Bad breath, known clinically as halitosis, is common. It can result from eating certain foods, such as onions or garlic.
In many cases, brushing your teeth, rinsing your mouth, or sucking on a mint can help combat bad breath. But this won’t fix chronic, persistent halitosis—bad breath that doesn’t go away and is a sign of underlying oral or physical health problems.
This article looks at how to get rid of bad breath and discusses the causes and risk factors for the condition.
Since halitosis is a sign of underlying oral or physical health problems, getting rid of it means getting to the root cause of the condition. Dental and medical treatments, lifestyle changes, medications, and surgeries can all play a role in getting rid of bad breath for good.
Conventional Treatment
The treatment approach that dentists and periodontists take to halitosis depends on the underlying cause. Many cases are related to plaque and tartar, bacterial buildup on the teeth and mouth. This triggers several dental procedures. Dentists or periodontists use scaling and root planing to treat gingivitis and periodontitis by removing the bacteria that cause bad breath. They use instruments to erode the buildup along the teeth, in the pockets between them, under them, and on their roots.
A wide range of conditions can cause bad breath and increase the risk of chronic halitosis, including: Dry mouth: Smoking, drinking alcohol, certain medications, or other factors cause dry mouth, known clinically as xerostomia; Insufficient saliva allows the bacteria that cause bad breath to thrive.
Oral diseases: Dental issues such as gum disease, gum infection, tooth decay or loss, and tooth abscesses cause 80% to 90% of halitosis cases.
Respiratory conditions: Infections and diseases of the respiratory system and sinuses, such as bronchitis, sinusitis, tonsillitis, and others, can contribute to bad breath.
Digestive conditions: Chronic bad breath can also result from GERD, hiatal hernia, and other diseases of the gastrointestinal tract.
Chronic diseases: Kidney disease, liver problems, heart attack, and diabetes are among the many chronic conditions that can also cause halitosis.