Apart from being hungry and thirsty, bad breath also often makes people who are fasting to be less comfortable and lazy to interact with others. What exactly causes bad breath when fasting and how to prevent it?
Bad breath or halitosis is one thing that is often complained of when fasting. Bad breath during fasting certainly causes insecurity, especially when talking to other people. Finally, daily activities can also be disrupted.
Causes of Bad Breath during Fasting
At the time of fasting, the absence of chewed food makes saliva production reduced. As a result, conditions in the oral cavity become drier and bad breath appears. This is because saliva is useful to help clean up food debris that causes bad breath. In addition, saliva also contains enzymes that can fight bacteria in the oral cavity.
Some studies mention that bad breath during fasting is also caused by increased concentrations of volatile sulfur compounds (VSC). VSC is a sulfur compound or gas component produced by bacteria that are in the oral cavity and in certain foods, such as garlic.
This compound has an unpleasant odor and is volatile, giving rise to a smell that can be smelled by people around.
Prevents bad breath when fasting
Some ways you can do to prevent bad breath when fasting, including:
1. Diligently brush your teeth and tongue
Brushing teeth regularly at least twice a day is one way to maintain oral and dental hygiene. At the time of fasting, brushing can be done after eating the meal and before going to bed at night.
Make sure you brush your teeth thoroughly, including between them. In addition to teeth, the tongue must also be cleaned or brushed to remove bacteria and food debris that are still attached.
2. Use mouthwash
In addition to brushing your teeth and tongue, gargle with mouthwash that does not contain alcohol. It aims to kill the bacteria that cause bad breath. Mouthwash containing alcohol is not recommended because it actually makes the mouth dry.
3. Drink plenty of water when dawn and break the fast
Drinking enough water during the meal and breaking the fast can increase the production of saliva, thereby preventing the dryness of the oral cavity which causes bad breath.
4. Consume more fruits and vegetables at dawn and break the fast
Fruits and vegetables can also increase saliva production. The recommended fruits are apples, pears, oranges, and melons.
5. Avoid scented foods
Some types of food, such as garlic and onions, can cause bad breath, even up to 3 days after consuming it. When consuming these foods, do not forget to brush your teeth immediately so that the smell does not stick in your mouth.
6. Avoid cigarettes
Cigarettes contain tobacco which causes bad breath. In addition, smoking can also have a negative impact on overall body health.
If bad breath still persists even though you have implemented the methods above, you should consult a dentist. There may be interference with the teeth that cause bad breath, such as cavities, plaque, or tartar. Therefore, it is recommended to routinely perform dental and oral examinations to the dentist, at least every 6 months.
However, if the cause of bad breath is another medical condition, such as stomach acid disease (GERD) or sinusitis, the dentist can provide a referral to an internist or ENT doctor.
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