food or drink you consumed. According to the Mayo Clinic, “Eating certain foods, such as onions, garlic and spices, also can cause bad breath. After you digest these foods, they enter your bloodstream, are carried to your lungs and affect your breath.”
Bad breath caused by food or drink should go away over time. If the bad breath persists, an oral health problem or other condition may be the culprit.
Dry mouth
Your mouth uses saliva to keep it moist and as a cleanser. If your body is not producing enough saliva, bad breath may result. Some medical conditions and medications can cause dry mouth, so talk to your dentist if it’s a concern.
Tonsil stones
Tonsil stones occur when food particles get trapped in your tonsils and become calcified. These “stones” can emit strong odors. Simple remedies for tonsil stones include gargling with salt water or using a cotton swab to remove them. If you cannot remove the stones at home, talk with your dentist about other options.
Certain medical conditions
According to the Mayo Clinic, certain medical conditions, such as pneumonia, diabetes, GERD, head and neck cancers, and liver disease, can cause chronic bad breath. These conditions can be serious, so be sure to reach out to your primary care physician if you have concerns.
How to control bad breath
Small changes in your lifestyle can help control bad breath.
Brush and floss. A good oral care routine of brushing your teeth – and your tongue – twice a day with fluoride toothpaste and flossing regularly is important to the quality of your breath (and your oral health).
Drink plenty of water. Water washes away food debris and keeps your mouth moist. Tap water often contains fluoride, a naturally occurring chemical that helps prevent tooth decay.
Poor oral hygiene. Poor oral hygiene is often the cause of chronic bad breath. Without good oral health habits, particles of leftover food and debris can cause an overgrowth of bacteria in your mouth that can lead to several oral health problems, including halitosis.
Most effective breath fresheners
There are many breath freshener products when you need to freshen your breath but don’t have a toothbrush nearby.
Items such as sugar-free gum, sprays and breath mints provide temporary relief from bad breath by increasing saliva, and they have the added benefit of the smell of the flavoring. Sugar-free gum will help dislodge food from your teeth after a meal. Sugar-free mints are another great option if chewing gum isn’t an option due to conditions such as jaw soreness.
Mouthwash, or mouthrinse, can also serve as a breath freshener. The two main types of mouthrinses are cosmetic and therapeutic.
According to the American Dental Association (ADA), cosmetic mouthrinses “temporarily control bad breath and leave behind a pleasant taste, but have no chemical or biological application beyond their temporary benefit.” In contrast, therapeutic mouthrinses “have active ingredients to help control or reduce conditions like bad breath, gingivitis, plaque and tooth decay.”
Good oral health is the most effective breath freshener
At the end of the day, no amount of gum, sprays or mints will be as effective at controlling bad breath as a good oral health routine. Taking care of your teeth and seeing your dentist twice a year are the best actions to keep your breath smelling fresh.