The
medical term for bad breath
is "halitosis". It is a condition, wherein, bad smell is coming out
of the mouth, due to obvious reasons like foods, which are easily eliminated,
unlike those caused by an underlying condition, infections or taking
medications.
The Symptoms
Most of the time the
patient does not know there is a bad smell in her/his mouth, many times, other
people are the ones who will let her/him know about it. But of course, the most
obvious sign that you have bad breath is if you notice a displeasing scent
coming out of your mouth.
You may also experience
other symptoms like:
·
Dry
mouth
·
Bad
or sour taste, or food starts to taste differently
·
Layering
or coating on your tongue
Treatment and
Prevention
We always say that prevention is better than
cure, but with bad
breath, prevention is the cure, for
simple cases, that is.
Although, the treatment of halitosis is
dependent on the cause, if it was caused by a simple reason like food, then it
is usually treated by what is commonly done for prevention, which is:
·
Brushing and Flossing of your
teeth regularly. Don't forget to brush the tongue, as well.
·
Regular dental checkups to make
sure good oral care is being practiced.
·
Stop smoking and chewing tobacco
·
Drink sufficient amount of water
to prevent dehydration and to keep your mouth moist.
·
Chew sugar-free gums or hard
candies for stimulating saliva production.
·
Use mouthwash, as necessary
For halitosis caused by more complicated
reasons like, health problems and medications, it is best to consult your
doctor, because halitosis will eventually go away, upon treatment of the
underlying health conditions. While, for those who has dry mouth, you may be
prescribed with an artificial saliva by your dentist.
Now, for those in a tight spot and need to
mask, or eliminate bad breath temporarily, here are some tips:
·
Brushing of the teeth and tongue,
and flossing always works.
·
Use mouthwash to temporarily hide
stinky breath.
·
Chew on sugarless (preferably
mint flavored) gum or suck on sugarless mints or breath fresheners.
·
If there is any parsley or
peppermint around, you can chew on those.
Ultimately, whatever the situation is,
halitosis is never welcome in anybody's mouth. It greatly affects one's self-esteem
and confidence.
So, once you have read all these tips, and
you still want to know more, click this
link: BreezeCare.com.au
