The 6 Causes of Bad Breath

By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Dr._M._Kelly]Dr. M. Kelly

The importance of oral hygiene has been recognized from the earliest days of civilization.

Bad breath can have many causes, but the end result is always the same - no one wants to be around you when you have bad breath!

And because many times the presence of this condition indicates more serious health issues, it's nothing to ignore.

Here are the common causes:

1) Food & Drink

Foods such as onion, garlic, cheese, meats, and oily fish are all known for causing bad breath. Drinks such as alcohol, wine, juices, and soft drinks can contribute to malodorous breath as well.

Fortunately these causes are temporary, and tend to go away within 24 hours.

2) Periodontal Disease

Periodontal diseases affect millions of people and is usually the result of poor dental hygiene. These diseases start very early in life and cause the loss of more teeth than all other reasons combined.

Periodontal disease comes in 2 stages: gingivitis and periodontitis.

Gingivitis is a superficial infection that is limited to the gum tissue and does not yet affect the underlying bone. The gums may look normal, but they may be red and puffy, bleed when brushed, and emit bad odor.

Periodontitis happens when a biofilm that forms in the mouth causes an infection that spreads from the gums to the underlying bone. In this stage the bone that supports the teeth is lost.

There are several types of periodontitis, while some more aggressive than others.

If the disease is untreated, tooth loss will occur. Periodontitis can cause spacing between the teeth, loosening of teeth, receding gums, and aching, itching, or other discomfort of the gums.

3) Dry Mouth

Dry mouth, or xerostomia is the result of reduced or absent salivary function.

Many medications and disease treatments can cause xerostomia including: analgesics, anticholinergics, antihistamines, antihypertensives, anti-inflammatory agents, anti-Parkinson medications, antipsychotics, bronchodilators, decongestants, diuretics, gastrointestinal agents, hypnotics, oral contraceptives, and radiation therapy.

In addition, some diseases can themselves cause xerostomia, such as diabetes.

4) Respiratory Infection

Even though most odors come from oral causes, some odors come from the tonsils, sinuses, and the esophagus.

Some tonsils get deep indentations in them, which get filled with food and plaque that harden into a ball. Sometimes the patient may cough, releasing the ball and leaving a nasty taste and smell. Flushing out the throat can sometimes help with this problem.

5) Excessive Coffee Consumption

Constant consumption of coffee can lead to stained teeth and bad breath. Over consumption can also lead to headaches and hypertension due to the stimulant components of coffee.

6) Tobacco Use

Use of tobacco can increase the chances of oral cancer and gum disease. Tobacco products damage the gum tissue by affecting the attachment of the bone and soft tissue to your teeth. Smoking can contribute to bad breath, stains on the teeth and tongue, and tarter buildup.

Article Source: [http://EzineArticles.com/?The-6-Causes-of-Bad-Breath&id=4879330] The 6 Causes of Bad Breath

Bad Breath and How to Prevent It

By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Kyle_Kahveci]Kyle Kahveci

Did you ever have the feeling of a repellent smell coming out of your mouth while you were talking to someone? Chances are, you have halitosis or "bad breath." Halitosis usually occurs when one has a neglective oral hygiene or in some cases, a medical condition that triggers bad breath. The effects of halitosis can detriment both your health and your social life. It has been reported that approximately 14% to 25% of the American population suffers from chronic bad breath and half of those figures don't even know they have it.

Another widely debunked myth is that alcohol-based mouthwash, toothpastes, and breath mints contribute to eliminating serious cases of bad breath. Breath mints and the sorts only offer a temporary relief from halitosis and may be regarded as just "temporary remedies" and not a "permanent cure" from bad breath.

Though you may mistake over-the-counter mouthwashes to be the complete solution for persistent bad breath, think again - research shows that while mouthwash does actually kill the bacteria... it doesn't repel it for the entire duration of a day. But in recent years, new ingredients added to mouthwashes actually do the job in the present era. Stabilized chlorine dioxide is now found on almost any mouthwash brand. New formulas for mouthwashes also compliment in helping fighting against tooth decay by preventing plaque buildup.

Then again, mouth washes are not enough to rid yourself of bad breath. A strict oral hygiene must be implemented for people suffering from halitosis. These hygienic practices include:

1. Brushing your teeth before and after meals and before you sleep at night.

2. Do not forget to floss in-between teeth.

3. Softly brush/scrape your tongue using the bristles (or in some cases, the back of your toothbrush comes with a tongue-scraper).

4. Remove, clean and rinse dental appliances like dentures, removable braces, partials or retainers after you eat and soak them in a warm glass of water or in a disinfecting solution.

5. Visit your dentist regularly.

6. Try asking your friends, after a few days/weeks of your oral health regimen, if the bad breath has been removed. If it hasn't, it's high time time to immediately consult a hygienist/dentist.

Another common issue is that people complain of having bad breath when waking up or "morning breath." Morning breath is normal and is caused by the lack of saliva production, which is responsible in killing bacteria. Morning breath is very common and shouldn't be regarded with too much importance, since after gargling with water or mouthwash, the bitter taste will go off-but gargling with mouthwash is more recommended.

Going back, bad breath is caused by a variety of factors, in which all, in some way are connected with the salivary glands of the tongue and with the digestive tract (esophagus/stomach/colon):

• Acidosis - the increase in the acidity of the blood, often caused by the lack of oxygen.

• Appendicitis - the inflammation and subsequent rupture of the appendix.

• Bronchiectasis - the inflammation/dilation of the bronchial tubes, usually caused by congenital conditions.

• Sinusitis - the inflammation of one or both of the paranasal sinuses, primarily caused by bacterial infections.

• Diabetes - evidenced by concurrent spikes in blood sugar.

• Esophageal problems - complications of the esophagus

• Gastroesophageal Reflux - abnormal refluxes of gastric juices in the esophagus, leading to acute pain and indigestion

• Gingivitis - inflammation of the gums caused by poor oral hygiene

• Gum disease - a variety of diseases (like gingivitis and periodontitis) that weaken the gum tissue and consequently leads to dental/medical maladies.

• Kidney failure - or renal failure, is the inability of the body to excrete waste material and to deteriorate electrolyte balance.

• Periodontitis - an advanced infection of the gums and teeth that is often caused by poor oral hygiene. Periodontitis is usually an accelerated form of gingivitis.

• Pharyngitis - or sore throat, is the inflammation of the pharynx

• Postnasal drip - chronic/irregular secretion of mucus from the rear of the nasal cavity all the way into the nasopharynx

• Stomatitis - the inflammation of the mucous membrane of the mouth. Another form of sore throat.

• Tooth abscess - or root abscess, is the pus accumulation that surrounds the tooth, usually caused by poor oral hygiene.

• Vincent's disease - another form of gum disease that infects the gum tissue, without any effect on the periodontium

Another important thing to note is that some medications often trigger bad breath, especially those that compromise saliva secretion. Before consulting your dentist, try to list down all the medications that you've taken in over the past month to narrow down the cause of your condition.

NewYorkDentist.com is the main resource for people finding dentists in New York. We offer informational resources that range from up-to-date information about dentists located in New York and their respective services, to cosmetic and hygienic dental products and valuable information regarding dental insurance.

Come visit us at [http://newyorkdentist.com]http://newyorkdentist.com.

(c) Article Copyright - NewYorkDentist.com.

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Dealing With Chronic Bad Breath

By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Ken_Branson]Ken Branson

Living with chronic bad breath is not just annoying, but also embarrassing. If you have this problem, chances are you avoid speaking or getting too close to people, which obviously has a serious impact on your life. However, as you will discover with the information provided in this article, there are effective ways for dealing with chronic bad breath.

For starters, if you have a problem of chronic bad breath, it would be important for something serious such as infection, illness or disease to be ruled out. If you have spent time and money trying one method after another to get rid of the problem but without success, we suggest you talk to your doctor. If nothing serious is the cause of the chronic bad breath, then you could consider any of the recommendations listed below.

• Oral Hygiene - Even if you brush and floss daily, the problem of chronic bad breath may be that you are not brushing and flossing often or long enough. For example, dental experts state that you should brush a minimum of three times a day, especially after eating. In addition, each time you brush, this process should last a minimum of two minutes. Then, you also want to floss after every meal, as well as first thing in the morning and just before going to bed to remove any hidden particles of food between the teeth.

• Dentures - If you wear dentures, chronic bad breath is actually a common problem. Some materials used to make dentures are more prone to absorbing odors than others are so it is vital to choose the highest quality dentures you can afford. Then regardless of materials, dentures usually need to be cleaned more often than what people do. In addition to daily brushing, dentures should be soaked daily in an approved formula.

• Toothbrushes - Even the type of toothbrush used can keep the mouth clean or cause chronic bad breath. Today, the most popular and effective option is the sonic toothbrush, which rotates much faster than a standard electric design and it helps the toothpaste and water circulate more efficiently.

• Water - Most people never think that too little water intake could cause chronic bad breath but in truth, it can. When the mouth dries out, cells within the mouth die and decompose which in turn produces a nasty smell. Therefore, if you experience dry mouth due to living in a hot climate, taking certain medications or as a natural part of your body's makeup it is important to drink more water daily.

• Dental Care - Along with the things you do at home to prevent and control chronic bad breath, you should also see a dentist for regular cleanings once every six months. At that time, the dentist would be able to identify the start of periodontal disease, cavity or other problem that might cause bad breath but also the potential for infection and/or tooth decay.

• Herbs and Spices - Finally, in addition to doing everything needed to eliminate the problem of chronic bad breath, you can also prevent it from coming back and freshen the mouth by chewing on certain herbs and spices. While this would help cover odor throughout the day, herbs and spices are great for reducing or eliminating odor after eating. For instance, parsley, fennel seeds and cloves are great choices.

For starters, if you have a problem of chronic bad breath, it would be important for something serious such as infection, illness or disease to be ruled out. If you have spent time and money trying one method after another to get rid of the problem but without success, we suggest you talk to your doctor. If nothing serious is the cause of the chronic bad breath, then you could consider any of the recommendations listed below.

• Oral Hygiene - Even if you brush and floss daily, the problem of chronic bad breath may be that you are not brushing and flossing often or long enough. For example, dental experts state that you should brush a minimum of three times a day, especially after eating. In addition, each time you brush, this process should last a minimum of two minutes. Then, you also want to floss after every meal, as well as first thing in the morning and just before going to bed to remove any hidden particles of food between the teeth.

• Dentures - If you wear dentures, chronic bad breath is actually a common problem. Some materials used to make dentures are more prone to absorbing odors than others are so it is vital to choose the highest quality dentures you can afford. Then regardless of materials, dentures usually need to be cleaned more often than what people do. In addition to daily brushing, dentures should be soaked daily in an approved formula.

• Toothbrushes - Even the type of toothbrush used can keep the mouth clean or cause chronic bad breath. Today, the most popular and effective option is the sonic toothbrush, which rotates much faster than a standard electric design and it helps the toothpaste and water circulate more efficiently.

• Water - Most people never think that too little water intake could cause chronic bad breath but in truth, it can. When the mouth dries out, cells within the mouth die and decompose which in turn produces a nasty smell. Therefore, if you experience dry mouth due to living in a hot climate, taking certain medications or as a natural part of your body's makeup it is important to drink more water daily.

• Dental Care - Along with the things you do at home to prevent and control chronic bad breath, you should also see a dentist for regular cleanings once every six months. At that time, the dentist would be able to identify the start of periodontal disease, cavity or other problem that might cause bad breath but also the potential for infection and/or tooth decay.

• Herbs and Spices - Finally, in addition to doing everything needed to eliminate the problem of chronic bad breath, you can also prevent it from coming back and freshen the mouth by chewing on certain herbs and spices. While this would help cover odor throughout the day, herbs and spices are great for reducing or eliminating odor after eating. For instance, parsley, fennel seeds and cloves are great choices.

Ken Branson is a health care provider with a passion for exercise, health and fitness. He enjoys assisting others to create, obtain and maintain their personal health & fitness goals. For more information on [http://www.bestbadbreathanswers.com/chronic-bad-breath/]chronic bad breath, visit http://www.bestbadbreathanswers.com

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