Bad breath could be a big scare and shame to the sufferer. To avoid the embarrassment caused by bad breath, one has to be observant and take precations to guard against it. There is hardly anyone that does not know the basic things to do to maintain fresh and minty breath.
Brushing, flossing and rinsing your mouth with water and mouth wash at least twice daily would be enough to stem bad breath.
More so, certain foods and spices such as garlic can give offensive breath and chewing gum can help to keep breath fresh.
Despite doing all these things, some people still have bad breath which is in no way related to poor oral hygiene which has been misconstrued as the common cause of bad breath.
It is discovered in a lot of cases that chronic bad breath is as a result of dry mouth. Lack of moisture allows bacteria in the mouth to thrive. This is most common at night because there is little or no production of saliva which causes the early morning bad breath in most people.
To have bad morning breath can easily solve this by brushing frequently, but a lot of people have dry mouth as a result of taking some drugs.
It is estimated that about 70 percent of medications including blood pressure drugs, anti-depressants and anti-histamines have a side effect of causing the mouth to be dry. If you have people telling you about your bad breath, it could be as a result of the medications you’re taking.
Switching to a different drug, chewing sugar-free gum and consuming more water can do the trick.
At other times however, chronic bad breath can be as a result of a subtle health problem in your body. Whether you believe it or not, the scent of your bad breath can help to provide information regarding what can be going on in your body.
Rotten Breath
If you have your breath smelling like rotten eggs, it could be an indication of a lung disease. Any form of odour that is foul smelling so much more than a traditional bad breath could be an indication of a bacteria infection such as pneumonia or something much serious as cancer.
There are special breath tests which can help to identify certain types of cancers. If you suspect you have a lung problem, try to see a doctor immediately for a thorough examination.
Pungent Smell
If your breath is pungent, it may be you have an infection of the sinus, allergies or post-nasal drip. Chronic infection of the sinus occurs when the bacteria in your mouth converts the proteins found in your mucus into a compound called skatole.
You can eradicate this type of bad breath by taking medications for your allergy and constantly rinsing your sinuses. You may also want to see a doctor to run tests which will help determine if you have a bacterial infection. If that is the case, the appropriately prescribed antibiotics can help to stop your bad breath.
Dirty Baby Diaper Smell
If your breath smells like that of a dirty baby diaper can point to an inflammation of the tonsils. Bacteria and debris can get stuck in the tonsils which may in turn develop to form visible stones in and around the crevices.
This will give off a rotten smell similar to that of a dirty diaper. A doctor should be seen as soon as possible to recommend the best way to remove the stuck particle.
Fruity Breath
A fruity smelling breath could be an indication of diabetes. An increase in the blood sugar levels causes the cells to start burning fat for energy.
This causes the production of ketones as a byproduct which causes your breath to smell fruity. It’s best to see a doctor who will request your blood sugar tests to see if you’ve developed diabetes.
Sour Milk Breath
If your breath smells like sour milk, chances are you’re lactose intolerant. A sour milk breath shows that your system is not properly breaking down the proteins in milk and other dairy products.
The sour milk breath will also likely be accompanied with other symptoms such as flatulence, diarrhoea and cramps after taking milk products.
Source: Hot news
