The bad breath paradox / Halitosis
Most people are not aware of their own bad breath. Why does this happen? The reason lies in the brain. As it turns out, some odors generated by our body are not perceived by the brain as unpleasant; in fact, they are completely ignored by it! So, if someone points out that our breath is not entirely pleasant to those around us - believe them. That is indeed the case.
What is halitosis?
Halitosis, meaning persistent bad breath, is an increasingly rare but still significant and unpleasant ailment for those around us. The misfortune lies in the fact that the person affected often does not smell it and finds it difficult to objectively and independently check what others smell... Yes, you can try to self-diagnose it, for example, by covering your mouth and nose with your hands or licking the inside of your wrist. Then, the unpleasant smell will certainly be noticed. Of course, such "procedures" should be performed in private, but often we only realize our breath smells bad by observing the reactions of others.
The problem can be one-off and incidental, but it is worse if our breath constantly offends those who associate with us. Sooner or later, we will certainly find out about it, let's not ignore this information.
What causes bad breath?
There are at least a dozen causes of bad breath. It can be caused by inflammations directly related to our teeth, but also other disease entities: dental caries, oral candidiasis, oral cavity inflammations, dry mouth, chronic rhinosinusitis, gastroesophageal reflux disease, gastritis, uremia, bronchiectasis, tonsillitis, ketoacidosis, chronic tonsillitis, gingivitis, periodontitis, tooth pulp gangrene, reduced saliva secretion (xerostomia), tonsil inflammation.
To sum up, bad breath is generally influenced by the following factors:
Inadequate oral hygiene - food debris and plaque remain on the teeth.
Oral diseases - gingivitis and periodontal diseases.
External factors - certain foods such as onions and garlic, drinks such as coffee and alcohol, and smoking.
The most common cause of bad breath is poor oral hygiene. If we do not brush and floss our teeth regularly, decaying food particles and bacteria can remain trapped between the teeth, causing bad odor and the formation of dental plaque. When plaque remains unremoved for a long time, it can turn into tartar, which is just one step away from further weakening of the gums and teeth, the direct result of which can be periodontal disease and tooth decay.
Tips
Brushing and flossing your teeth after every meal is one of the easiest ways to eliminate bad breath.
Chewing sugar-free mint gum is a very good and quick way to temporarily get rid of the problem.
If plaque or tartar has built up, a thorough dental cleaning at a dentist's office will be helpful. Regular dental cleaning at least twice a year will help stop bad breath.
If the problem is dry mouth, use a mouthwash designed to treat this condition. You can also try sucking on ice cubes, chewing sugar-free gum, or sugar-free hard candies. There are also over-the-counter saliva substitutes that can help eliminate dry mouth.
Smoking cigarettes causes an unpleasant odor and taste in the mouth. Quitting smoking is the best method, but if your addiction is too strong, simply brush your teeth after smoking or use other remedies to combat bad breath.
Chewing fresh parsley can help freshen breath and eliminate odors caused by strong-smelling food.
