www.NutritionVista.comHer youthful brown eyes connected with his across the dance floor, and she exchanged a shy glance before looking away lest he discover she had noticed him. As the next few minutes passed, Anjali threw fleeting yet observant looks his way, checking out the fit of his clothes on his tall frame, and noticing his strong and devastatingly handsome looks.
Twenty minutes later she felt the hair on the back of her neck stand up and without turning around she knew, he was right behind her!
Excitement coursed through her pores as she turned to face him, and then it hit her, and she was blown away. in revulsion. His breath was foul and putrid, and made her nauseous. He suddenly didn't look dashing, or debonairish any more.
It's amazing when you think about it; all good feelings can disappear in an instant, if the person facing you has bad breath.
Does this sound familiar? Do you occasionally have bad breath? Bad breath, or halitosis is a strong noticeable odor emanating from the mouth. There are primarily two types of foul breath. One that occurs when the bacteria grow on food particles that are left behind in your mouth, under your tongue and in between your teeth. These bacteria release sulfur compounds that make your breath foul smelling. The other type is when you have eaten foods that give off pungent oils and odors such as garlic, onion and cabbage.
CAUSES OF BAD BREATH - Bad breath is a strong noticeable odor emanating from the mouth and can be a result of the following:
- Gum disease, or gingivitis.
- Bad breath may also be a sign of a health problem. People with chronic lung infections, liver or kidney diseases and diabetes may have bad breath. E.g. A fruity odor is often associated with diabetes, a fishy or urine like odor may indicate kidney disease.
- Medication - some drugs like antihistamines and antidepressants dry the mouth. Lack of saliva allows bacteria to grow and stay in the mouth for a longer period of time, causing bad breath.
- Stomach ulcers due to H.Pylori.
- Smoking cigarettes or cigars, drinking alcohol.
- Crash dieting- such as the Atkins diet, when the body has a very low supply of carbs- it begins to break down body fat stores, releasing ketones, which have a sweet and sickly smell.
- Throat infections.
HOW CAN I PREVENT IT? - Brush your teeth at least twice a day, using fluoride toothpaste. Floss after every meal. Be sure to brush along the gum line, as well as on all tooth surfaces. Each time you brush your teeth; use your toothbrush to clean the surface of your tongue.
- Eat more fruits and vegetables daily, and less meat.
- Avoid smoking.
- Limit alcohol consumption.
- Avoid spicy foods.
- Chewing sugar-free gum improves salivary secretion and keeps the mouth moist. But, remember that mouthwashes are not effective in treating the underlying problem.
- Maintain good hydration by drinking several glasses of water a day.
- Deodorizing mouth sprays or mint may give temporary relief.
- Check with the doctor about ways to deal with it if you are on medication.
So, is there any good news? The good news is that bad breath can often be prevented with these simple steps. Most people believe they'd be the first ones to know they have bad breath, that's an anomaly.
So ask a family member if your breath is foul, in case you suspect it is. Most people get bad breath at some point, but if you have bad breath on a regular basis, you may need to visit your dentist or doctor.
Most importantly, go get help! Don't let bad breath come in the way of romance, marriage, work place and close friends.
By.V.Iyengar, Dietitian, NutritionVista.com
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