Bad breath is an unpleasant problem for those affected. The consequences are often insecurity and even shame. But how does bad breath actually develop? What are the causes? And, most importantly for those affected: How can you get rid of it? In the following text, I will provide you with answers to these questions and also explain what role probiotics can play in combating bad breath.

How does bad breath develop?

There are various causes of bad breath. Two of the most common are alcohol and tobacco consumption. However, poor or insufficient oral hygiene can also contribute to bad breath, as can stress or inadequate fluid intake.

What many people don't know: An imbalanced gut or oral flora can also contribute to bad breath. A poor oral flora, in turn, can be a direct result of poor diet, excessive alcohol consumption, smoking, or poor oral hygiene.

In this process, bad bacteria take over and crowd out the good bacteria. Besides bad breath, gastrointestinal problems such as irritable bowel syndrome can also result.

Factors contributing to bad breath:

• Poor oral flora
• alcohol
• stress
• Smoke
• Poor oral hygiene
• Insufficient fluid intake
• Taking medication

What can you do about bad breath?

If poor oral hygiene is the cause, then very simple measures can help. You should brush your teeth at least twice a day. However, comprehensive cleaning/oral hygiene also includes cleaning between your teeth and your tongue. Dental floss is effective for cleaning between your teeth, and for cleaning your tongue, there are special scrapers or toothbrushes with a tongue cleaner on the back.

There are also several home remedies. These include fennel seeds, parsley, and lemon juice. Chewing fennel seeds, for example, is doubly helpful: it not only combats bad breath but also soothes the gastrointestinal tract.

Lemon juice helps neutralize odor-causing bacteria and also stimulates saliva production. This helps flush out odor-causing bacteria. Coffee beans are also said to have an odor-neutralizing effect.

However, sometimes all these home remedies may no longer be effective. This occurs when the oral flora is already too severely damaged and compromised.

What are probiotics?

Probiotics are live microorganisms that primarily colonize the gut. When present in sufficient quantities, they can have positive effects on the body.

These include a stronger immune system, reduced susceptibility to infections and inflammation, and an overall improvement in well-being. Probiotics can also be beneficial for bad breath by normalizing the gut flora.

Probiotics are primarily bacteria. Lactobacillus and Bifidobacteria have proven beneficial for the oral and intestinal flora. Probiotics are found in foods such as yogurt, kimchi, and fermented soy products. They are also present in certain medications and dietary supplements, such as Lacto Lux Forte.

How do probiotics help against bad breath?

The way probiotics work against bad breath is quite simple: If you suffer from bad breath due to poor oral or intestinal flora, these probiotics help to restore balance to the gastrointestinal tract – or the oral flora.

Once your gut balance is restored, you should also be able to get rid of stomach-related bad breath. However, if factors like smoking or poor oral hygiene are the cause, you'll need to address these issues effectively first. Even in this case, probiotics can help you rebuild and rebalance your potentially damaged oral or intestinal flora.

Conclusion

Bad breath is unpleasant – but depending on the underlying causes, you have several options to get the problem under control. Probiotics can help combat bad breath if your oral or gut flora is out of balance and needs to be restored.

Other causes of bad breath include poor or inadequate oral hygiene, as well as the consumption of alcohol or tobacco. These factors can also disrupt the balance of the oral or intestinal flora, further exacerbating the problem.

Besides home remedies like lemon juice, coffee beans, or fennel seeds, probiotics have proven effective against bad breath. They can help rebuild the oral and intestinal flora, thus combating bad breath. They are found in foods such as yogurt, as well as in dietary supplements like Lacto Lux Forte.