Can’t stand your breath when you blow on your palm?
Well, you are not alone. One in every two individuals has bad breath and it is the third most common complaint for which patients come to dentists.
A study ranks halitosis (the medical term for bad breath) as one of the top 100 most distressful diseases in the world. Hence, it is quite obvious to feel embarrassed and depressed due to this condition. You may be wondering, ” How do you stop smelly breath?”.
Generally, bad breath goes unnoticed.
Thanks to those COVID times, most individuals may have now become aware of stinky breath after long hours of wearing masks. Let us find out what the main causes of bad breath are.
You Always Had It But You Never Knew It
The coronavirus pandemic has served as a “nose-opener” to millions of people worldwide. People have become more aware of their breaths due to the long-term use of mouth masks.
Just like snoring, bad breath goes overlooked as the person suffering from halitosis (bad breath) never knows about it until his family or friends break the news to him.
Here are a couple of reasons for bad breath-
#1. Your Brushing Technique Is Not Good Enough
Poor oral hygiene tops the list of causes of bad breath. When your brushing time is less than the ideal time or the method of use is not right, you are encouraging bacterial activity inside the mouth which can lead to putrid breath.
#2. You Are On A Low-Carbohydrate Diet
Bad breath is quite common in those who tend to thrive on a low-carb diet to achieve their weight-loss goals. This can lead to ketosis, a fat-burning process through which the body produces energy but excretes an excess of ketone bodies as waste products. When the ketone bodies are eliminated through our breath, our breath can be likened to the smell of rotten fruits.
#3. Your Medicines May Be The Reason
Bad breath is experienced as a side effect of medicines like anti-anxiety drugs, anti-depressant drugs, and drugs that help in managing high blood pressure.
#4. Check For An Underlying Medical Condition
Those who have gastroesophageal reflux disease, a condition in which tiny amounts of stomach acid travel all the way up to your mouth, may have bad breath and corroded teeth.
Apart from the above-mentioned reasons, bad breath can occur as a consequence of alcohol consumption, tobacco use, and intake of smelly foods and beverages.
You May Be Having Mask Mouth
Mask Mouth, a common side effect of mouth masks, can be quite stressful. Our nose is designed for breathing but when we wear a mask the airflow is partially obstructed.
Some people find it difficult to breathe through the nose and hence, use their mouths for breathing. This leads to oral dryness or dry mouth which means the quantity of saliva reduces inside our mouth.
Saliva acts as a natural cleanser that flushes out food particles within our mouth and keeps a check on the bacterial activity. So, drying up of saliva can lead to bacterial buildup, bad breath, swollen gums and dental cavities.
What Can I Do To Get Rid Of Bad Breath?
Here are a few quick tips that can help you fight bad breath.
Stay Hydrated
One of the best ways to avoid mask mouth or bad breath is by drinking plenty of water and staying hydrated.
Don’t Have Stinky Foods
Though garlic and onions play an important role in our Indian cuisine, avoid consuming them raw, especially before wearing your mask. These foods release sulphides that contribute to an unpleasant odour.
Clean Your Tongue & Brush Your Teeth
Make sure to brush your teeth for at least 2 minutes in the morning and before you go to bed. As our tongue has tiny projections and depressions, it serves as a remarkable breeding ground for oral bacteria resulting in bad breath. Hence, use a tongue cleaner to clean your tongue each time you brush your teeth.
Use A Clean Mask
Use a disposable mask and discard it at the first sign of stinky breath. When we exhale, bacteria and sulphides travel from our breath and settle on the inner surface of the mask. So, cleaning your cloth masks is extremely important.
Consult Your Dentist
If you find that none of these tips is working, you should consult your dentist at the earliest. There could be other reasons like hard deposits on the inner surface of our teeth that may be contributing to the bad breath. These need to be removed through professional dental cleaning. There may be hidden dental cavities in which the food debris undergo putrefaction and emit malodour. Hence, routine visits to your dentist are essential in managing bad breath.
In A Nutshell
Bad breath can be very annoying and embarrassing.
Halitosis can be difficult to identify on your own. Poor oral hygiene is the most common cause of bad breath.
If it is due to long hours of wearing masks, you should emphasize on using clean masks and maintain good oral hygiene.
If you are not able to figure the reason for your bad breath, schedule a consultation with your dentist or family physician.
Very informative and well explained article😊👍
Thanks a lot, Salomia! Hoping to roll out more informative blogs.
Its really informative and will lead to solution for many people.
Thanks, Pankaj! I’m glad that you found the blog helpful.
Extremely informative article.
Thanks Mrs. Maneesh! Hoping to come up with more!
That’s really very informative Doctor. Thank you so much.
Thanks a lot for your encouraging words, Mrs. Malik!