Bad smell Breath (Halitosis)
Halitosis
Halitosis also known as bad breath is an oral health problem which causes an offensive mouth odor. Bad breath is a resultant of poor oral and dental hygiene. Bad breath may as well be contributed to by eating meals with strong tasting foods such as garlic or onions. Persistent bad breath may also be caused by mouth infection, sinusitis or certain lung disorders such as bronchiectasis. Lifestyle may also influence whether some types of “breaths” are unpleasant or smelly. A non-smoker, may find a smoker’s breath unpleasant. A non-alcoholic may also find an alcoholic breath unpleasant. Smoking is also linked to a higher risk of dry mouth, dental and gum diseases. At least half of the world’s population have halitosis at some point in their life time. At Smartsmile dental clinics in Nairobi we offer the best dental care and treatment services. Visit us today for bad breath treatment or any other dental issue. In our previous post we looked at tooth whitening services in Nairobi , We now look at bad mouth breath, causes and halitosis treatment.
What are the Causes of Bad Breath?
Dental caries, Impacted teeth and Retained Roots.
Dental cavities, acts as food retention pits. This means that maintaining oral hygiene becomes slightly difficult. These cavities favor retention of food particles. Also the food we consume are mostly refined, soft and sticky most of the time. In addition, the food is mostly composed of fermentable carbohydrates. Micro-organisms therefore grow in retained food particles in the cavities to produce gingival and periodontal diseases leading to bad breath.
Impacted teeth and retained roots cause intermittent infection of the gums. This is characterized by redness and swelling of the gums around these impacted and retained roots. This eventually leads to bad breath if you don’t seek treatment.
Poor oral hygiene and periodontal disease
At least 90% of bad breath is caused by poor oral hygiene. Digestion of the food we eat begins from the mouth. As we eat, food is broken down by bacteria that naturally exists in our mouth. As the food and proteins are broken down, a smelly hydrogen sulfide gas is released. Also, some of the food is trapped in-between our teeth which further decomposes as the bacteria action continues. These bacteria excrete hydrogen sulfide which is a compound of sulfur also known as VSCs (Volatile Sulfur Compounds). This means that these compounds evaporate readily even at room temperature thereby causing bad odor in our mouths.
Bacteria can also combine with food and saliva to form a colorless, sticky film on the surface of the teeth. This sticky film is known as plaque. This plaque can build up over time if we don’t brush our teeth regularly and properly. The accumulation of this plaque will eventually start irritating the gum, causing gingivitis, periodontitis and tooth decay. These conditions will also lead to bad breath.
Poor Denture Hygiene.
People who use dentures and don’t clean them regularly have a higher risk of having bad breath. If the dentures don’t properly fit, food is more likely to get stuck. With bacteria action and subsequent production of VSC, bad breath is inevitable.
Dry Mouth
Our mouth is moistened and kept clean by saliva (spit). If the mouth is dry, dead cells can build up on the tongue, gums and within our cheeks. The dead cells thereafter begin to decompose resulting into a bad smell. The major cause of dry mouth is salivary glands disorder which may lead to production of insufficient saliva. Smoking can interfere with the salivary functions in the oral cavity.
Morning bad Breath
Most of us wake up with a smelly mouth in the morning. When we are asleep, our mouths tend to become drier since the production of saliva goes down. This provides a conducive environment for bacterial action whose excretion results into a foul smell. People who sleep with their mouth open will probably have a dry mouth in the morning when they wake up. Once we are awake, the activities of the mouth begin through talking as well as eating. This increase the flow of saliva within our mouth, coupled with good dental hygiene, the morning bad breath is usually temporary.
Food and Drink
Strong foods such as garlic, onions and some spices may leave an after-taste in your mouth that results into a bad mouth odor after consumption. Coffee and alcohol can also lead to bad breath. Bad breath from garlic is not caused by bacteria but from the garlic itself. However, some people will argue that garlic breath is not unpleasant and therefore should not be categorized under halitosis. The bacteria in our mouth tend to give off higher volumes of smelly gases when they decompose proteins, such as meat. If food particles especially from meat get stuck in between your teeth, and you fail to clean them properly, your risk of having a bad breath is ominously increased.
Medications
Some medication such as antihistamines and drugs for treating hypertension patients may cause dry mouth by interfering with the salivary glands functions leading to bad breath.
Smoking
Smoking does not cause bad breath just because of the unpleasant smell of smoke that has been in the mouth and the respiratory tract. However, smokers are likely to suffer from gum disease and other dental problems which causes bad breath.
Illness, Conditions and Situations
About one tenth of all cases of halitosis are caused by a systemic illness or an underlying medical condition or even situations. According to W.H.O, a survey of adults expressing a need for oral health services, access ranges from 35% in low-income countries to 60% in lower-middle-income countries, 75% in upper-middle income countries and 82% in high-income countries. Some dental problems left untreated can result to halitosis
How does What we eat affect our breath?
Having said that digestion begins from the mouth, all the food we eat begins to be broken down in the mouth. As foods are digested and absorbed into the bloodstream, they are eventually carried into the various organs including the lungs. Consuming food with strong odors such as onions and garlic will result into strong breath. Brushing and flossing as well as regular use of mouthwash may cover up the odor temporarily. The odor will not go away completely until the foods have passed through your body.
How do poor oral habits cause bad breath?
Poor oral habits such as inconsistent brushing and flossing may promote bacterial on the tongue, gums and within the cheeks due to food particles that are trapped in between the teeth after meals. This will obviously result into bad breath. You can use antibacterial mouthwash to help reduce bacteria in the mouth. However, this is not recommended continuously as some of these mouthwashes are therapeutic and may have adverse side effects if used for a prolonged period of time without doctor’s review/recommendation.
What are the health problems associated with bad breath?
Persistent bad breath or bad mouth taste may be a sign of gum disease also known as periodontal disease. Gum disease is caused by the buildup of plaque on teeth. Toxins formed due to bacteria can irritates the gum. If gum disease is left untreated, it can damage the gums and the jawbone supporting the teeth, consequently leading to tooth mobility and tooth loss.
Other dental causes of bad breath include poorly fitting dental appliances, yeast infection of the mouth and dental caries or cavities.
Xerostomia which is the medical condition of dry mouth can also cause bad breath. Saliva is necessary to moisten the mouth, neutralize acids produced by the bacteria and plaque and also wash away dead cells that accumulate on the tongue, gums and cheeks. If not removed, these cells decompose and produce bad breath. Dry mouth may also be a side effect of various medications, salivary gland problems, or continuous breathing through the mouth.
Many other diseases and illnesses such as respiratory tract infections pneumonia or bronchitis, chronic sinus infections, postnasal drip, diabetes, chronic acid reflux and liver or kidney problems may cause bad breath.
How can I prevent Bad breath?
Bad breath can be prevented by:
Practice good oral hygiene
Hygiene is basically cleanliness! According to World Health Organization (WHO), Hygiene refers to conditions and practices that help to maintain health and prevent the spread of diseases. This therefore means hygiene encompasses various interventions like cleanliness of one’s body, dwelling and surrounding area, sanitation, hygienic food, safe drinking water, clean clothing among many others. Personal hygiene involves the care of one’s body so that infections and diseases are prevented and one enjoys good health. One of the most important aspects of personal hygiene is Oral Hygiene. With the mouth being the main gateway of the body, it demands to be well maintained in an optimum health status. That is why good oral hygiene is essential. WHO also stressed on the importance on oral hygiene by declaring “Oral Health for a Healthy Life” as its theme on the world health day (April 7th, 1994)
For you to have a good oral health hygiene, brush twice everyday with fluoridated toothpaste to remove food particles. Practice brushing after meals. Make sure you also brush your tongue. Replace your toothbrush regularly after every two to three months or even when the bristles are weakened.
It is also advisable to replace your toothbrush after recovering from an illness. Use dental floss or interdental toothbrushes to remove food particles and plaque between your teeth at least once every day. Dentures should also be removed every night and cleaned thoroughly before being worn in the morning.
Visit your dentist regularly
Visit your dentist at least twice every year for oral check-up and professional teeth cleaning in order to detect and treat periodontal disease, dry mouth or other problems that may cause bad mouth odor.
Avoid Smoking
Ask your dentist tips on how to stop smoking and chewing tobacco-based products
Drink lots of water
Drinking sufficient water will keep your mouth moist. Sugarless chewing gum can also stimulate production of saliva which helps in washing away food particles and bacteria. Chewing gums and mints containing xylitol are the best. If you think the food you are eating may be the cause to your bad breath, consult your dentist and the nutritionist. Also, make a list of medications you take as some drugs may play a role in bad breath.
Home Remedies for Bad Breath
Maintaining good oral health is very essential in controlling bad mouth odor. Also, regular intake of water is essential to keeping your mouth fresh. After eating a meal, swish water around your mouth for a few seconds. This will help in loosening food particles stuck between your teeth and clean your mouth. Along with water, you can also treat bad breath with the help of some readily available ingredients such as cinnamon, table salt, lemon juice among other remedies.
Drinking more water
Dehydration is one of the common causes of bad breath. Most people only drink water when they are thirsty. However, you should learn to drink enough water throughout the day to ward off the bacteria in the mouth that are most responsible for causing bad breath. Tiny microbes in the mouth actually feed on lose food particles throughout the day, releasing odor-causing byproducts that end up stinking up breath. And all-natural saliva, it turns out, is your body’s built-in remedy for eliminating these bacteria.
Insufficient water intake might also lead to chronic dry mouth conditions that in turn accelerates bad breath. Dry mouth is caused by decomposition of dead cells in the mouth and the tongue. This decomposition eventually results in bad breath.
In order for your body to produce enough bacteria-fighting saliva, you must be drinking plenty of clean water free of fluoride throughout the day. Since saliva is also full of oxygen, bacteria will have a much harder time surviving because they require low-oxygen environments in order to thrive. Saliva also contains natural enzymes that helps to stimulate the production of antibodies that neutralizes bacteria, which end up getting eliminated when you swish with water, mouthwash or other oral hygiene products.
Lemon Juice
Lemon rinse can also be used to get rid of bad breath. High acidic content in lemon prevents growth of bacteria on your tongue and gums. Just stir one tablespoon of lemon juice into a cup of warm water and use it to rinse your mouth thoroughly. You can also add a bit of salt to it and rinse your mouth before going to bed. This remedy will may help you solve the problem of dry mouth which is one of the main reasons behind bad breath.
Gargling Salt Water
Gargling warm salty water can also eliminate bacteria from your throat and also tonsils. This can also be a remedy for ulcers within the mouth that may otherwise cause bad breath.
Detoxification
You can also consider cleansing your body through detoxification as bad breath may also indicate that your body has high levels of toxins. A medical checkup may help detect such toxic levels or an underlying medical condition. You can consider regular colon and liver cleansing.
Treatment
Bad breath is a preventable condition. Finding the cause of bad breath is the first step towards treating this disorder. When the halitosis is as a result of dental problem, our dentist in Nairobi can manage it by treating the dental caries, periodontal disease or both as the cause of bad breath. The decayed teeth are managed by provision of restorations/ fillings. The periodontal disease is managed by doing full mouth cleaning and polishing followed by oral hygiene instructions and dental follow up. Retained roots and impacted teeth may cause halitosis. These are treated by extractions of teeth and surgical disimpactions. When halitosis is associated with other conditions and extra-oral infections, the relevant specialist must be involved in the management to achieve good results.
