Reasons for Bad Breath & How to Cure

[Harvey Chin]

Having bad breath can be embarrassing. It can be a reason for you to avoid social situations. If you brush your teeth regularly, you may be confused as to what is causing your problem. Here are some possible causes:

*Tooth decay – Decaying of teeth or unhealthy gums can cause the bacteria that results in bad breath.

*Medications – Medicine that dries your mouth can cause bad breath. These medicines can include those for diabetes, sinus and allergies or liver conditions.

*Stomach problems – Acid reflux can result in stomach contents being brought upward, causing the smell to be released into your mouth.

*Tobacco and alcohol – Both of these substances leave behind odor-causing elements.

*Food – Certain types of food such as onion and garlic can also be a reason for your breath to be less than pleasant.

What to Do
Besides eliminating things like odor-causing food, tobacco and alcohol, make sure you are consistent with your dental hygiene. Brush and floss twice a day and don’t forget to include your tongue (as not brushing your tongue could be the reason).

If you think it might be medication, discuss some counter-active measures with your doctor. He may be able to give you a medicine that doesn’t dry your mouth so much, or prescribe something to renew the moisture that the medication takes away.

Keep up on dental exams so any problems with teeth or gums can be caught early. Checking on your oral hygiene is good and is one of your best defenses against the dreaded halitosis. Taking care of bad breath is all a matter of finding the cause and then working to counteract it.