Killer outfit. Knock-em-dead shoes. Clean, shiny hair. Bad breath. Your body's digestive process contributes to bad breath, or halitosis, so knowing what happens after you eat a burger or salad can help you take the right steps to stop bad breath before it begins. The bad breath problem might be limited to your mouth or it might begin deeper inside your body. When you know what causes halitosis, you can take the right steps to correct it.
Causes
Bacteria in your mouth cause bad odors. After you eat, little pieces of food gather in your mouth and in between your teeth. The bacteria accumulate and feast on these bits of food, causing a chemical reaction that releases a sulfur compound, making your breath smell bad. The sulfur reaction is similar to a "bad egg" smell, according to the KidsHealth website. When you wake up in the morning with bad breath, this is normal; at night, your mouth dries up. Decaying bits of food and dead cells stick to the inside of your cheeks and on your tongue. All the bacteria in your mouth eat the cells and food, leading to bad breath.
Some health conditions lead to bad breath. They include dental infections, upper respiratory infections, underlying illness and dry mouth.
Bad Breath Myths
If you brush your teeth for less than two minutes, expect to have some problems with halitosis. Brushing for such a short time doesn't allow you to clean every surface of every tooth enough that you can deprive oral bacteria of their food supply. Brushing your teeth isn't enough -- brush your tongue, the roof of your mouth and below your tongue to ensure you have gotten rid of as many particles of food as possible. After brushing, floss in between each tooth in your mouth. Flossing removes food particles and plaque.
Using mouthwash only allows you to mask bad breath for a short while. To kill germs, use an antiseptic mouthwash approved by the American Dental Association.
Your nose has gotten used to the smell from your mouth. Thus, blowing a gust of breath in your hand does no good if you are trying to smell your breath. If you cannot brush your teeth, suck on a sugar-free mint or chew sugar-free gum, but don't rely heavily on them.
Prevention
Drink enough water that your body can produce enough saliva to keep your mouth moist. Water also helps loosen stray bits of food. Brush your teeth after meals; take a small toothbrush and tube of toothpaste and duck into the bathroom at school after lunch so that you can brush your teeth.
If you cannot brush after lunch, sugar-free mints or gum help, but try not to use too many. The sorbitol in these products can cause gastrointestinal side effects.
Dental Examination
When you go to the dentist for your twice-yearly examination, she might notice you have halitosis. If your breath has a fruity or urine smell, she will go over your medical history with your parents. If you take medications that cause bad breath or dry mouth, she needs to know this information. If you smoke or chew tobacco, she needs to know this as well. Be prepared to discuss your diet with her. If she finds potentially significant causes for your bad breath, she will send you to your doctor. He will run tests if he suspects illnesses that range from a respiratory infection to liver disease, diabetes, kidney disease or Sjogren's syndrome.
