Combating Bad Breath
Bad breath is without doubt one of the more serious medical conditions that can lead to social isolation and hence resultant psychological problems. The accompanying embarrassment can affect life dimensions such as relationships and careers in a very negative way.
Bad breath is know by the correct medical name of Halitosis. Diagnosis and treatment of halitosis or bad breath falls very much within the ambit of dentistry and oral care. It’s pretty clear that neglecting your oral health and not looking after your teeth will result in halitosis.
How bad breath occurs in the first place and how it can be avoided
Both halitosis and bad teeth have the same cause, which is the overrun of bacteria-causing plaque in the mouth. It is a known fact that this bacteria feeds off of and thrives on sugar in a positive feedback loop manner. The more sugar you eat, the more the bacteria will proliferate and the greater will be the damage inflicted on your teeth. This explains why invariably your dentist will advise you to avoid sugary snacks, sweets and treats.
The more of this bacteria you have in your mouth, the more its smell will linger on your breath as you breath. The result of this is halitosis. Avoid eating too much sugar, will help avoid the build up of bacteria in the mouth, which will in turn avoid the occurrence of halitosis. There are numerous ways to cut down on your sugar intake, but focusing on avoiding refined sugars such as sweets, chocolates and sugar in your tea or coffee is a great start.
Fight Bad Breath With Water
Drinking lots of water is also a great way to reduce the proliferation of bacteria in your mouth. This is the water enables the mouth to hydrate itself through stimulating the production of saliva. Saliva itself contains natural disinfectants which helps kill off the bacteria. When saliva is not present, the mouth dries out – during sleep for example. This is why our breath smells when we awake in the morning. Breathing with and through an open mouth causes it to dry out, resulting in bad breath. The great thing about water is that it also washes away some of the build up of bacteria. So look at it this way… simply drinking some water and encouraging your mouth to produce saliva reduces the amount of bacteria and reduce bad breath.
Masking Bad Breath
Another way to attack bad breath is to mask it with replacement smells. Mint is a particular favorite with many people. Brushing your teeth is a particularly effective way to reduce halitosis because it causes you to produce saliva (due to the water you use), because it scrapes off residue, and because it masks bad breath with a mint scent.
If you are really struggling with bad breath, schedule a visit to your dentist or oral hygienist. Have your teeth cleaned professionally. You oral health professional may suggest further ideas to improve the smell of your breath. This then is one of the best ways to improve your breath, and a very good reason to visit the dentist and have your teeth cleaned professionally if you are struggling.
For more information on eliminating bad breath, visit a dentist Cape Town.
