Why Do I Have Bad Breath and Halitosis?
Causes of bad breath and halitosis
No one likes to discover that their breath is offensive, but have you ever stopped to wonder what causes bad breath or halitosis? In a word, the culprit is simply and most often: bacteria. When your mouth is overpopulated by particular types of bacteria, the result is smelly breath. Specifically, streptococcus mutans is the worst bacterial offender causing nasty halitosis. However, bacteria are not the only potential cause of halitosis.
You”ve probably noticed that when your mouth is dry, a condition known as xerostomia, bad breath can result. Fortunately, this can often be quickly relieved by consuming water or liquids to moisten the mouth while treating the breath with mints, gum, breath strips, or other conveniently accessible remedies. This condition can often be prevented by remaining well-hydrated, or by chewing breath-freshening gum.
More serious medical and systemic conditions can cause symptomatic halitosis, and naturally these diseases should be addressed immediately by a medical professional. For example chronic liver failure can cause a specific type of bad breath known as fetor hepaticus, and diabetes mellitus can cause a sweet-smelling fruity odor on the breath caused by ketosis. Additionally, a high-protein low-carbohydrate diet can put the body into a different type of fat-burning ketosis, which can result in the same fruity breath. Some people find the odor pleasant, while others prefer to camouflage the smell with breath strips, mints or chewing gum.
If you find yourself with any of these types of halitosis, you”re not alone. Chronic bad breath affects 25 percent of the population, but the good news is that help is available. Dr. Katz offers an abundant variety of halitosis remedies, including mouthwashes, rinses, specialized toothpastes and tooth gels, plus gum and other oral goodies. Don”t let halitosis ruin your personal interactions — take action to treat or prevent bad breath today.
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