Bad Breath: What it is, Causes and Home Remedies

Bad breath and misaligned teeth are the two most challenging dental issues. Both problems deprive you of your self-confidence and often cause you to withdraw from routine interactions with other people. The good news is that these problems can be solved with the help of certain home remedies. Dental hygiene along with eating a fresh and healthy diet are effective remedies for bad breath in your mouth. Sometimes, your bad breath can be the result of an underlying health condition. Treating that condition may help reduce your bad breath. 

Some people complain that they have terrible breaths and don’t know the cause while others say that their breath becomes unbearable when it is completely neutral. Sometimes, it is hard to smell your breath.

You can check your bad breath or breath smell by asking someone who is trustworthy and can give an honest opinion. If your close one confirms your bad breath, don’t feel ashamed. You can eliminate this dental problem with the help of some home remedies. 

In this article, you will find the causes and remedies for bad breath. Here several ways are listed as the most effective natural home remedies for bad breath. Let’s have a closer look at effective natural home remedies for bad breath as well as the ways your dentist can help.

Origins of Bad Breath

Several types of bacteria are present in the mouth which are responsible for bad breath. When you eat food, small bits of food particles remain caught in between your teeth. Bacteria living in the mouth feed on these food particles, resulting in the release of foul-smelling sulfur compounds.

Thus the most common cause of bad breath is the unhygienic condition of the mouth. Avoiding brushing or flossing increases the chances of growth of oral bacteria. These bacteria form a thin layer of plaque on your teeth. If the plaque remains stuck to your teeth and isn’t removed away by brushing, it produces a foul odor and results in tooth decay with a blow of a more smelly process.

Studies showed that nearly all types of food get stuck to your teeth but certain foods such as onions and garlic often lead to bad breath. Decomposition of such foods in the mouth releases sulfur into your bloodstream. When this smelly blood reaches your lungs, it affects your breath. 

Most cases of bad breath are associated with the mouth but sometimes the source of the problem comes from another place in the body. It may be a cause of acid reflux, which leads to the partial regurgitation of foul-smelling liquid. Some other causes responsible for bad breath include infections such as renal failure, diabetes, and digestive complications. Adoption of a new diet plan like the DASH diet or KETO diet may also be the cause of certain breath odors.

Types of Breath

Halitosis is a medical name for a bad breath problem. This problem originates from the mouth due to poor dental condition and may be an indicator of other health problems. An unhealthy lifestyle, imbalanced eating habits, and certain types of foods can worsen bad breath.There are many ways to get rid of breath odor. Bad Breath has a wide range of types based on the type of odor. What your bad breath smells like indicates the cause of your breath odor. Here are common types of bad breath:

• Urine-like or a fishy odor.
• A sweet, fruity odor.
• Sulfur or rotten eggs smell.
• A feces-like odor.

Causes of Bad Breath

Many factors affect your oral health and also play a role in producing a breath odor. The top of the list causes of breath odor include foods you eat, smoking, drinking alcohol, certain medications, and some medical conditions. 

Foods Causing Bad Breath

The food you eat is broken down in your mouth, leading to the building up of plaque with the help of bacteria. Foods are also absorbed into your bloodstream and then enter your lungs with blood affecting the air you exhale. Flossing, brushing, or cleaning with mouthwash can cover up the odor temporarily. However, these methods cannot remove the odor completely. Common foods that can cause breath odor include:

• Alcohol.
• Soda or orange juice.
• Certain spics.
• Cheese.

Studies also suggested that dieters who eat in small quantities have bad breath. In the absence or shortage of food, your body’s straits break down the accumulated fats that release chemicals that produce a foul breath odor.

Hygiene Habits

Most of the bad breath results from poor hygienic condition of your mouth. When you don’t take proper care of the cleanliness of your teeth, gums, and tongue, this increases the risk of tooth decay or gum diseases and allows oral bacteria to build up in the spaces between your gums and teeth. The decomposition of food bits in your teeth gives your breath a sulfur-like or rotten eggs smell.

In addition, inflammation of the gums also leads to bad breath. When you don’t keep your tongue clean, food particles and bacteria attack it causing a foul smell.

Moreover, smoking is another major cause of dryness in your mouth. The dryness of the mouth increases the risk of gum disease which is another cause of breath odor.

Bad Breath Due to Tooth Extraction

Removing a tooth forms a blood clot in a space as part of the healing process. In some cases, this clot becomes transparent or does not form completely. This condition leads to exposure to your nerves and bone leading to a dry socket. This may cause pain and bad breath.

Conditions Causing Bad Breath

Dry Mouth: Saliva keeps your mouth moist and helps keep your mouth clean by carrying away little bits of the food that cause plaque. However insufficient production of saliva causes dryness of the mouth that further leads to the accumulation of bad-breath-causing bacteria in the mouth.

Infections: Throat and sinus infections also cause postnasal drip, which leads to bad breath. Another lung infection, pneumonia, can cause coughing up a dirty fluid that smells bad. Another bacterial infection leads to tooth abscesses or pus that makes your breath stink. 

Diabetes: This condition causes a higher risk of gum diseases, leading to bad breath. Diabetic keto acidosis is a condition that produces a fruity sweet odor on your breath. This is because building up of acids called ketones when you get insufficient amounts of insulin. 

Kidney and Liver Disease: These two organs work for the detoxification of your body. Problems in their working increase the levels of toxins that further lead to foul breath odor. Disordered kidney function leads to making your breath smell like urine or ammonia.

Tonsil Stones: Tonsillitis are a condition when food particles get stuck in your tonsils and harden into calcium deposits. It is recognized with the foul breath odor. 

Head and Neck Cancers: Cancer of the larynx, throat, and mouth also cause foul breath odor.

Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease: This condition is characterized by the flow of acid from your stomach to back into your esophagus. This produces a sour taste in your mouth, leading to foul breath odor.

Certain Drugs: Some types of drugs also cause your mouth dryness and thus lead to release of bad breath. The drugs include:

• Decongestants.
• Antidepressants, like tricyclic antidepressants.
• Certain drugs for treating high blood pressure, such as diuretics and beta-blockers.
• Antihistamines.

Some more illnesses and diseases also cause bad breath, including:

• Gastrointestinal problems.
• Seasonal allergies.

Home Remedies for Bad Breath

Here are some home remedies for making your breath smell-free and refreshing:

Drinking Water

A dry mouth causes an untidy environment inside the mouth leading to foul breath odor. In a dry environment, bacteria thrive. Your mouth usually becomes dry at night during sleep, that’s why your breath is worse in the morning. 

Preventing dry mouth by keeping your body hydrated will help encourage saliva production in sufficient quantities. Aiming at least eight glasses of water a day will keep your mouth moist and keep your breath fresh.

Eating Yogurt

Lactobacillus are beneficial bacteria present in yogurt. These beneficial bacteria help fight bad bacteria found in different parts of your body, such as your gut. Studies claim that most people reported a reduction in bad breath after eating yogurt for six months continuously. Research also suggested that probiotics present in yogurt effectively reduce the severity of breath. Eating at least one serving of plain yogurt will help you fight foul breath odor.

Drinking Milk

Studies suggest that drinking milk after eating foul-smelling foods, such as garlic or onion, can significantly improve your bad breath. Milk is the best remedy to cure foul breath odor. Drinking a glass of low or full-fat milk after a meal a day helps remove the smell of smelling foods like onions or garlic.

Good Dental Hygiene

Poor dental hygiene is the leading cause of foul breath odor. Brushing twice a day prevents plaque buildup, which is essential for maintaining healthy oral hygiene. Using fluoride toothpaste for brushing your teeth in the morning and at night can help prevent tooth decay and bad breath. Flossing at least once per day also helps prevent bacteria from growing on bits of food stuck in your teeth.

Bacteria accumulate on the tongue and also cause ghoul odor. Studies suggested that tongue scraping may help remove the thin layer of film-containing bacteria. Therefore, it is suggested to use your toothbrush or a tongue scraper at least once a day to clean your tongue.

Fennel Seeds as Mouth Freshener

Studies showed that in ancient times, people used fennel seeds to freshen their breath. Eating roasted fennel seeds after a meal helps cleanse your oral cavity and freshen your breath. These seeds are sweet in taste and contain some essential oils that have amazing aromatic properties. You can give your breath a fresh scent flavor by using fennel seeds. Fennel seeds can be eaten in roasted or plain form. However, sometimes they are coated with sugar.

Drinking Green Tea

The most effective home remedy for bad breath is drinking green tea because green tea contains certain deodorizing and disinfecting properties that can temporarily freshen your breath. You can also take a cup of mint tea as an ideal breath freshener.

The best way to use green tea or mint tea is to brew two cups of tea before going to bed and refrigerate it overnight. Now you can add this mixture to your water bottle and drink slowly throughout the day. 

Rinse with Homemade Baking Soda Mouthwash

Several studies support the use of baking soda mouthwash for killing oral bacteria, to prevent bad breath. Baking soda is sodium bicarbonate and many toothpastes contain this compound to reduce bad breath. 

You can make baking soda mouthwash at home. Add 2 teaspoons of baking soda to 1 cup of boiled water. Swish the mixture around in your mouth for at least 15 seconds before spitting it out.

Gargle with Homemade Vinegar Mouthwash

A natural acid, acetic acid is found in vinegar. Bacteria avoid the acidic environment and don’t grow there. Thus, you can use vinegar mouthwash to reduce oral bacterial growth.

To prepare homemade mouthwash, add 2 teaspoons of apple cider vinegar or white vinegar to 1 cup of water.

Chew Gum

Chewing mint-flavored gum can help kill oral bacteria. This also makes it easy to clean the bits of food left behind after eating. You cannot always carry a toothbrush with you. Therefore, chewing gum is the easiest way to stimulate saliva in your oral cavity and keeps your mouth clean until you can brush your teeth. However, it must be kept in mind that you should chew sugar-free gum.

Conclusion

Bad breath or foul breath odor always originates due to the unhygienic conditions of your oral cavity. However, sometimes, other underlying health conditions or eating smelly foods also play a role in creating bad breath. According to studies, bad breath also indicates certain health conditions, such as poor digestion of food, diabetic keto-acidosis, and problems in kidney or liver function. You Can try any of the above-mentioned home remedies to get rid of foul breath odor. If all is in vain, dental visits are still key to fighting bad breath. Consult your doctor or dentist if the home remedies don’t work for your bad breath. Good oral hygiene is essential for maintaining good oral health and a refreshing breath.