Things You Didn't Know
Could Cause Bad Breath
Your Tongue
- Bacteria on the tongue is the leading cause of bad breath.
- Clean yours with your toothbrush or a tongue scraper.
- Scrapers will do a slightly better job.
- Avoid brittle plastic ones, which could snap, as well as metal ones, which can be sharp.
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Alcohol, Caffein, Spicy Foods & Cigarettes
- A night out with beers or Alcohol could give you more than a hangover.
- Even though it's a liquid, alcohol can actually dry out your mouth, which encourages the bacteria that cause halitosis, the medical term for bad breath.
- Drinks with caffeine, spicy foods & cigarettes can, also dry your mouth from not making
as much saliva while you sleep which also explains 'morning breath'
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A Low-Carb Diet
- When you cut out carbs & boost the amount of protein you eat, your body starts burning
fat for energy. - That process makes compounds called ketones, which cause bad breath.
- In this case, better dental hygiene won't solve the problem, since that's not the root cause.
- Your best bet is to mask your breath with sugar-free gum.
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The Common Cold
- As if they weren't annoying enough, respiratory tract infections like colds & bronchitis can
also give you bad breath. - That's because odor-causing bacteria like to feed on mucus .
- If you have a stuffy nose, you're more likely to resort to mouth-breathing, which can dry
out your mouth.
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An Ulcer
- There is a type of bacteria that causes ulcers, Helicobacter pylori, which can also trigger
bad breath, according to a study in the Journal of Medical Microbiology. - Treating the bacteria may get rid of the stink.
- Your doctor can test you for H pylori & prescribe antibiotics for it.
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Medications
- More than 400 prescription & over-the-counter drugs, including anti-depressants & allergy remedies, can stifle saliva flow.
- This fluid helps wash away food & bacteria, keeping bad breath at bay.
- Changing your meds isn't always an option, so the American Dental Association recommends you stay hydrated & chew sugarless gum to keep your mouth moist.
- Special oral rinses can also help.
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Tonsil Stones
- These small white-like clusters made up of hardened bacteria, food particles, dead cells
& mucus get trapped in the ridges of your tonsils & the back of your tongue. - They're generally harmless except for the smell.
- They'll often dislodge on their own, but you can sometimes speed the process by gargling
with salt water. - Your dentist may have other options for you.
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Dried Fruit
- It’s very high in sugar & odor-causing bacteria love to feed on the stuff.
- A reasonable 1/4 C of raisins has 21 grams of sugar; the same amount of dried apricots
has 17 grams.
1. That’s like eating 4-5 t of pure sugar.
2. Plus, dried fruit is sticky, so it can get trapped on & between your teeth. - After a snack, be sure to floss & brush.
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Acid Reflux or Heartburn
- Acid Reflux & Heartburn are 2 symptoms of GERD (gastroesophageal reflux disease),
a common digestive disorder. - Your bad breath may be from some undigested food coming back up or it could be that
irritation from stomach acid is giving you postnasal drip. - Ask your doctor for help if you get heartburn often.
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Cracked Teeth and Fillings
- These can trap food particles & breed bacteria, resulting in cavities, gum disease &
bad breath. Ill-fitting dentures can cause the same problems. - All the more reason to schedule regular dentist appointments.
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