The answer is no!
A new element becomes part of our daily life, the mask. Present in streets and places, they are uncomfortable, they give heat, they do not allow us to breathe well, they make our glasses fog and they are unsightly, but at this time they are necessary to prevent and combat infections.
And with it, many patients tell us that they have noticed that they have bad breath. Is it a consequence of the use of the mask?, – they ask us, -.
Not at all, it is an evil that is evident when we are aware of our own breath in a more than evident way and that when it comes to a chronic evil it has a name and surname: halitosis.
Do you want to know how to fight it? Here goes the advice of your dentist in Valencia.
Causes and Solutions
Hygiene: According to studies by the Mayo Clinic, everything that affects our mouth is the main cause of halitosis. The most likely origin of this bad smell is the lack of oral hygiene, so let’s start at the beginning: brush teeth and tongue three times a day and after each meal the inside of the cheeks with the toothpaste and toothbrush. type that your dentist in Valencia believes is most convenient for you. Complete the process with dental floss or floss and mouthwash.
Make special emphasis on your oral hygiene at night, before going to sleep, since that is when there is less secretion of saliva, lowering the antiseptic barrier that it produces in your oral cavity.
Food: They say you are what you eat and in this case it is true. Foods with excess of sugars or carbohydrates, garlic, coffee, onion, fish or eggs affect the breath since, after being digested, they reach the bloodstream, the lungs, exhaling through the mouth. Other foods like apples, lemon, carrot, or parsley can help counteract its effects. And of course, the frequent and habitual intake of water.
Habits: We do not have to tell you that excessive intake of tobacco and alcohol will not help an breath to improve, apart from seriously damaging the health, not only of your teeth and gums, but of your body in general.
Medications: Some of the oral treatments that are prescribed for muscle pain, depression, anxiety or hypertension have as a side effect a xerostomia or dry mouth, which leads to unwanted bad breath. It is your specialist who will indicate if you can change someone else who does not produce it.
Pathologies: On the other hand, the detection of halitosis may also be an indication rather than a consequence. And it is that, for example, if it has a sweet smell, it could be a consequence of diabetes. However, if you experience gastroesophageal reflux that you may not have been aware of previously, it could be an indication related to cancer.
In such a case, it is advisable to mention it to your doctor to rule out any danger or remedy any pathology that may arise as soon as possible.
Other pathologies causing halitosis can be Sleep Apnea, Snoring, respiratory problems, systemic diseases, breathing through the mouth, allergies, sinusitis or nasal congestion. Less frequently, digestive problems. In all these cases, increasing water intake and maintaining impeccable oral hygiene are vital.
Xerostomia, recent surgical operations to remove teeth or tonsioliths (small stones in the tonsils) can be other causes of halitosis.
In the case of the first, it is a qualitative and quantitative deficit of saliva, which is responsible for oxygenating and lubricating the oral cavity. According to the Carlos III Health Institute (Isciii), there is a close relationship between the secretion of saliva and bad breath, since it has antiseptic and antimicrobial properties and helps by accelerating the passage of food to the stomach and its digestion, avoiding putrefactive action. of bacteria.
And finally, there is a type of psychosomatic halitosis that only the patient perceives, usually self-critical and with difficulty expressing feelings and emotions. They are usually people with fear of social rejection that, taken to its extreme, transforms into halitophobia; exacerbated fear of bad breath as a consequence of a previous psychological disorder.
In summary, maintain an exquisite oral hygiene, take care of your diet and your health in general. Now more than ever. Your dentist in Valencia will help you by advising you on the best habits to achieve oral health.