6 Signs Of Halitosis To Look Out For

Halitosis, or bad breath, is something that none of us want to have. However, it does occur quite often even if our oral hygiene standards are quite high. There are certain signs that one may be suffering from halitosis, and these have been outlined below:

Dry Mouth

One of the important signs of halitosis is dry mouth. It is generally caused by lack of salivation, and the root cause for this is usually dehydration. Medication can also cause this kind of dryness in the mouth; smoking and continuously breathing through the mouth are also known to cause dryness, leading to bad odors.

Dental Problems

These signs can be caused by any number of conditions from dirty dentures to cavities to plaque and gum disease. Good oral care can get rid of these problems, and regular visits to the dentist (at least every six months) are essential.

Diseases

A variety of diseases also have halitosis as one of their symptoms. Kidney or liver problems, diabetes, lung diseases, bronchitis, pneumonia, tonsillitis, sinus problems and many other diseases could be the root cause of this. In such cases, a general checkup is highly recommended if repeated trips to your dentist are unable to address the cause of halitosis.

Foods

Certain foods, such as garlic or onions, tend to remain in the system until they are completely flushed out. Therefore, it is natural that the compounds giving off these smells reach your lungs and, thereby, your breath, leading to halitosis. The only way around this is to avoid these foods completely, or take breath mints after eating strong-smelling foods.

Tongue Hygiene

A normal tongue is pink in color, and shiny. If you see a white coating on the tongue, or if it looks dry, this could be the cause of halitosis. Regularly cleaning your tongue is highly recommended, because this can prevent bacterial growth to a great extent. Visit your dentist to see what solutions are available to you for tongue cleaning. Some toothbrushes also have tongue cleaners on the reverse side so you may not need to buy a separate tongue scraper.

People's Reactions

Although this is not the best way to find out that you have bad breath, it is often the only way people find out. If you're talking to someone and they cringe or back away, and this happens more than once, then go to your dentist to see if you have halitosis. Unfortunately, body odor can also cause these reactions in people, so make sure that isn't the problem.

Halitosis can have tremendous social impact on people, especially youngsters whose friends aren't as forgiving or discreet as adults. If you have a child suffering from such a condition, don't waste time in taking them to the dentist at the earliest opportunity. This is not something that a person has to live with because once the problem has been identified, there are numerous methods to get rid of the problem or at least mask it so it doesn't get in the way of your social life. Remember: oral hygiene is the best preventive measure so if you don't follow a proper regime, it's time to change.

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