Dental

Bad breath is one of the most commonly ignored dental problems. One reason for this maybe is that the sufferer is usually totally clueless about the situation that he or she is into. In these cases, the sufferer is usually the last person to know that he or she even has a problem!

What causes bad breath? This particular dental problem usually develops as a result of an increase in the “anaerobic” bacterial activities in the mouth. These bacteria thrive abundantly in relatively dry and oxygen-deprived places so a mouth that produces a significantly reduced amount of saliva becomes a haven for these microorganisms. Bad breath results as these bacteria produce odorous sulfurous compounds such as hydrogen sulfide.

What is the role of saliva in maintaining good dental health? Well, one of its tasks is to allow for the circulation of enough oxygen on the surface of the mouth, tongue, gums, and throat to keep the activity of these harmful microorganisms in check. However, there are times when saliva production is significantly reduced. When this happens, beware – your breath may start to smell bad! Listed below are some of the factors that lead to this embarrassing dental problem:

• Age. Saliva production normally decreases as people age. So, be sure to give extra attention to your dental health as you age to prevent the possibility of developing bad breath!

• Diet. Eating foods with lots of spices and strong odors may turn back on you since these foods can cause an unpleasant smell in your breath.

• Infections. Bad breath can be a result of an infection in your respiratory tract.

• Dental condition and dental hygiene. A poor dental hygiene and certain dental conditions such as plaque build-up, gingivitis and tooth decay can also lead to bad breath. Start seeing your dentist regularly if you have these dental conditions.

• Snoring. If you snore, you wake up in the morning with a very dry mouth. This can definitely give rise to that not-so-pleasant morning-breath-syndrome.

• Medications. A good number of over-the-counter and prescription drugs can cause dryness in the mouth and throat. Some of these medications include antihistamines and drugs prescribed for hypertension and depression.

• Alcohol. Sad to say, but this does not only include alcoholic beverages; but mouthwashes containing alcohol as well.

• Smoking. This nasty habit is considered as yet another precursor of bad breath. This gives you another valid reason to kick this habit forever!

Solving the Problem - Having bad breath does not need to be the end of your social life. You can do something about it! In fact, there are a number of solutions practically right at your fingertips that can help you in dealing with this dental problem. Some may be as easy as eating the right kind of foods, observing good dental hygiene and maintaining a regular bowel movement. You see, it can be that easy!

However, there are some cases of bad breath that just won’t budge. In such cases, professional help is necessarily called for in order to establish the real cause of the problem.