Bad breath: A social taboo.

Bad breath may be caused by a number of factors such as stress, oral dehydration, smoking or poor dental oral hygiene. If you suffer from bad breath, this can impact on both personal and business relationships in your life, which can, in turn, lead to increased stress and low self-esteem.

If statistics are to be believed, an average mouth has about 400 types of bacteria. Some of these bacteria can pose a problem if you allow them to thrive, leading to bad breath and oral hygiene problems.

Bacteria causing bad breath can thrive on the underside of the tongue, where they are found in large numbers and can multiply here due to dead cells, food remains and other bacteria that may already be present in the mouth.

Other causes of bad breath may include medical conditions such as kidney failure, diabetes, hormonal changes and tonsillitis and these conditions need to be treated primarily by a doctor or medical professional rather than covering up the bad breath that may occur as a result.

There are various medications and mouthwashes that can help control bad breath caused by plaque or to control oral bacteria.

Eating habits, diet and lifestyle can also be addressed and changed if one wants to properly address bad breath.

Good oral hygiene and regular visits to the dentist and dental hygienist should be maintained to prevent bad breath.