One of the worst smells that comes from our bodies is bad breath, and this is the one that bothers us the most. There are several causes of bad breath. Here are five that may surprise you and cause long-term habit changes:
Good dental hygiene and a healthy lifestyle go hand in hand. Bad breath may persist even after brushing our teeth three times a day. Sounds odd, right? Here are five characteristics that will show your lack of excellent practices and lead to bad breath.
First, we must realize that foul breath is caused by an overabundance of bacteria in the mouth that feed on proteins and emit volatile sulfur compounds as a result. These substances emit a bad odor.
Mouthwash: The Causes of Bad Breath
“But how can mouthwash cause bad breath?” you might ask. And we’ll say that mouthwash has two sharp edges. While certain mouthwashes do have a refreshing effect, it usually wears off quickly. The alcohol in these items kills the majority of germs, but after it evaporates, it dries out the mouth, which is ideal for the bacteria since it encourages their growth and increases their population. It is preferable to use alcohol-free mouthwash or natural, home-made mouthwash.
Common cold symptoms (cough, sore throat, sinusitis)
Bad breath is still a result of cold-related illnesses. You must breathe through your mouth when you have a cold, tonsillitis, or sinusitis because your nose is closed. Mouth breathing causes dryness, which inevitably results in bad breath. As if that weren’t bad enough, taking medicine that lowers saliva production intensifies the drying-out impact. As you are aware, saliva naturally cleans the mouth; therefore, when it is present in very small amounts, foul breath gets worse.
The remedy in these circumstances is to consume enough water to keep the mouth from drying out.
Breakfast
The most essential meal of the day in terms of nutrition and hygiene is breakfast. Even if you clean your teeth every 30 minutes, skipping breakfast may still result in bad breath since the stomach, rather than the mouth, is to blame.
In addition to acid reflux, which also emits scents, the stomach also releases digestive fluids, which, when empty, tend to smell. Even if you dislike eating first thing in the morning, have some fruit or a light meal to prevent having offensive breath.
Mouth-to-mouth breathing
It is not surprising that those who have the irritating habit of mouth breathing have foul breath. Because the mouth is directly connected to the esophagus, unlike the nose, and does not have hair to filter dirt and microscopic particles, breathing through the mouth is unhealthy. Mouth breathing also dries out the mouth, and as we’ve already mentioned, a dry mouth is a big contributor to foul breath.
Practice breathing through your nose. If this is not feasible, keep your mouth regularly hydrated to combat dry mouth.
Diets
People who diet should always have mouthwash in their pocket, especially if they follow a high-protein diet. These individuals are prone to having bad breath because of a chemical called ammonia that is produced when proteins are broken down in the stomach. If this is the case, make sure to drink lots of water to mask the odor, chew sugarless mints, and wash your teeth frequently.
Homemade mouthwash recipe
You will need:
– A handful of fresh parsley
– 2 cups of water
– 3 drops of peppermint essential oil
Preparation:
The parsley is added to the boiling water. For five to ten minutes, let the mixture steep. Add three drops of peppermint essential oil when it has cooled. After each meal, use this combination as mouthwash.
Parsley has potent breath-freshening properties. Because it contains chlorophyll, it neutralizes the sulfur compounds that cause the tongue to become clear.