Can Halitosis Be Treated?

One of the fears that are associated with developing a disease is the question of if you can get treated or not. However, not being well informed about the particular illness or disease can cause such fears and concerns. Knowing how to prevent some of these diseases and how they can be treated or consult in case you are experiencing some weird symptoms can help you in various ways. This leads us to the question, what is halitosis?

Halitosis is a bad breath issue that can cause discomfort to the affected person and other people around them. It is a dental problem, and most people affected by halitosis are often referred to a dentist for treatment. Halitosis can cause psychological turmoil. For instance, when a person has bad breath, they become less confident about themselves. They might become scared of talking or laughing in public. A bad breath issue can affect anyone. It is one of the most common dental illnesses.

What Causes Halitosis?

There are various reasons why a person could develop halitosis. Getting informed about these factors can also help you prevent bad breath.

• Food: The kind of foods we eat can be a reason for bad breath problems. We all have food particles that get stuck inside the teeth. However, foods like garlic can cause a bad breath if its particles stay too long inside the mouth. Also, they don’t just end their effects inside the mouth, and they can cause bad breath after being digested and carried to other parts of the body through the blood. The lungs are responsible for our breathing. When the blood finally carries it to the lungs, our breath can be affected.

• Poor Oral Hygiene: Some of us must have heard that it is advisable to brush our teeth at least twice daily. Imagine if brushing the teeth once is not so effective in keeping the mouth clean. This means that if you do not brush your teeth at all, you stand a high chance of developing bad breath. Also, brushing your teeth regularly is one thing. Doing it the right way is another. When brushing, you should brush every area and do it gently. You should not use one toothbrush for more than three months. When the toothbrush bristles are frayed, they become less helpful in removing food particles stored in the teeth and cleaning the mouth thoroughly.

• Dry Mouth or Xerostomia: The saliva inside our mouth is important because it keeps the mouth clean and hydrated. People who have dry mouth due to illnesses like diabetes, HIV/AIDS, or lifestyle factors are at risk of developing bad breath problems.

• Illnesses: Bad breath can be caused by diseases like liver failure, cancer, and other metabolic system conditions. Also, people with GERD (Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease) can suffer from halitosis because of the frequent reflux caused by acids inside the stomach.

• Tobacco: If this isn’t on the list of bad breath causes, then that list isn’t complete. Tobacco has a way of forming its smell inside the mouth. You probably must have noticed that some people who smoke often walk around with mouthwash to get rid of the tobacco smell inside their mouths. Apart from the fact that tobacco causes bad breath, they are also harmful to the lungs and other parts of the body.

• Drugs: Some drugs can cause xerostomia (dry mouth) which can lead to bad breath. Also, some medications might cause bad breath if they are taken in large quantities or if they are taken at all.

Bad Breath Treatment

Of course, bad breath or halitosis can be treated. As stated earlier, dentists can treat bad breath and provide valuable tips to help you prevent it from occurring. However, some bad breath problems are caused by medical conditions. If the patient is suffering from bad breath due to a medical condition, the dentist would advise the patient to seek help from a physician.

Nevertheless, if a dental issue causes bad breath, you can visit a bad breath clinic for the following treatments.

• Dental Disease Treatment: Some patients suffer from bad breath due to gum disease (periodontitis). The dentist can get rid of bacteria inside the gums that are causing a foul odor. Also, complete dental cleaning can help get rid of bad breaths caused by poor dental hygiene.
• Mouth wash and toothpaste: Your dentist can recommend a mouth wash to get rid of the bad breath caused by the bacteria inside the mouth. The mouthwash would also help prevent bacteria from building up again. You can visit a bad breath specialist near you.

There are also home remedies that you can follow to treat and prevent bad breath.

• Brush twice daily and thoroughly
• Floss your teeth once every day
• Drink plenty water
• Eat healthy foods
• Take proper care of dental devices
• Visit the dentist every six months for dental checkups and cleanings.