This is one of the most foul odors that emerge from our body and this is probably the one that makes us most uncomfortable: bad breath. The causes of bad breath are numerous. Here are 5 that may surprise you, and make you change your habits for good.
Good oral hygiene is necessarily linked to good health and lifestyle. However, bad breath can persist even when we brush our teeth three times a day. Sounds surprising? Here are 5 causes of bad breath that will show you that you don't do the right moves.
We must first understand that bad breath is the result of an overgrowth of bacteria in the mouth, that feed on proteins and that way they release volatile sulfur compounds. It is these compounds that give off a foul odor.
THE CAUSES OF BAD BREATH
Mouthwash
You will say, "But how can a mouthwash cause bad breath? " And we will respond that mouthwash is a double edged sword. Indeed, although some mouthwashes are refreshing, their effect is short-lived. Alcohol that these products contain eliminates most bacteria, but once evaporated, it makes the mouth dry, which is a good environment for the bacteria, because they proliferate and become more numerous than before the use of the mouthwash. Better to use mouthwashes that don't contain alcohol or better yet, natural homemade mouthwash.
Common colds (sore throat, cough, sinusitis)
The cold-related diseases are still a cause of bad breath. Colds, tonsillitis or sinusitis force you to breathe through the mouth because the nose is blocked. The mouth breathing leads to drying that necessarily generates oral malodor. As if that was not enough, medication accentuates the effect of drying out, because they reduce the production of saliva. You are aware that saliva is a natural cleanser of the mouth, if it is found in very small amounts, bad breath worsens.
In these cases, the solution is to drink enough water to prevent drying of the mouth.
Breakfast
The breakfast is nutritionally the most important meal of the day, but also hygienically important! Skipping the breakfast may be a cause of bad breath, even if you brush your teeth every quarter of an hour, because the reason is much lower than the mouth: the stomach.
The stomach releases digestive juices which when empty, tend to smell in addition to acid reflux that emit odors too. Even if you do not like eating in the morning, still swallow a fruit or a light food to avoid having a repulsive breath.
Breathing through the mouth
People who have this annoying habit of mouth breathing should not be surprised to have bad breath. Breathing through the mouth is bad for the health because unlike the nose, the mouth is directly related to the esophagus and does not contain hair to filter dirt and micro particles. Another reason is that mouth breathing dries the mouth, and as we have said before, dry mouth is a major cause of bad breath.
Learn to breathe through the nose. If this is not possible, drink water constantly to fight against oral dryness.
Diets
People who go on diets (especially high-protein diets) should permanently have a mouth spray in their pocket. These people are prone to bad breath for the following reason: the digestion of proteins in the stomach results in substance, ammonia, generating a foul odor. If you are in this case, be sure to drink plenty of water to subside the smell, swallow mints without sugar and brush your teeth often.
Homemade mouthwash recipe
You will need:
- A handful of fresh parsley
- 2 cups of water
- 3 drops of peppermint essential oil
