Bad breath is very frustrating and is usually recurring. Though people chew gums and mints to cover up the odor. It cannot be done always. Bad breath is caused by a bacteria, the sulfur compounds are responsible for the break down of the amino acids. These amino acids splits into Methionine ans Cysteine.
Anaerobic bacteria only lives in the mouth and throat, it cannot live on the surface of the tongue. This kind of bacteria lives in the fibers of the tongue. There is no permanent solution for eradicating the bacteria that causes halitosis. Anaerobic bacteria is a part of the digestive system and it originates from the mouth.
Bacteria that Causes Bad Breath:
Certain food we consume causes temporary bad breath. Around 170 different kinds of bacteria live inside our mouth. The left over bits of food on the teeth acts as food for the bacteria. The volatile sulfur products produced by the bacteria is responsible for the bad breath with foul odor.
The bacteria cannot survive in oxygen so they hide in the places where oxygen cannot be reached. Usually the bacteria hides under the plaque, in the space between the teeth, gums, food debris and the deep cervices of the tongue.
How to Identify Bad Breath:
It is impossible to identify the odor smells bad or not. This is because the body of a human usually gets accustomed to its own odors. The foul breath which gets generated at the back of the mouth gets expelled outwards when we talk. Holding your hand close to your mouth to smell the expelled air will not really work sometimes.
The amount of breath odor is tested by an instrument called Halimeter. There is a straw-like tube connected to the Halimeter machine. The patient has to blow air into the tube and the machine detects the levels of the volatile sulfur compounds in the breath. The amount bad breath is always considered according to the amount of sulfur compounds. The more the sulfur compounds the worse is the bad breath.
How to Get Rid of Bad Breath:
Saliva plays a very vital role in clearing up the bad breath. A dry mouth always creates an environment for the bacteria that causes bad breath. Saliva is the natural mouthwash that keeps the mouth moist. It washes away the bacteria and dissolves foul smelling volatile sulfur compounds.
The conditions that dry the mouth can therefore lead to bad breath. The factors that reduce the flow of saliva are dieting, talking for a longer period of time and not drinking plenty of water. Alcohol consumption, breathing through the nose while exercising can cause dry mouth. Drinking plenty of water can keep the mouth moist and can prevent bad breath to some extent.
