Know More About BAD BREATHE-HALITOSIS

Bad breath, scientifically known as halitosis, can be embarrassing and socially inhibiting. It's characterized by unpleasant odours emanating from the mouth, often caused by bacteria that thrive in the oral cavity. Understanding the reasons for bad breath and exploring effective remedies are crucial steps towards maintaining oral hygiene and overall well-being.

Several signs contribute to bad breath, including:

A persistent and unpleasant odour on exhaling, generally not severe, is commonly called bad breath. The lousy breath may have causes that are not related to underlying conditions like poor dental hygiene, dehydration, or recent intake of certain foods such as onions or garlic.
Bad breath, also called halitosis or fetor oris, is a common condition that may cause significant psychological distress. There are several potential causes and treatments available.
Halitosis is the third most common reason people ask for dental treatment after tooth decay or gum disease.
Simple home remedies and lifestyle changes, such as better dental hygiene and quitting smoking, can solve the problem. If bad breath persists, however, it is advisable to see a Dentist to check for the underlying causes.

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Causes for Bad Breathing:

Poor dental hygiene: If you don't brush your teeth and floss every day, food particles are in your mouth, which causes bad breath. If left unbrushed, plaque (a colourless, sticky film of bacteria) forms on your teeth. Dental plaque can irritate your gums and eventually form plaque-filled pockets between your teeth and gums (periodontitis). Your tongue can also trap odour-producing bacteria. Dentures that are not cleaned regularly or do not fit properly can harbour bacteria and food particles that cause odour.
Infections in the mouth: Surgical wounds can cause bad breath after oral surgery, such as tooth extraction, or due to tooth decay, gum disease, or mouth sores.
Mouth, nose, and throat disorders: Sometimes, small stones covered in bacteria can form on the tonsils at the back of the throat and produce an odour. Besides, infections or inflammation of the nose, throat, or sinuses can cause halitosis.
Tobacco Chewing and Smoking: Smoking and tobacco chewing increase the chances of gum disease, which causes bad breath.
Dental braces: When food particles get stuck in braces, later, if braces are not appropriately cleaned, food in braces rots and causes bad breath.
Digestive Problems: Poor digestion, constipation, or bowel disorders can cause bad breath.
During Pregnancy: Morning sickness can cause bad breath.
Dry Mouth: Saliva helps cleanse your mouth by removing particles that cause foul odours. Dehydration also causes bad breath, so drink plenty of water. Chewing gum or sucking a sweet or sour food can help with the production of saliva.
Diets: High-protein or Low-carb diets that are high in sugar and protein can cause bad breath.
Food: Some foods, such as garlic, onions, spicy foods, exotic spices (in curry), some cheeses, fish, and acidic beverages such as coffee cause bad breath.

Diagnosis

Sometimes a dentist will simply smell the breath of a person with suspected halitosis and rate the odor on a six-point intensity scale. The dentist can scratch the back of the tongue and smell the scratches, as this area can often be a source of flavour.
There are a variety of sophisticated detectors that can assess odours more accurately. They include the following:
Halimeter: Detects low levels of sulfur
Gas Chromatography: This test consists of three volatile sulfur compounds- hydrogen sulfide, methyl mercaptan, and dimethyl sulfide.
BANA test: It measures the levels of a specific enzyme produced by bacteria responsible for halitosis.
Beta-galactosidase test: Levels of the enzyme beta-galactosidase are correlated with the smell of the mouth.

Treatment

In most cases, your dentist can treat the cause of bad breath. If your dentist determines that your mouth is healthy and the odour is not of oral origin, you may be referred to your family doctor or to a specialist to determine the odour source and treatment plan.

Prevention:

Bad breath can be reduced or prevented if you:
Practice good oral hygiene. Brush twice a day with fluoride toothpaste to remove food debris and plaque. Brush your teeth after you eat (keep a toothbrush at work or school to brush after lunch). Don’t forget to brush the tongue, too. Replace your toothbrush every 2 to 3 months or after an illness. Use floss or an interdental cleaner to remove food particles and plaque between teeth once a day. Rinse with an antibacterial mouthwash twice a day. Dentures should be removed at night and cleaned thoroughly before being placed in your mouth the following day.
See your dentist regularly, at least twice a year. He or she will conduct an oral exam and professional teeth cleaning and will detect and treat periodontal disease, dry mouth, or other problems that may cause foul mouth odour.
Stop smoking and chewing tobacco-based products.
Drink lots of water. This will keep your mouth moist. Chewing gum (preferably sugarless) or sucking on candy (preferably sugarless) also stimulates the production of saliva, which helps wash away food particles and bacteria. Gums and mints containing xylitol are best.

When to visit a Doctor?

If good oral hygiene does not eliminate bad breath, see a dentist or doctor for a diagnosis if the bad breath is accompanied by

Persistent dry mouth
Mouth sores
Pain or difficulty chewing or swallowing
Broken teeth or dental pain
White spots on the tonsils
Fever or fatigue

Home Remedies for bad breath

Home remedies and lifestyle changes for bad breath include:

Home remedies and other lifestyle changes for bad breath include:
Brush your teeth
Flossing: Flossing reduces the buildup of food particles and dental plaque between the teeth. Brushing only cleans about 60% of the tooth surface.
Clean dentures: Everything that goes into your mouth, including dentures, a bridge, or a mouth guard, should be cleaned daily as recommended. Cleaning prevents bacteria from building up and being returned to the mouth. Changing your toothbrush every 2 to 3 months is also essential for similar reasons.
Brushing the tongue: Bacteria, food, and dead cells usually build up on the tongue, especially in smokers or those with parched mouths. Sometimes, a tongue scraper can be helpful.
Avoid dry mouth: Drink plenty of water. Avoid alcohol and tobacco, which dehydrate the mouth. Chewing gum or sucking on a candy, preferably sugar-free, can help stimulate saliva production. If the mouth is chronically dry, a physician may prescribe medication that facilitates the flow of saliva.
Diet: Avoid onions, garlic, and spicy foods. Sugary foods are also linked to bad breath. Cut down on your coffee and alcohol intake. Eating a breakfast that includes rough foods can help clean the back of the tongue.

Citations

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0002817714617074
https://europepmc.org/article/med/8655868

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Frequently Asked Questions

How do I know if my breath smells bad?

You can tell if you have bad breath by putting your hands over your mouth and nose or by licking the inside of your wrist and smelling it.

Does bad breath go away?

Our mouths are naturally full of harmless bacteria that feed on the food particles left on the teeth, creating dental plaque. This process leaves behind a foul-smelling waste that causes bad breath. Just maintaining a good brushing and flossing regimen will help eliminate bad breath.

Can bad breath come from the stomach?

Chronic reflux of stomach acids (gastroesophageal reflux disease or GERD) is associated with bad breath.

Does apple cider vinegar help bad breath?

Apple cider vinegar is a great option for balancing the pH levels in your mouth, which means it can successfully cure bad breath. You can take it on its own or add a few spoonfuls to the water.

What can I drink for bad breath?

By taking water, you can reduce bad breath. While it's not technically a food, water is perhaps the simplest remedy for bad breath. It keeps your mouth moist and flushes the debris from your teeth, preventing the build-up of bad bacteria. Drinking water also stimulates the production of saliva, and saliva is our mouth's first line of defense against bacteria.