Smoking | Along with a multitude of other side effects Smoking is one of the biggest causes of bad breath. This smell comes from the build up of tar, the smell of the nicotine and all the other nasties that come with smoking cigarettes. The best way to fix this is to quit ! It causes foul smelling breath by drying out our mouths which decreased the moisture available to naturally wash out bacteria and left over food. Smoking is also associated with poor oral hygiene and increased gum disease.
Gum Disease | Medically known as gingivitis or periodontitis, either of these conditions are amongst the common causes of bad breath. Peridontisits is probably the most frequently seen. This smell is something that dentists are able to smell quite distinctively on their patients mouths. Some people are at a higher risk than other when it comes to gum disease. Gingivitis is a condition where the gums are inflamed, red and often bleed. This is caused through poor oral hygiene.
Periodontitis is referred to as inflamed gums and bone tissue around the teeth. This is something we see more commonly in the older generation.
Gum disease affects our breath through the by-products of what causes gingivitis and periodontitis. As those build up in our mouth, the foul smelling breath increases. Advancement of these conditions can cause permanent damage to the bones that hold our teeth in place. As this happens, pockets are formed in the spaces between our gums and teeth – creating the ideal environment for anaerobic bacteria that causes bad breath. It’s been proven that this bacteria is more prevalent in those who suffer from periodontitis than those who don’t. This can be fixed by treating the root of the disease causing bad breath.
Dry Mouth | It’s not only unpleasant for the individual, it increases foul smelling breath through a reduction of saliva within our oral cavity. Those of us who are in professions that require all day talking and communicating may find that our mouths dry out quicker than others. This is also apparent for people who breath through their mouth, fasting from food or find themselves going through stressful times. When we have good moisture in our mouth we are able to aide our body in its natural rinsing process. This process includes compounds that ward off bacteria and their smelling by products that go with them.
Xerostomia is a condition that people have when they suffer from a chronic dry mouth. This can be caused by a multitude of things including medications, age and gum disease. As we get older we tend to have a natural reduction in our salivary glands, thus decreasing the moisture available to our mouths.
Although poor smelling breath is not limited to these three conditions, they certainly do contribute to it. To ensure you are at lower risk of bad breath, make sure you keep your daily oral hygiene routine up to scratch.
