Health Word Decoded: Halitosis

February 13, 2015

Halitosis, in simple words, means an unpleasant odor from the mouth or, more colloquially, bad breath. Usually caused due to poor dental habits, persistent bad breath can underline certain health conditions. Unhealthy lifestyle habits supplemented by poor choice of foods can also be a cause of halitosis.

When you eat, the saliva in your mouth starts to breakdown the food particles. The natural mouth flora also plays a vital role in the breakdown of food. However if food particles remain in your mouth (foods that can easily get lodged in your teeth such as chewy toffees, meat), the mouth bacteria further breaks it down to release gases. This is a major reason of bad breath.

Nevertheless, halitosis can also highlight an underlying health condition. Here are six common conditions your breath can expose:

Diabetes
Kidney problems
Liver disorders
Respiratory diseases
Xerostomia (Dry Mouth)
Oral Cancer

Here are five tips to kick that foul odor out of your mouth.

Make sure to brush and floss twice daily.
If your bad breath is because of bacterial buildup, use a good mouthwash to rinse after your brushing routine.
Tongue hygiene also plays a crucial role in controlling bad breath. Use your toothbrush or a tongue scraper to get any bits off your tongue.
Munch on sugar-free gum to keep bad breath under control.
Drink enough water to keep your mouth moist. This will hamper bacterial buildup and prevent bad breath.