Also known as halitosis, bad breath occurs when the air you exhale from your mouth acquires an unpleasant odor. Numerous factors can contribute to the development of such a problem, ranging from the foods you eat to an illness you may not even realize you have. Because so many issues can lead to bad breath, health organizations such as the American Dental Association recommend seeing a dentist or doctor if bad breath persists.
Significance
Determining if you have bad breath can be difficult because people are often unable to perceive the quality of their own breath, according to the ADA and the Mayo Clinic. If you suspect your breath smells bad, ask someone you know to confirm or deny your suspicion. Fortunately, bad breath frequently responds to increased attention to oral hygiene, according to the Mayo Clinic. However, if the bad smell in your mouth continues for a long period of time or occurs regularly, the condition has escalated to chronic bad breath.
Types
The type of treatment you require for persistent bad breath depends on the source of the foul odor. Numerous factors and health conditions can cause or worsen bad breath and turn it into an ongoing problem, according to the Mayo Clinic. Common contributors to chronic halitosis include eating pungent foods such as garlic and onions regularly, not practicing proper oral hygiene, smoking and having medical conditions such as dry mouth, gastroesophageal reflux disease and sinusitis.
Features
If ongoing halitosis is due only to consuming certain foods, avoiding those foods and eating a healthy diet will likely eliminate bad breath. Treating chronic halitosis due to poor dental practices typically requires seeing a dentist at least twice a year to control and prevent underlying problems, such as accumulated bacteria and periodontal disease. Improving your oral-hygiene habits--by brushing your teeth after each meal, for example--will also help. When chronic bad breath is related to a disease or medical problem, controlling it requires treating the underlying cause. For instance, people with dry mouth, or xerostomia, may need to stop using medications that make their mouth dry.
Considerations
Certain practices can help reduce bad breath while you treat persistent halitosis. For example, the Mayo Clinic suggests managing the problem by drinking more water, reducing the amount of alcohol and coffee you drink, eating more food with fiber and making sure your toothbrush is always soft-bristled and no more than four months old. The Consumer Guide to Dentistry also advises considering certain breath aids, such as using a straw to prevent sugary substances, which promote bacterial growth, from building up on your tongue and teeth.
Warning
People with bad breath often attempt to eliminate the problem by using mouthwash, many versions of which are typically available in stores without a prescription. However, the Cleveland Clinic cautions that store-bought mouthwashes that claim to eradicate bad breath are usually unable to provide anything more than a temporary, quick fix. Truly controlling bad breath with a mouthwash requires using an antiseptic version that destroys germs instead of superficially concealing the smell of your breath. The Cleveland Clinic further advises avoiding products advertised as halitosis kits. They not only contain products you can usually purchase independently, but your dentist or doctor also may not recommend using such products to treat your specific situation.
