Bad breath can affect anyone at any time in his or her life, and there are a multitude of different reasons why it happens and there are also many ways in which to combat it.
Reasons for bad breath
The main reason for having bad breath is a poor oral hygiene routine. Bacteria coats your gums, teeth and tongue and creates plaque, which can often result in dental decay and gum disease, and lets off a bad-smelling gas, which is ultimately bad breath. This can be avoided by maintaining good oral hygiene, which can be done by brushing and flossing regularly, along with using mouthwash and visiting a dentist or dental hygienist on a regular basis.
Food and drink and bad breath
The food and drink you consume can also lead to bad breath, such as strong scented foods like garlic and onions, along with strong smelling drinks like coffee and drinks that dry out the mouth, like alcohol. However, these issues tend to be temporary and can be stopped by eating and drinking less of these foods. Good oral hygiene will also help greatly. Crash dieting can also cause bad breath. The Atkins diet is known to cause bad breath due to its fasting and low-carbohydrate intake.
Smoking is the most obvious cause of constant bad breath due to the smell of stale smoke. Along with bad breath, smoking can also lead to gum disease along with staining of the teeth and other problems. Quitting smoking is usually the best option to combat this, along with good oral hygiene.
Certain types of medications such as nitrates, tranquillisers and some chemotherapy drugs have been known to be the reason for bad breath in the past. To combat this the best thing to do is discuss it with your GP to find out about possible alternative medications.
