Bad breath is something that we have all dealt with at least once in our life. Sometimes you get it from eating onions or garlic, which is harmless. But you can also get bad breath from unhealthy eating and dental habits.
How do you get bad breath?
You can get bad breath for a number of different reasons.
- The food you eat.
- Smoking.
- Medications.
- Having a dry mouth.
- Poor dental hygiene.
It may come as a surprise to know that our mouths house multiple strains of bacteria. Most of this bacteria is completely harmless and is totally fine being in your mouth. There are some strains, though, that actually promote disease in your mouth. Bad breath is caused by the continual growth of certain bacteria. If they aren’t kept in check by brushing, flossing, and rinsing with mouthwash they can multiply and have a larger effect on your breath. Saliva actually works to break down the bacteria in your mouth, so when you have a dry mouth the bacteria builds back up. You salivary glands almost completely stop producing saliva when you sleep, which is why when you wake up in the morning sometimes, you’ll find that you have bad breath.
What can you do to avoid it?
Just like with what we said above! If you regularly brush twice a day, floss, and use mouthwash then you can greatly reduce the chance of getting bad breath, and all of the risks that come with it. Eating healthy is also key. Sugars and sticky foods that stay in your mouth for too long can cause bacteria to build up and stink up your breath, so it’s best to avoid those too.
Sources: WebMD, MedicineNet.com, Mayo Clinic
