Halitosis Symptoms

Halitosis is the medical term for a bad breath problem. It isn't mild or tolerable, but the kind that can certainly be unpleasant, given its prolonged presence. If you or others suffer from this, there are a varied number of reasons of why you have bad breath. The symptoms of halitosis aren't difficult to spot, and in most cases can be treated effectively, if taken care of sooner.

Causes of Halitosis

Bad breath that has crossed over from mild to putrid, can mean that it has advanced to something more serious. The number one cause for halitosis, is poor hygiene. Bacteria in the mouth, it is said, produces sulfur gases in the oral cavity, that result in bad breath. Build up of food between teeth, or stuck behind one's grinders way back in the mouth cavity is also another major cause. Other causes of bad breath include:

• A thin coating on the tongue, which is a mixture of mucous, sulfur compounds and food particles, that produce a layer on the tongue when it isn't cleaned immediately. People will be familiar with this, when taking in a whiff of someone's bad breath when they talk.
• Tonsil stones can be a major factor; it has been said to smell terrible when people spit up these stones from their mouths
• Sinus, which can promote the presence of bacteria in the mouth
• Caffeine in large doses, being acidic in nature, can increase the risk of having halitosis
• Decrease in saliva flow
• Not brushing teeth twice a day
• Periodontal disease
• Diabetes mellitus
• Liver / kidney disease
• Absence of flossing
• Anemia
• Alcohol consumption
• Tobacco chewing
• Less water consumption

Signs that One Suffers from Halitosis

Halitosis symptoms, like I said, aren't difficult to notice, but you need to still pay attention to how your breath smells.

• A white / yellow deposit is formed on the tongue, which allows bacteria and mucous to build up and multiply. If this gets more serious, not even removing stray food completely from the mouth will help lessen the bad breath. This is because bacteria in the saliva and other areas of the oral cavity, are worse than on the tongue.
• The presence of white nodules on the tonsils tend to sprout up without the person's knowledge. These can be swallowed too, without the person having a clue that he/she just did so.
• Taste buds turn metallic and bitter. These can be due to anything from dental work to sinus problems.
• A dry mouth invites more trouble, by letting bacteria concentrate on the saliva to replicate. Therefore the smell builds up, smelling even more foul from far way.

Halitosis Treatment

There are ways in which you can beat halitosis, by adding these simple habits into your dental and lifestyle routines; there are also many home remedies that you can try out as well.

• Brush regularly twice a day, once in the morning when you awake, and once at nightfall before you head to bed.
• Use mouthwash and floss. Mouthwash is a good way of eliminating the presence of bacteria in the mouth, and floss removes food from between teeth spaces.
• Gargle your mouth with salt water everyday to cut off the bacteria's ability to grow. Do not substitute mouthwash with this.
• Avoid drinking aerated drinks, coffee, tea and other caffeine induced beverages.
• Chew on parsley or mint leaves for instant freshness.
• Eat a lot of fiber enriched foods.
• Chew on sugar-free gum, to promote the flow of saliva.
• Avoid excessive eating of sugary foods like biscuits, sweets, chocolates and so on.
• Cut down on acidic foods like lemons, oranges, vinegar, Tabasco sauce, etc.

If bad breath persists, it is highly advisable that you get in touch with a good dentist, to have your mouth checked out. So the next time you find someone, or even yourself speaking funny in terms of bad breath - make sure you / they get it checked out or act on it before it escalates into something serious. Stay fresh.