Halitosis, also known as bad breath, is a condition that a lot of men suffer from. Having bad breath can be pretty embarrassing and can lower your confidence. It can also be a cause for concern. What exactly causes bad breath in men?
What causes bad breath in men?
Bad breath can be caused by a lot of things. And most of the time, it’s caused by food that gets trapped in between your teeth. Bacteria then starts to grow in your mouth, gums, and tongue, which can cause bad breath.
Other things that cause bad breath in men are the following:
- Eating strong-smelling foods such as garlic and onions
- Smoking
- Having a dry mouth
- Tooth decay
- Gum disease or gingivitis
- Tonsiliths, or tonsil stones, which are an accumulation of debris in your tonsils
- Yeast infections of the mouth
More serious conditions such as diabetes, bronchitis, as well as liver and kidney problems can also cause bad breath. That’s why if you have bad breath, it’s not a good idea to simply ignore it. It might signify a more serious concern.
Bad breath can also make you lose confidence, and chronic bad breath is usually a sign of poor dental health. If you have bad breath, then it might be time to rethink your hygiene habits and start doing something about it.
How can you prevent bad breath?
Proper dental hygiene is very important when it comes to preventing bad breath. It’s important to brush your teeth twice a day for at least two minutes each time to make sure that there are no food particles and bacteria build-up in your mouth. Brushing your tongue is also important, since bacteria can also grow on the tongue and cause not just bad breath but also conditions such as oral thrush.
Flossing also helps when it comes to preventing bad breath in men. That’s because flossing helps remove any bits of food that might be stuck in between your teeth, which can cause bacterial growth. Flossing also helps prevent tooth decay, which is another cause of bad breath.
Quit smoking and chewing tobacco. Tobacco dries out your mouth, which can cause bad breath. Chewing tobacco also irritates the tissues of the mouth, which can cause problems like gingivitis. A lot of people also don’t like the smell of cigarettes.
Drink less coffee. Coffee can dry out your mouth and also has a lot of sulfur compounds. These sulfur compounds are broken down by the bacteria in your mouth and can cause a bad odor.
Chewing sugarless gum can also help prevent bad breath. Aside from making your mouth smell fresh, it helps clean your mouth, especially after eating.
Gargling mouthwash can also help with mouth odors. However, it’s mostly a temporary solution and won’t really address the root cause of bad breath.
Mints can also help, but just like mouthwash, they simply mask the smell and don’t get rid of the problem outright.
Visit your dentist if you’re having a hard time dealing with bad breath. They should be able to give you some treatments that can help keep your mouth healthy and prevent the growth of bacteria that can cause bad odors.
