Chronic halitosis, or persistent bad breath, is what occurs when one cannot seem to rid their mouth of foul-smelling odors for extended periods of time.
When one suffers from chronic halitosis, it is implied that they regularly brush and floss their teeth, yet they still cannot seem to rid their mouth of bad breath.
Though many millions of individuals have chronic halitosis, they may not realize it because no one informs them that they indeed have a terrible smelling breath.
What Causes Chronic Halitosis?
There are many reasons why one may suffer from persistent halitosis. Fortunately, there are just as many methods one can undertake to treat and prevent chronic bad breath from occurring in the first place.
The primary cause of chronic halitosis is due to an accumulation of bacteria in one’s mouth. Typically, cavities are the main source of bacteria.
Additional causes of bacteria include: gum disease, like gingivitis, and abscessed teeth. Routine visits to the dentist should be sufficient in preventing chronic halitosis from occurring.
At a minimum, dental check-ups should be scheduled at least twice a year, or once every six months. With that said, do not hesitate to see your dentist if you are experiencing problems with your teeth or gums.
Chronic halitosis is frequently a symptom of viral throat or nasal cavity infections. For instance, chronic sinus infection like sinusitis is often the cause.
Another potential cause of persistent halitosis can be due to drastic blockage of one’s nasal passages, as in the case of a deviate septum.
Unless the deviated septum is dealt with through surgery, bad breath will likely be a constant issue.
In more severe cases, chronic bad breath can be a symptom of life-threatening health conditions, including kidney failure or possibly liver failure.
There are more potential causes of long-term bad breath. These may range from eating a specific high protein diet, such as the Atkins diet, or from frequent smoking. Additionally, mouthwash that contains alcohol as its base might be another reason.
How to Cure Chronic Halitosis
For the majority of the cases, individuals who discover the cause of their chronic halitosis are capable of curing it and preventing it from occurring again in the future.
For instance, if the primary cause of the bad breath is due to eating a high protein diet, one can simply alter their diet to address this issue.
The same remedy can be applied to those whose causes are related to smoking cigarettes or using alcohol-based mouthwashes – stop using them or find an alternative, and the bad breath will also stop.
Unfortunately, if the cause is due to a medical condition, then home remedies will be insufficient and one should seek medical counsel.
Keep in mind that the advice provided in this article is to be applied in addition to brushing and flossing regularly. These methods, though they are effective, should be used as only a small part of one’s daily oral hygiene.
Dental check-ups are essential in maintaining one’s teeth and gum health as the dentist can discover areas that you may overlook when you are cleaning your own teeth.