Bad Breath

Bad Breadth

Medically known as Halitosis is characterized by bad or unpleasant odour in your mouth. Even healthy people can have bad breath.

Common Symptoms

Some of the common sign that indicates bad breath include –

• Bad odour from mouth
• Unpleasant taste in the mouth
• Dry mouth
• White coating on the tongue

Causes

Causes for bad breath include –

• Poor dental hygiene
• An oral infection like cavities, gum disease etc
• Dry mouth – when the body doesn’t produce enough saliva, it results in dry mouth and bad breath
• Smoking or use of tobacco products
• Food items which have strong smell like onion, garlic, curries, fish etc
• Certain medicines

How to Prevent It

• Brush and floss regularly – Maintain good oral hygiene is very important to prevent bad breath. Brush at least twice in a day
• See a dentist regularly for routine check-ups
• Quit smoking and drinking
• Rinse your mouth properly after eating certain food items like onion, garlic etc
• Keep yourself hydrated- It helps to keep your mouth moist
• Eat food items which stimulate saliva or which needs excessive chewing like apples, carrots etc
• Use of mouthwash – these are easily available over the counter at pharmacy or nearby store
• Reduce intake of sugary food items – Sugar can get stuck in your mouth which can encourage the formation of bacteria