Bad Breath (Halitosis)
In fact, bad breath affects about 25 percent of people worldwide. There are a number of possible causes of halitosis, but most are due to poor oral hygiene. Halitosis can cause worry, embarrassment, and anxiety. Fortunately, this condition is relatively easy to treat.
Halitosis or bad breath is the third most common reason people visit the dentist, after tooth decay and gum disease. Simple home remedies and lifestyle changes, such as improving dental hygiene and quitting smoking, can often eliminate this problem. However, if bad breath persists, it is advisable to visit a doctor to check for underlying causes.
Symptoms of Bad Breath
The specific breath odor can vary depending on the cause of the problem. It is best to ask a close friend or relative to measure your breath odor, as it can be difficult to judge on your own.
If no one is around, one way to check the smell is to lick your wrist and let it dry, then smell it. This unpleasant odor in the wrist area most likely indicates that you have halitosis.
Some people worry about their breath even though they may have little or no bad breath. This condition is called halitophobia and can lead to obsessive mouth-cleaning behavior.
Causes of Bad Breath
There are many causes of bad breath, just as there are many sources of bacteria in the mouth. Halitosis can be caused by the following:
- Certain Foods
The things you eat have a lot to do with your oral health, including your breath. Foods like garlic and onions, or any food for that matter, can be absorbed into your bloodstream. Until they leave your body, they can potentially affect your breathing.
- Poor Oral Health Care
Without proper and regular brushing and flossing , as well as regular dental checkups, food will remain in the mouth. This can become a breeding ground for bacteria. Food that collects on the teeth, gums, and tongue can rot. This causes bad breath and bad taste in the mouth.
- Improper Cleaning of Dentures
Dentures that are not cleaned properly can collect bacteria, fungus, and food particles, which cause bad breath.
- Bacteria that cause odor on the tongue
Certain bacteria on the back of the tongue can interact with amino acids in food and produce smelly sulfur compounds.
- Periodontal Disease
One of the main symptoms of gum disease is bad breath and a bad taste in the mouth. This condition requires immediate treatment by an oral health professional.
- Dry Mouth (Xerostomia)
This condition is often an important part of halitosis. When there is a significant decrease in saliva production, the mouth is unable to clean itself and remove dirt and particles left behind by food. Dry mouth can be caused by certain medications, salivary gland disorders, or by always breathing through the mouth instead of the nose.
- Tobacco Products
Tobacco products such as cigarettes, cigars, smokeless tobacco, and snuff stain teeth and put the body at risk for a number of diseases. But they also help cause bad breath. Tobacco users are also at higher risk for the following:
- Periodontal disease.
- Loss of the ability to feel.
- Irritated gums.
- Oral cancer.
- Other Health Conditions
Bad breath may be a symptom of one of the following conditions. Visit a hospital to get diagnosed for:
- Respiratory tract infections, such as infections of the nose, throat, or lungs, chronic bronchitis, and chronic sinusitis.
- Diabetes.
- Indigestion.
- Liver or kidney disorders.
Risk Factors for Bad Breath
There are several risk factors that increase a person’s risk of experiencing bad breath, including:
- Not keeping his teeth clean.
- Having a disease that causes the mouth to always be dry.
- Taking certain medications.
- There is a problem with the nose, mouth, or throat.
- Suffering from digestive disorders such as GERD.
- Using dentures.
Bad Breath Diagnosis
Often, a dentist will simply smell the breath of someone suspected of having halitosis and rate the odor on a six-point intensity scale. The dentist may scrape the back of the tongue and smell the scraping because this area is often the source of the odor.
There are various advanced detectors that can assess odors more precisely, including:
- Halimeter: This detects low levels of sulfur.
- Gas chromatography: This test measures three volatile sulfur compounds: Hydrogen sulfide, methyl mercaptan, and dimethyl sulfide.
- BANA test: This measures the levels of specific enzymes produced by the bacteria that cause halitosis.
- Beta-galactosidase test: Beta-galactosidase enzyme levels have been found to correlate with bad breath.
The dentist will then be able to identify possible causes of bad breath.
Bad Breath Complications
Untreated bad breath may make sufferers embarrassed to appear in public. This condition can also cause sufferers to experience anxiety disorders due to worry.
Bad Breath Treatment
To reduce bad breath, help prevent cavities and reduce the risk of gum disease means consistently practicing good oral hygiene. Further treatment for bad breath can vary, depending on the cause. If bad breath is suspected to be caused by an underlying health condition, your dentist will likely refer you to a dental hygienist.
For causes related to oral health, your dentist will help you better control the condition. Dental procedures may include:
- Mouthwash and Toothpaste
If bad breath is caused by a buildup of bacteria (plaque) on your teeth, your dentist may recommend a mouthwash that kills the bacteria. Your dentist may also recommend a toothpaste that contains antibacterial agents to kill the bacteria that cause plaque buildup.
- Treatment of Dental Disease
If you have gum disease, you may be referred to a gum specialist (periodontist). Gum disease can cause the gums to pull away from the teeth, leaving deep pockets filled with odor-causing bacteria. Sometimes only a professional cleaning can remove these bacteria. Your dentist may also recommend replacing faulty dental restorations, which can become a breeding ground for bacteria.
Bad Breath Prevention
To reduce or prevent bad breath, you can do the following:
- Brush After Meals. Keep a toothbrush at work to use after meals. Brush with a fluoride toothpaste at least twice a day, especially after meals. Toothpaste with antibacterial properties have been shown to reduce bad breath.
- Floss. Proper flossing at least once a day can remove food particles and plaque from between your teeth, helping to control bad breath.
- Brush the Tongue Area. The tongue also contains more bacteria, so brushing it carefully can reduce bad breath. People who have a caked tongue from bacterial overgrowth (from smoking or dry mouth, for example) may benefit from using a tongue scraper. Or use a toothbrush that has a tongue cleaner.
- Clean Dentures or Dental Appliances. If you wear braces or dentures, clean them thoroughly at least once a day or as directed by your dentist. If you have a retainer or mouth guard, clean it each time before you put it in your mouth. Your dentist can also recommend the best cleaning products.
- Avoid Dry Mouth. To keep your mouth moist, avoid tobacco and drink plenty of water instead of coffee, soft drinks, or alcohol, which can further dry out your mouth. Chew gum or suck on hard candy (preferably sugarless) to stimulate saliva. For chronic dry mouth, your dentist or doctor may prescribe an artificial saliva preparation or an oral medication that stimulates saliva flow.
- Adjust Your Diet. Avoid foods such as onions, garlic, petai, jengkol which can cause bad breath. Eating a lot of sweet foods is also associated with bad breath.
- Replace Your Toothbrush Regularly. Replace your toothbrush when it becomes worn out, about every three to four months, and choose a toothbrush with soft bristles.
- Schedule Regular Dental Checkups. See your dentist regularly, usually twice a year, to have your teeth or dentures checked and cleaned.
When to See a Doctor?
If bad breath still occurs after controlling it with the above prevention, you are advised to visit a doctor for further examination. It could be that bad breath is a sign of a certain disease.