Bad Breath
A quarter of the world's population suffers from bad breath. Halitosis can be caused by a variety of factors, but oral hygiene is the most common. Halitosis is also called fetor oris. However, halitosis can be relatively easy to remedy, despite its significant discomfort and embarrassment. It is common for people to suffer from bad breath, which can cause significant psychological distress. The condition may be caused by a number of different factors, as well as treated.
There are no age restrictions on who can suffer from bad breath. There is a good chance that 1 in 4 people have bad breath regularly. After tooth decay and gum disease, halitosis is the third most commonly reported reason for seeking dental care.
Causes
Bad breath can be caused by the following factors:
Tobacco
It is common for tobacco products to cause mouth odors of their own. Moreover, they can also lead to gum disease, which causes bad breath.
Food
It is possible for food particles stuck in teeth to emit odors as they break down. Bad breath can also be caused by certain foods, such as onions and garlic. The breakdown products of these foods are carried by the blood into the lungs and can affect your breath once they have been digested.
Dry mouth
The mouth is naturally cleaned by saliva. Naturally dry mouths or that are afflicted with a specific disease, which is xerostomia, can accumulate odors.
Dental hygiene
Flossing and brushing eliminate small food particles that accumulate and slowly break down, resulting in odors. If you don't brush your teeth regularly, bacteria can build up on your teeth called plaque. A plaque buildup on the gums can irritate them and cause periodontitis, a condition in which the gums and teeth become inflamed. When dentures are not cleaned regularly or properly, bacteria can grow on them, which can cause halitosis in the mouth.
Crash diets
It is possible to suffer from halitosis during fasting and ketogenic diets. This is caused by the breakdown of fat and the production of ketones, which are chemicals. A strong aroma can be found in these ketones.
Drugs
It is possible for certain medications to reduce saliva and, consequently, cause odors to appear. Chemicals released in the breath when other drugs break down can produce odors. Some tranquilizers, such as phenothiazines, and nitrates used to treat angina, are examples of these chemicals. Vitamin supplement users can also experience bad breath if they take large doses of these supplements.
Mouth, nose, and throat conditions
There are instances when small, bacteria-covered stones may form on the tonsils at the back of the throat, causing an odor. The mouth, throat, or sinuses can also be infected or inflamed, resulting in halitosis.
Foreign body
Individuals can suffer from bad breath if they have a foreign object lodged in their nasal cavity, especially when young.
Diseases
Halitosis can be caused by specific compounds produced by cancer, liver failure, and other metabolic diseases. Regular reflux of stomach acids can cause bad breath as a result of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD).
Home remedies
Home remedies and lifestyle changes for bad breath include:
- It is imperative to brush your teeth at least twice a day, preferably each time you eat.
- It is important to floss between the teeth to reduce the buildup of food particles and plaque. The surface of the teeth is only cleaned around 60% after brushing.
- Dentures, bridges, and mouthguards should be cleaned as prescribed on a daily basis, including dentures, bridges, and mouth guards. It is important to keep the mouth clean so bacteria cannot build up and be transferred into the mouth. A toothbrush should be changed every two to three months.
- You should brush your tongue if you suffer from a dry mouth or a smoker's tongue. It is sometimes helpful to use a tongue scraper.
- Stay hydrated to prevent dry mouth. The mouth becomes dehydrated by alcohol and tobacco. It can be helpful to chew gum or suck a sweet, preferably sugar-free, in order to stimulate saliva production. Medications that stimulate saliva flow may be prescribed by a doctor for chronically dry mouth.
- Foods that contain onions, garlic, and spices should be avoided. Bad breath is also linked to sugary foods. Don't drink too much coffee or alcohol. The back of the tongue can be cleaned by eating rough foods during breakfast.
- To rule out other conditions, an individual should visit a doctor if breath odor persists after controlling these factors.
Diagnosis
An evaluative scale of six points may be used by a dentist to rate the odor, which is believed to be caused by halitosis. It is possible to smell the odor on the back of the tongue after a dentist scrapes the tongue. It is possible to rate odors more precisely with a variety of sophisticated detectors.
The following are some of them:
- Three volatile sulfur compounds are measured by gas chromatography: hydrogen sulfide, methyl mercaptan, and dimethyl sulfide.
- Halitosis-causing bacteria produce a specific enzyme that is measured by the BANA test.
- Symptoms of mouth odor are associated with beta-galactosidase levels.
The dentist will then be able to identify the likely cause of the bad breath.
Conclusion
In the event that your dentist determines that the odor is not from the mouth and it is not of oral origin, they may refer you to your family doctor or to a specialist for a diagnosis of the cause of the bad breath as well as treatment recommendations. To determine if any of your medications may be contributing to the issue, go over your medications with them. Ensure that they remain healthy by monitoring their diabetes, allergies, and other conditions. Depending on the cause of the odor, your dentist may be able to treat it or refer you to a periodontist, which is a dentist who specializes in treating problems related to the gums.
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