Causes of Bad Breath
Bacteria in your mouth combines with rotting food particles to produce an unpleasant odor. Brushing your teeth and flossing regularly removes this odor-causing debris and helps prevent gum disease, which can also cause bad breath. Chewing sugar-free gum can help stimulate your salivary glands and promote fresh breath. If you have dentures, clean them regularly with a toothbrush and floss or specialized products. Always brush in between your teeth to remove odor-causing plaque from those areas.입냄새원인치료
Strong foods such as garlic and onions can linger in your mouth even after they have been digested. In addition, certain infections and diseases can contribute to bad breath. If you have a stomach condition such as gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), frequent acid reflux can leave an odor in your mouth. Certain infections in your throat, nose or lungs can also cause bad breath. Infections and conditions that contribute to postnasal drip, such as sinusitis or bronchitis, can cause persistent bad breath.
A poor diet can also contribute to halitosis, which is another term for bad breath. When you don’t eat, your body breaks down fat stores for energy instead of glucose, which produces ketones that can produce an unpleasant smell in your breath. If you have a chronic illness, such as diabetes or liver disease, those illnesses can also cause bad breath.
Your tonsils are on the front lines of fighting infection, so they can become engorged with white blood cells and produce an unpleasant odor. Tonsil stones, a build-up of hardened bacteria, can also give your breath an unpleasant odor. If you have tonsil stones, your dentist can prescribe a mouthwash or antibiotics to treat the condition.
Breathing through your mouth rather than your nose, which can occur if you have a chronic cold or allergies, can contribute to bad breath. When you breathe through your mouth, saliva isn’t produced to wash away bacteria, so the odors aren’t removed as quickly.
If you have a continuous problem with bad breath, your dentist may refer you to your family doctor or a specialist for further examination and treatment of the underlying cause. Keeping a log of the foods you eat and the medications you take can be helpful, as well.
Bad breath is most often caused by food, beverages, smoking or certain infections and diseases in the mouth and throat. However, it can also be a sign of other serious health problems such as AIDS, cancers and liver or kidney disorders. For this reason, it’s important to visit your dentist regularly for dental exams and cleanings and to keep up with the treatment of any oral health conditions that you have. You should also work with your physician or a specialist to treat any underlying conditions that contribute to halitosis, such as gum disease, infections in the throat or nose, and inflammatory diseases like diabetes. The more you know about the causes of bad breath, the more effectively you can prevent and treat it.해우소한의원