What is halitosis or bad breath?

What is halitosis or bad breath?

Bad breath, also known as halitosis, is an embarrassing condition that can affect many areas in our lives. The causes of halitosis can be complicated and more than just what you had for lunch.  One of the reasons of bad breath can be poor oral hygiene. Not adequately and frequently cleaning away bacteria from around and between your teeth, can cause an unpleasant odor.

Depending on the cause of your bad breath the treatment can vary. Usually, good oral hygiene is effective – cleaning your gums and teeth twice a day, as well as cleaning between your teeth with interdental brushes or dental floss.

Bacteria around the teeth, but also on the tongue, can be the culprit to bad breath odor. The back of the tongue can be the most common area where bad breath starts. Adding a tongue cleaner to your daily routine can prevent the build-up of bacteria on your tongue and reduce bad breath.

Temporary solutions to bad breath are mints and chewing gum, but if you want to get to the possible cause behind bad breath, developing a good oral care routine is essential.  If you feel that your gum, tooth, and tongue cleaning habits are optimal, but are still concerned about a malodor, seeing a dentist should be the next step.  Infections in the mouth from cavities or abscesses, and poor margins around older dental restorations, are also reasons a person can be afflicted with bad breath. 

If you feel you lack enough saliva, also known as dry mouth, because of medications or medical conditions, this can too be a cause for bad breath.  Saliva helps to decrease oral malodor by flushing and removing particles that can cause bad breath and neutralizing the pH in the mouth.  In some cases, bad breath can be from other areas like infections in the nose, sinuses, or throat.  Some metabolic conditions  (e.g., diabetes) or respiratory diseases can also create an oral malodor.

Visit your dentist for regular check-ups of your oral hygiene. Your dental team can recommend the best way to keep your teeth, gums, and mouth healthy including what TePe products can help you remove plaque build-up.