A simple way to get rid of bad breath is named

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In most cases, bad breath causes associated with bacteria on the teeth and tongue, writes Expressen. The publication cites the opinion of a Swedish dentist, which explains why coffee is involved, and whether rinses actually work. The doctor also commented on common myths about the causes of bad breath.

Does coffee make your breath stale and does mouthwash actually work?

Dentist and odontologist Karin Sjögren. understands where the myths are and where the truth is.

“My colleagues, as well as myself, notice that during the pandemic, many people's regime has completely gone astray, including the hygienic regime. For example, people began to neglect oral hygiene. So, many people will have to do something about the problem of bad breath when society begins to slowly open up again,” she says.

In 80-90% of cases, bad breath is associated with bacteria on the teeth and tongue. And the longer we allow bacteria to do their thing unhindered, the more they become.

Many expensive products try to cash in on our fear of bad breath, but the best advice here is how to clean your mouth with a regular toothbrush and floss.

“You can't get rid of bad breath. bacteria completely, but by cleaning the teeth and interdental space with a brush and dental floss, you will prevent them from multiplying, and you will also improve blood circulation in the mouth. In order to clean the tongue from plaque, you can use a special scraper,” says Karin Sjogren, a dentist with 30 years of experience.

She notes that many of her patients began to skip brushing their teeth when they began to study and work remotely, and stopped meeting as before. And this has a very strong effect, including on the smell of the mouth.

“In addition, during the pandemic, some people began to eat an unusually large amount of sweets, candies, cookies and the like, sitting alone at home. If you keep adding new leftovers to your mouth without removing the old ones, of course it will start to smell sour,” explains Karin Sjogren.

She commented on five popular explanations for bad breath.

Garlic makes us smell terrible

Partly true. The smell of garlic is not related to bacteria in the mouth, it is caused by substances that enter the blood from garlic and then leave through the lungs.

“Everything you eat and drink has to come out somehow. This can happen with urine, feces, or gas. Or through the lungs, which in our body play the role of a chamber for ventilation. But the smell of garlic usually disappears after just a couple of hours,” says Karin Sjogren.

Mouthwash and chewing gum help

True in the short term, but not in the long term. Zinc binds substances that smell bad, and chlorhexidine has an antibacterial effect. Therefore, if you chew a special gum or use a mouthwash, there will really be a certain quick effect.

“This can speed up saliva production and temporarily suppress bad breath. But the main problem will not go away: you, say, will still have rotting bacteria between your chewing teeth. And the longer they stay there, undisturbed, the more difficult it will be to remove them.”

If the food remains in the mouth for so long that even tartar has formed, you will have to go to the dentist, who will help you clean.

Diets affect bad breath

Truth. When we are trying to lose weight and are on a diet, our body is often dehydrated, which negatively affects the production of saliva. Because of this, there is an increased risk that food residues will get stuck somewhere in the mouth and bacteria that smell bad will begin to multiply. In addition, on a diet, we often get more tired than usual, and if we don't move enough, blood circulation becomes worse, which also worsens the production of saliva.

If you are on a ketogenic diet, for example, your body after some time starts burning fats instead of carbohydrates to get energy, and then the body begins to release acetone. This causes your breath to suddenly smell like nail polish remover.

“We also notice that oral and breathing problems often occur, for example, after gastric bypass surgery (a surgical procedure to treat obesity in which manage to exclude most of the stomach and small intestine from the digestive process, because part of the gastrointestinal tract is out of action, and this disrupts the production of saliva,” says Karin Sjogren.

Coffee with milk is very harmful

Partly true. In fact, coffee can neutralize bad breath. Some like its aroma, some don't. However, coffee has a drying effect on the oral cavity, and also has a diuretic effect, that is, it removes fluid from the body. And the lack of saliva and dryness in the mouth lead to the fact that the remains of food and bacteria are washed away worse. If there is also milk in the coffee, the breath can become even worse, as the dried coffee particles bind substances from the milk and form a plaque on the tongue and teeth.

“Milk bacteria alone can cause a musty smell. from the mouth If you have bad breath, perhaps you should reduce the consumption of products such as milk, yogurt and cheese, or at least wash them down with water,” advises Karin Sjogren.

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