Supermarkets and shops are overflowing with mints, gums and mouthwashes, all products designed to fight bad breath.
However most times than not these measures are only temporary because they don’t address the root of the problem.
Certain habits, foods and health problems are among some of the causes of bad breath.
Kenyans.co.ke explores some of the known causes of bad breath and simple remedies as recommended by medical experts.
Poor Dental Hygiene
The most common cause of foul breath, according to healthline, is poor oral hygiene. Food builds up in the mouth if you don't regularly brush and floss.
Bacteria thrives as a result of this accumulation, resulting in foul-smelling sulphur compounds that cause bad breath.
These dangerous micro-organisms can also grow on the tongue, giving it odour.
Tooth decay can occur if teeth are not properly cared for.
Dry Mouth
This occurs when saliva flow in the mouth drops. Saliva aids digestion and in the removal of odour-causing particles from the mouth.
When your mouth becomes dry, dead cells attach to your tongue and gums, where they are used as a food source and produce foul-smelling gases, according to drugs.com.
To keep your mouth moist, stay away from dry mouth-causing substances such as tobacco, coffee, and alcohol. Chewing gum or sucking on sugarless sweets can stimulate saliva, according to the Mayo Clinic.
If your dry mouth is severe, talk to your dentist or doctor about getting a prescription for artificial saliva.
Food
Certain meals can also cause bad breath. They include spices, onions, and garlic. After these foods are digested, they enter blood stream circulation and are delivered to your lungs, affecting your breath, according to Mayo Clinic.
Regularly drinking water, especially after meals, and chewing sugar-free gum can significantly reduce the stench.
Medications
Some medications can indirectly cause bad breath mainly because they dry out the mouth. Antihistamines, sedatives, anticholinergics, and several antipsychotics are examples of such drugs. However, such is usually temporary and will disappear once you are done with the dose.
Smoking
Smoking is another well-known cause of foul breath. Microscopic smoke particles remain in the lungs long after you have puffed, according to drugs.com, making your breath smell unpleasant and stale. Smokers are also more susceptible to tooth decay, gum disease and lung cancer.
How to fix bad breath
Yoghurt
Yoghurt, according to healthline, has beneficial bacteria that can aid in the treatment of foul breath.
To combat bad breath, consume at least one serving of plain yoghurt every day.
Green tea and Mint
Green tea, according to healthline, is a good disinfectant and has deodorizing characteristics that help to keep the breath fresh. Mint has the same effects. .
A cup of either green or mint tea can be an excellent breath refresher.
Homemade Mouthwash
You may produce your own mouthwash at home by mixing vinegar with water. Because bacteria cannot survive in acidic conditions, vinegar inhibits bacterial growth.
Add two tablespoons of vinegar to a cup of water to make the mouthwash.
Before spitting out, gargle for at least 30 seconds.
