What is causing your bad breath?
By: Sere Neema
Posted on Monday, June 24, 2019
You will not even realize you have bad breath
It is hard to not notice and at no point will anyone walk up to you and say, “hey! your breath smells a little off,” simply because the mouth is a sensitive part of the body.
FULL CIRCLE host Joyce Omondi helps us answer the questions, why we have bad breath, how to deal with it and to as well rule out bad breath myths.
Approximately 2% of Kenya’s population suffer from the ‘silent disease’…
Causes of bad breath
“most bad breath is only limited to the mouth itself.”
However, it could be in the throat. Any other cause could be a serious illness.
There are two types of factors causing bad breath: -
- Physiologic halitosis – Normal bad breath or morning breath which is caused by saliva and bacteria. The bacteria (flora) produces gas while active when the mouth is closed.
- Pathologic halitosis – Bad breath caused by gum disease (gingivitis). The gum starts to swell, bleed, then later oozes pus. This is the start of bad breath.
Dental plaque as well causes the same. It is a layer (combination of saliva, bacteria and food leftovers) that lines the surface of the teeth and forms every 5 minutes.
All about brushing teeth
According to Dr. Peter Irungu, Dental Surgeon at Shine Dental Clinic, there is no limit to how many times one should brush their teeth, no time frame, no technique or specific design of a tooth brush. However, keep the following in mind…
Brush your teeth after every meal and before bed as well. Ensure your mouth is closed while at it. The toothbrush should have soft straight bristles to avoid damaging teeth. It should also touch every tooth.
Note: The tongue is not necessarily a cause of bad breath, however one should slightly brush through it to remove plaque. Avoid chocking while at it.
Dental floss is not common but if necessary, get the modified one with a handle. Floss upwards moving downwards repeatedly, to remove plaque in between the teeth.
Dr. Peter Irungu also addresses other issues brought up by viewers in this Full Circle session. His advice, go for dental checkups every now and then.
