Bad breath is also known as halitosis in medical terms. Generally, everyone must have experienced it, for example after consuming certain foods, such as garlic, onions, jengkol, pete, or other pungent-smelling foods. However, bad breath that doesn't go away (chronic halitosis) occurs because a person has a problem with their oral health or as a result of other conditions that affect it.

Causes

Prolonged bad breath is usually enough to make others feel uncomfortable. The most common cause of halitosis is poor oral hygiene, such as rarely brushing your teeth, not using dental floss, or not regularly scaling. This causes harmful bacteria to invade the mouth, multiply out of control, and create a layer of plaque that builds up on the teeth.

Poor oral hygiene not only makes an unpleasant odor come out of the mouth, but can also cause other dental damage, such as cavities or gum disease. On the other hand, poor oral hygiene is not the only cause of bad breath. There are several other factors that may cause this condition to occur, including:

1. Dry mouth

Not producing enough saliva can cause bad breath as it is responsible for washing the mouth. For example, due to smoking or consumption of certain medications.

2. Diseases

GERD, head and neck cancer, tonsil stones, gingivitis, infections of the nose, throat, or lungs, liver or kidney disease, and Sjögren's Syndrome.

A common cause of bad breath is poor oral hygiene

How to deal with bad breath

Simply put, bad breath can be addressed by finding out the underlying cause. If it is caused by poor oral hygiene, then start practicing good dental hygiene. However, if it is caused by symptoms of other diseases, then see a doctor for proper diagnosis and treatment.

1. Maintain General Oral Hygiene

Sticking to the habit of maintaining proper oral hygiene is a general strategy that needs to be implemented. Through this method, the aroma of the breath that comes out will be fresher and the conditions in the mouth are also cleaner. Some general guidelines that can be done are as follows:

• Brush your teeth twice a day for at least 2 minutes and floss at least once a day.
• Scrape the tongue to help remove the lipis layer on it.
• Use an alcohol-free antibacterial mouthwash
• Consume enough fluids to prevent dry mouth and avoid triggers, such as alcohol, caffeine and tobacco products as much as possible
• Increase saliva production by eating regular candy or gum (preferably sugar-free)
• Make regular dentist visits (e.g. once every 6 months)

2. Alternatives to Try

Apart from practicing good oral hygiene, there are other alternatives that can be tried to get rid of bad breath. The first is with apple cider vinegar. The trick is to mix a glass of water with a tablespoon of apple cider vinegar. The second is with baking soda. The trick is to mix a glass of warm water with 2 teaspoons of baking soda. 

Gargle with the homemade mouthwash for at least 30 seconds before discarding it. Apple cider vinegar is not favored by bacteria because it causes an acidic environment, while baking soda (sodium bicarbonate) is an effective killer of bacteria that is usually contained in toothpaste.

Don't forget to brush your teeth!

So, it's clear that the main cause of bad breath is poor oral hygiene. For example, because you rarely brush your teeth or don't clean food debris with dental floss. The way to overcome this is of course by implementing good oral hygiene. The method has been mentioned as above. If it doesn't work, don't forget to get checked by a dentist!
 

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