Bad breath is the condition when breath has an unpleasant odour. An embarrassing social problem more than it is a dental health problem. It can be caused by something we just ate. However, for some adults, bad breath is a chronic problem. Does your mouth smell bad even if you haven't eaten anything foul smelling or, even if you haven't eaten anything at all?

Every morning we rush through the routine of brushing our teeth and rinsing our mouth, but after a hard day's work we are so tired that we just crash after dinner, without bothering to clean our teeth.

Nine out of 10 Indians suffer from various types of dental diseases, according to the Indian Dental Association.

Although there are other factors that affect the quality of your breath including smoking, gum disease, dry mouth and medicines, the primary cause of bad breath is oral bacteria.

What causes bad breath

*Bad breath is mainly caused by excessive amount of volatile sulphur compounds that give breath its foul odour.
*Food. Eating foods containing volatile sulphur compounds, like garlic and onions or some spices, is one of the most common causes of temporary halitosis.

*Poor dental hygiene. Improper brushing and flossing can leave food particles to decay inside the mouth. Their breakdown can cause a foul odour.

*Dental problems. Periodontal disease or an abscess at the base of a tooth can be the causes of bad breath due to bacteria emitting hydrogen sulphur vapours.

*Dry mouth. Saliva helps cleanse and moisten the mouth. A dry mouth enables the accumulation of dead cells on tongue, gums and cheeks. These cells then decompose and cause odour.

*Several illnesses can cause a distinctive breath odour like diabetes may cause a fruity breath odour; liver failure or lung infections also can produce bad breath.

*Gums. If your gums bleed often, this could be the sign of a gum disease. In some people, gum diseases cause bad breath. For gum disease, you should get your teeth checked by a dentist as soon as possible.

Prevention

*Maintain good oral hygiene. Brush properly every morning and after every meal to remove bacteria from the teeth and cure bad breath.

*Proper diet. Be careful with what you eat, avoid foods like onions and garlic.

*Increase saliva flow. Saliva acts as nature's mouthwash by keeping the mouth moist, washing away left-over food particles and bacteria, prevents foul smelling. Drink a lot of water to increase saliva.

*Clean your tongue. Much of the bacteria responsible for bad breath lives on the tongue - especially on the far inside of the tongue. It is essential to brush properly and regularly, as bad breath is also caused by plaque.

*Use  a good mouthwash. A mouthwash containing Triclosan, eucalyptus oil which attack and neutralise the sulphur compounds and have long lasting affect.

*Visit your dentist every six months. Visit your dentist for a professional cleaning. Your dentist can diagnose other problems which cause bad breath as abscesses, periodontal disease or systemic diseases.

The author is the Managing Director, Elder Health Care Pvt Ltd