Table of contents:
- The cause of bad breath does not go away even after brushing your teeth
- 1. Dry mouth
- 2. Mouth, nose, or throat infections
- 3. Gastric acid rises
- 4. Certain drugs
- 5. Smoking habits
When you experience bad breath or halitosis, most people will be more diligent in brushing their teeth so that their mouths smell good throughout the day. Brushing your teeth is sometimes not enough, so you can also use mouthwash to help get rid of bad breath. Even though you brush your teeth diligently, how come, bad breath still bothers you, huh? What causes bad breath not go away?
The cause of bad breath does not go away even after brushing your teeth
The cause of bad breath mostly comes from daily food. If you have just eaten jengkol, petai, or durian, then don't be surprised if your breath smells bad.
If it is caused by food, brushing your teeth may be the right way to get rid of bad breath. However, if bad breath doesn't go away, then there could be other things causing it.
Here are some of the causes of bad breath that you often don't realize.
1. Dry mouth
If bad breath doesn't go away even though you brush your teeth regularly, then you may experience dry mouth. Without realizing it, a small amount of saliva can trigger bad breath.
Saliva or saliva plays an important role in maintaining the health of your teeth, mouth and breath. In addition to helping crush food, this clear liquid is also tasked with helping to rinse food debris and bacteria from the mouth.
When your mouth doesn't produce enough saliva, bacteria and germs will settle comfortably in your mouth. Well, these bacteria cause bad breath.
2. Mouth, nose, or throat infections
Launching from the Mayo Clinic, bad breath that doesn't go away can also be caused by an infection that comes from the mouth, nose, or throat. People with sinusitis, post-nasal drip, or a sore throat due to a bacterial infection (strep throat) are more likely to have bad breath problems.
Most of these infections are caused by bacteria. The bacteria then feed on the mucus that is produced by the body, even though this mucus is supposed to be used to fight infection. As a result, a foul odor arises and creates an unpleasant smell from the mouth.
3. Gastric acid rises
The cause of bad breath does not only come from the teeth and mouth, you know. However, bad smells in the mouth can also come from the digestive system.
Bad breath can also be triggered by indigestion, one of which is gastric acid reflux (GERD). GERD is a condition when stomach acid backs up into the esophagus and irritates the lining of the throat.
When this happens, you will usually experience heartburn and a bitter or sour taste in your mouth. Other effects also cause bad breath.
4. Certain drugs
Are you being advised to take any medications by your doctor? If so, then this could be the cause of your bad breath.
Yes, there are several types of drugs that can cause bad breath, including antihistamines, antipsychotics, and diuretic drugs. According to Hadie Rifai, a dentist from the Cleveland Clinic, these drugs have side effects in the form of dry mouth which can trigger bad breath.
Even if you are diligent in brushing your teeth, the risk of bad breath will remain as long as you are still taking these drugs. However, this does not mean that you are lazy to brush your teeth, huh.
In addition to brushing your teeth, try to regularly clean your tongue with a tongue cleaner. Or it could be the wavy or serrated back of a toothbrush made of rubber. This can help reduce bad breath, at least temporarily.
5. Smoking habits
It's useless if you are diligently brushing your teeth or rinsing your mouth with mouthwash, but still smoking. Because, this smoking habit will always cause your breath to smell bad.
According to a study published in the Hong Kong Medical Journal in 2004, smoking is the most common cause of bad breath. Smoking can reduce the production of saliva in the mouth so that the mouth feels dry. When the mouth gets dry, the more bacteria will thrive in the mouth.
What's more, tobacco from cigarettes can also increase the risk of gum disease. Well, the combination of dry mouth and gum disease is the reason why you experience bad breath, even though you are diligently brushing your teeth every day.
