Bad breath is not only caused by poor oral hygiene, but can also occur due to various diseases. Bad breath caused by disease generally has a characteristic odor, depending on the cause and which organs are affected.
Research shows that 80% of bad breath is caused by problems with oral health. However, there are also some diseases that can cause bad breath. Each of these diseases causes different breath odors, ranging from a sweet smell like fruit, to a foul smell like feces.
Recognizing Various Diseases That Cause Bad Breath
Some diseases that can cause bad breath are:
1. Cavities
Food debris and bacteria can be trapped in cavities in teeth long enough to rot. This condition causes the mouth to smell bad. In addition to cavities, gingivitis and dry mouth can also be the cause of bad breath.
2. Sinusitis
Bad breath experienced by sinusitis sufferers can occur when mucus containing bacteria from the nose goes down the throat. The breath of sinusitis sufferers tends to smell like feces. In addition to bad breath, sinusitis sufferers can also experience a prolonged runny nose, green or yellow nasal mucus, fever, and headaches.
3. Stomach acid disease
If bad breath due to sinusitis smells like feces, bad breath caused by acid reflux disease tends to smell sour. This can occur because stomach acid rises into the esophagus, causing a sour odor in the mouth.
4. Diabetes
Bad breath that appears due to diabetes smells like fruit. Bad breath in diabetics occurs when there is not enough insulin to take sugar from the blood as an energy source, so the body burns fat instead. From this fat burning, ketone acids are formed which cause bad breath resembling a fruity aroma.
5. Kidney disease
Bad breath may be related to kidney disease if it smells like urine or smells fishy. If the kidneys are not functioning properly, toxins and waste substances from the body's metabolism cannot be excreted through urine. These toxins and wastes then accumulate and spread throughout the body, causing a urine or fishy odor that can be smelled from the mouth.
How to Overcome Bad Breath
Bad breath that occurs due to disease or health problems can be overcome with treatment from a doctor. Treatment will be tailored to the disease suffered. After the disease is resolved, bad breath generally will also disappear.
But to help reduce bad breath, you can try the following ways:
1. Regularly brushing teeth
To combat bad breath, brush your teeth regularly at least twice a day, especially after each meal. Brushing your teeth regularly can help remove food debris and bacteria from your teeth that cause bad breath.
2. Using dental floss
Brushing your teeth is not enough, because food scraps can still stick between your teeth. Therefore, it is recommended that you clean between your teeth using dental floss, after every brushing or at least once a day.
3. Clean the tongue regularly
The tongue is also a breeding ground for bacteria that cause bad breath, so it needs to be cleaned regularly. You can use a special tongue cleaner to remove dirt and bacteria that stick to the surface of the tongue.
4. Gargle with mouthwash
To get rid of bad breath, you can use mouthwash. By gargling, food residue and bacteria that cause bad breath can be lifted and removed.
You can use mouthwash from natural ingredients that contain saga leaves, betel leaves, and liquorice (licorice). These ingredients are considered capable of inhibiting the growth of bacteria that cause cavities and bad breath, and leave a refreshing aroma in the mouth.
5. Increase the consumption of water
In addition to taking care of your teeth and mouth, you are also advised to drink more water. Drinking more water can keep your mouth from becoming dry, which is one of the causes of bad breath.
In addition, drinking more water can also help rinse food debris stuck in the oral cavity and between the teeth, so that there is no decay that causes bad breath.
Identify the cause of bad breath that you are experiencing, so that it can be treated in the right way. If bad breath does not go away or gets worse, consult a doctor immediately.
