Bad Breath
Bad Breath?
Submitted by Gregory G. Rackauskas, D.D.S, “Healthy Cells,” July 2010
Have you ever leaned over to whisper something to your co-worker or friend and noticed they leaned away from you? Or maybe gave you a strange look? Could it be your breath? Maybe you shouldn’t have put extra onions on your hamburger at lunch. About 90 million Americans suffer from bad breath and it happens to everyone occasionally. While there can be many different causes of bad breath, it’s a condition that is usually easy to prevent and treat. What’s tricky is that it’s difficult to smell your own breath!
It’s quite possible for a person to have bad breath and not be aware of it. This is because our nose tends to filter out and ignore background odors, so it filters out and ignores the quality of our own breath. To objectively smell your own breath, you have to take an indirect route. One technique is to lick your wrist, wait about five seconds while the saliva dries somewhat, and then smell it. What do you think? This is the way the front portion of your tongue smells. Another technique is to turn a spoon upside down and use it to scrape the very back portion of your tongue. The material that is scraped is thick and white. Now, smell the spoon. What do you think? This smell, as opposed to the sampling from the front portion of your tongue, is probably the way your breath smells to others. You can also simply ask someone else that you trust or ask your dentist or hygienist at your next dental appointment. If asking a friend or dentist is too personal, try asking a young child. As we all know, sometimes the least inhibited and most honest responses come from children.
Poor oral hygiene is often the cause of bad breath. When food particles are left in your mouth, they may begin to collect bacteria and these pieces of food can rot and start to smell. In addition, by not brushing your teeth regularly, plaque (a sticky, colorless film) builds up on your teeth. Plaque is a great place for bacteria to live and yet another reason why breath can turn foul.
If you have bad breath all the time, you need to consult your dentist. Your dentist will not only clean your teeth, but will look around for any problems that could potentially be leading to the bad breath. Do not be surprised if he or she leans in to take a big whiff! Smell is one way dentists can help figure out what is causing the problem. For instance, if someone has uncontrolled diabetes, his or her breath might smell like nail polish remover. If the reason cannot be determined by your dentist, he or she may refer you to a doctor to rule out an underlying medical condition such as sinus problems or kidney or liver dysfunction
Some other common causes of bad breath are:
- Foods and drinks such as garlic, onions, cheese, orange juice, and soft drinks
- Smoking and other tobacco use
- Lack of saliva production is a leading cause of bad breath. Dry mouth can be a side effect of many common medications. In fact, 80% of the top 10 drugs may cause oral dryness. This is also why your breath may smell in the morning. Saliva production slows while you sleep, allowing particles and odor to linger longer.
There are many ways to prevent bad breath.
- First and foremost, do not smoke or use tobacco products.
- Develop a regimen that allows you to brush and floss at least two times a day, especially after meals. Because bacteria are more prone to grow on the tongue, make sure to brush your tongue in addition to your teeth. The tongue microscopically is similar to a shaggy carpet and has millions of filaments on it that can easily trap tiny food particles and bacteria. Furthermore, the flossing removes particles that can become wedged between your teeth that brushing is not able to get to.
- Mouthwash and mints are only a temporary fix. They simply mask the odor instead of tackling the source of the problem.
- Believe it or not, saliva is your best weapon against bad breath. Sugarless gum can come in handy, as chewing it will stimulate saliva production.
For more information, you may contact Gregory G. Rackauskas, D.D.S. at 309-454-1425. His office is located at 305 S. Linden in Normal and he “Caters To Cowards.”