Susan*, not her real name, is 23-years-old, a millennial who loves to keep up with the trends.
She has never had a Facebook account, but has an instagram account and snapchat, and she does several videos on Tiktok.
Occasionally she checks what is trending on twitter. Her ‘Drip’, as she calls it, is on point. Sue is an extrovert, but her esteem has dwindled over the years.
Her eyes tear as she asks me why her bad breath won’t go away?
Susan has been struggling with bad breath for the last few years.
She became more aware of her condition when she got into her adolescent age.
She tried to hide the fact that her breath was a menace by using breath fresheners, chewing gums and often brushing her teeth.
But what causes bad breath?
There are several reasons why you could be struggling with bad breath.
Many of the reasons are sometimes harmless, but sometimes, some of the reasons would signify something more serious.
Bacteria
Thousands of bad breath-causing bacteria are habited in the mouth.
The warm and moist environment in the mouth facilitates the bacteria to grow; food left in your mouth gives the bacteria food.
Dry Mouth
Sometimes an individual’s mouth might not be making enough saliva.
Saliva works as a cleaning agent on a 24-hour, non-stop cycle.
Some of the key attributes that cause the lack of saliva include salivary glands problems, breathing using your mouth, and certain medications.
Gum Disease
Gum disease is caused by a sticky, cavity-causing bacteria called plaque.
Constant bad taste in your mouth could signify an advanced gum disease.
Food
There is a list of foods that affect the air you breathe out. They include garlic, onions and coffee, among others.
Smoking and tobacco
Smoking gives you bad breath. Tobacco irritates the gum tissues, and with the irritation of the gums, tobacco users are likely to get gum diseases.
Medical conditions
Most mouth infections cause bad breath, but some other illnesses contribute to bad breath.
The illness includes sinus, gastric reflux, diabetes, and liver or kidney disease.
How can I keep bad breath away?
Brush and floss
It is advisable to brush twice a day after a thorough cleaning, then floss to clean between your teeth to get rid of bacteria.
Mouthwash
A mouth wash can help kill bacteria or neutralise and temporarily mask bad breath.
Keep that saliva flowing
To get more saliva moving in your mouth, other temporary solutions can include chewing sugar-free gum or sucking on sugar-free candies.
In worse case scenarios, your dentist may recommend artificial saliva.
Quit Smoking
You will have better breath, but you will also avert the side effects of smoking.
Visit your dentist regularly
Regular check-ups allow your dentist to detect any gum disease or dry mouth problems and stop them before they become more serious.
For now, Susan can only hope that she will soon find a solution to her bad breath problem.