How clean is your breath?

Have you ever been told you have bad breathe? It can be extremely embarrassing especially because it makes you wonder how long it has been like that. Of course no one wants to hear they have bad breath but it is much better to be aware than to walk around with no clue. Foul breath is usually caused by a buildup of bacteria in your mouth that causes inflammation and gives off noxious odors or gases that smell unpleasant. Studies have shown that about 80% of bad breath comes from an oral source. For example, cavities, gum disease, cracked fillings, not so clean dentures, and even tonsils that have trapped food particles can cause bad breath. However, bad breathe can also can be caused by some internal medical conditions, such as liver disease, respiratory tract infections, diabetes, and chronic bronchitis. Be aware that things like acid reflux, postnasal drip, and any causes of dry mouth can aid in the bad breath department. Consult your doctor to ensure the proper treatment of these problems which will help your breath as well.  If you have been told or think you have bad breath and can rule out anything I have named off here than you simply need to maintain good oral hygiene and regular dentist visits. Also be mindful that some diets and foods can make it seem like you do not have clean breath. Kissing in particular has been studied in a controlled experiment and it was found that increasing the frequency of kissing in marital and cohabiting relationships results in a reduction of perceived stress, an increase in relationship satisfaction, a lowering of cholesterol levels, and the extra saliva helps reduce tooth decay by keeping tartar away resulting in cleaner breath. Everyone has bad breath sometimes, such as when we first wake up in the mornings so to stay embarrassment free on other occasions make sure to keep up with your brushing, flossing, and dental visits to ensure that clean breath.