Breath odour is not a good thing to experience, let’s be honest, it doesn’t matter whether you are the one having it or you came in contact with the person that has it.
Overall, the experience is not a good one at all.
The medical term for breath odor is called Halitosis.
This is a common problem that is caused by bacteria breaking down food particles.
This breath odor can be addressed with good oral hygiene, hydration and taking care of underlying medical conditions.
Some persons attribute skipping a toothbrush session to breath odor, but no this is not just about skipping or not brushing your teeth. It is a sigh that something is off in your mouth.
Your month is an ecosystem of its own, a home to billions of bacteria both the good and the bad.
The good ones keep the mouth healthy, but the bad ones are causing breath odor.
These bad bacteria produce volatile sulfur compounds [VSC], which smells like rotten eggs or garbage.
And these sticky, invisible layer of bacteria and debris are called biofilm.
So, those of you that eat at night without brushing or rinsing your mouth, before going to bed just invited the bad bacteria to come have a party in your mouth.
These bad bacteria will act on the food debris and end up producing bad odor.
This biofilm clings to your teeth, gums and most especially the grooves of your tongue.
When you are not cleaning the grooves of your tongue, you are basically giving these bacteria a free pass and your breath is the guaranteed damage.
Your breath will definitely end up paying the price for it.
About 85% of bad breath comes from oral issues like: a coated tongue, gum disease. Or just plain hygiene like smoking.
The other 15% can be linked to deeper health problems like diabetes, liver issues, or respiratory infections.
But let us focus on the 85% because that is what you can actually control.
Even when you are brushing and flossing every day, you can still have breath odor.
This is because of the many products we use like: alcoholic based mouth washes. Which are doing more harm than good.
They nuke and missile all the bacteria in our mouth both the good and the bad ones.
And when the good bacteria are wiped out, the bad ones comes back stronger and faster, creating vicious cycle called oral dysbiosis.
This dysbiosis imbalance is not just the cause breath odour, it can also lead to gum disease, cavities and even issues like heart disease or Alzheimer’s.
How to fix Breath odour
There are many ways to fix breath odour, and we are here to tell the best and effective way to get a good result.
Always brush and floss.
They are non- negotiable, they are very important.
Some of you brush daily and forget brushing your tongue.
Use a tongue scraper to remove the biofilm that is hiding in those grooves.
This is where most of the breath odour bacteria live.
Forget about those harsh mouth washes you use.
You may feel and think it makes your mouth feel fresh, but they are throwing your oral microbiome out.
Feed the good bacteria in your mouth with probiotics.
You can also get these good bacteria from fermented foods like: yogurt, sour milk and probiotic fruits like: water melon bananas and apples.
Always stay hydrated because a dry mouth is a breeding ground/den for bacteria.
Drink a lot of water to keep your saliva flowing, your mouth’s natural defense system.
Watch what you eat: onions and garlic are obvious culprits, and so are sugary and acidic foods.
They feed the bad bacteria and throw off your mouth’s PH balance.
Try oil pulling which is swishing coconut or sesame oil in your mouth to detoxify it.
While this is not harmful, it is also not a miracle cure.
It can help reduce bad bacteria and plaque, but it is not going to fix breath odour on its own.
In-conclusion
Bad breath is not just about social awkwardness, it is a warning sign.
Your mouth is a gate way to your bod, and an unhealthy oral microbiome can have a far reaching consequence.
By taking care of your mouth, you are not just freshening your breath, you are protecting your overall health. And everyone around you.