Monkey Breath
Are
your friends and family missing eyebrows because they have been singed
off? Do your friends wear masks when talking to you? Are your friends
and family avoiding talking to you up close or even in person? Does
your significant other retreat rather than kiss you? If you answered
yes to any of these questions, you might just have a bad case of Monkey
Breath!
What causes monkey breath?
Monkey breath commonly known as bad bread is actually halitosis.
Halitosis may be caused by many things. The most common cause is from
not brushing and flossing your teeth daily. If you don't practice good
oral hygiene after eating, food is left in your mouth. The food collects
bacteria, rots, and causes a bad odor. Monkey breath can also be
caused by eating foods such as garlic or onions. When these foods are
digested and absorbed into the bloodstream, substances from the foods
get into the air that you breathe out of your lungs. This can cause bad
breath until all of the food is gone from your body. Other causes of bad
breath are:
Tooth
decay and gum disease caused by plaque (Plaque is a sticky material
made of mucus and saliva, food particles, and bacteria.)
Using tobacco products
Dry
mouth from medicines you are taking, salivary gland problems, or always
breathing through your mouth (This means you have less saliva to
cleanse the mouth.)
Eating infrequently
Infection with the bacteria that can cause ulcers (H. pylori)
Mouth infections
Other infections such as a cold, sinusitis, bronchitis, and tonsillitis
Other medical problems such as diabetes, liver or kidney disease, or gastrointestinal problems
How do I know if I have monkey breath?
A
quick way to check your breath is to lick the side of your finger, then
let the saliva dry for a minute or so. Smell the spot and you'll know
what your breath smells like.
How is monkey breath (halitosis) diagnosed?
If
you are concerned about bad breath, talk to your dentist about it. The
dentist will examine your mouth, looking for tooth decay, pockets of
plaque, and gum disease. If your dentist finds that your mouth is
healthy, he or she may refer you to your healthcare provider to check
for medical problems that can cause bad breath.
What can I do to prevent monkey breath?
First, try this:
Clean
your teeth better. Food trapped between teeth breeds stinky plaque.
Brush for 2 minutes with a fluoride toothpaste on a soft-bristled
toothbrush at least twice a day and floss once a day. Be sure to use a
clean section of floss each time you clean between two teeth.
Brush your tongue, especially the back, to remove odor-causing bacteria.
Drink
more water. Monkey breath in the morning is caused by dehydration
because your body uses up water at night. If you don't drink plenty of
fluids, your breath can get sour.
Use a fluoride or antibacterial mouth rinse to help prevent tooth decay.
Avoid smoking, coffee, alcohol, onions, and garlic.
When
you cannot brush after eating, chew sugarless gum. It stimulates
saliva, which neutralizes acid and helps remove plaque, and thus
freshens your breath. Gums containing the sweetener
Xylitol can help limit the growth of bacteria.
You
can try drinking tea. Lab studies have shown that black or green teas
block bacteria in the mouth from making the chemicals that smell bad.
If
you wear dentures, remove them at night to clean them thoroughly. When
possible, leave them out to soak while you sleep. Soak them in a denture
cleaning solution and then brush them thoroughly to remove molds,
fungus, and bacteria. Don't forget to brush all the areas in your mouth
that are touched by the dentures.
See
your dentist and dental hygienist regularly for checkups and cleanings.
They can check for gum disease or other dental problems.
You
can use a mouthwash or other breath freshener to temporarily hide bad
breath. Nevertheless, if you need to constantly use something to freshen
your breath, you should see your dentist to help find the cause.
If
better dental care doesn't make your breath smell better, contact your
healthcare provider to evaluate other possible causes of bad breath.
For more information, contact the American Dental Association at (800) 621-8099 or visit their Web site at http://www.ada.org.
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