Bad Breath - Halitosis

Emilie Chavez, MD
Oct 28, 2021
4 min read

General Description

Bad breath is a condition that can disturb the person and become embarrassing. The reason for the odor in the mouth is usually due to the person's inability to fully provide oral hygiene. However, if there is a long-lasting and irritating odor despite oral hygiene, it may also develop due to other diseases.

It is absolutely necessary to investigate the causes of bad breath that does not go away for a long time. Generally, it is physiologically normal to have an unpleasant odor in the morning.

It occurs as a result of the food eaten or drunk in the evening entering between the teeth and accumulating in the tongue. This odor is not permanent and will pass after oral care by brushing the teeth.

Some people think that their mouth smells even though they do not have any bad breath. The person who is uncomfortable with this situation may see a dentist. Bad breath can also develop due to dental and gum diseases that occur in the mouth.

Sometimes there may be odors originating from outside the mouth; these can occur due to diseases related to the stomach, nasal meat and upper respiratory tract. In these cases, the underlying cause should be investigated and treated first.

Reasons

Bad breath can be caused by dental habits and can also indicate other health problems. Bad breath can be made worse by the types of food you eat and other unhealthy lifestyle habits.

Brushing, flossing and mouthwash daily is extremely important for oral care. Food particles may remain in the mouth if teeth are not brushed, flosse

d and mouthwash not used.

Food residues left between the teeth cause bacterial growth around the gums and tongue, and in this case, it causes bad breath. Antibacterial mouthwashes can help reduce odor. In addition, dentures can also cause bad odor if odor-causing bacteria and food particles are not properly cleaned.

Persistent bad breath or a bad taste in the mouth can also be a sign of gum (periodontal) disease. The accumulation of plaque on the teeth an

d toxins that irritate the gums can cause gum disease. If bad breath is caused by gum disease, it should be treated as soon as possible. Untreated gingival-related disorders can damage the teeth and jawbone.

Other Causes That May Cause Bad Breath

Oral fungal infections

Dental caries (cavities)

Sinusitis

Tonsillitis

Diseases of the stomach and intestinal systems

prolonged hunger

Alcohol use

Cigarettes and tobacco products

dry mouth

Diabetes

Kidney ailments

Nose and nasal flesh disorders can be counted.

Symptoms

Bad breath is not a disease, but a symptom of many diseases. Bad breath that may occur depending on the food you eat physiologically is considered normal. There are also bad breaths caused by pathological conditions. These;

Dental caries

Sinusitis

Angina

Throat diseases such as adenoids

Digestive system diseases such as reflux and stomach ailments

Diabetes

Liver failure

It can also be a symptom of systemic diseases such as kidney failure.

In particular, acetone-fruit-like halitosis in diabetics and ammonia-like halitosis occurring in kidney diseases are quite characteristic.

Diagnostic Methods

If the odor is due to gum disease, your dentist can treat the disease. Bad breath can come to such an extent that it will disturb not only the person himself, but also the people around him after a while.

In the presence of bad breath, it is very important to diagnose the condition that causes bad breath. An oral-dental examination and X-ray may be done to detect dental caries. In addition, the diagnosis of gingival diseases can be made by examination.

Various blood tests may be requested after the examination to be performed to investigate other conditions that may cause bad breath.

Treatment Methods

The underlying cause of bad breath may be the inability to provide complete oral hygiene. In this case, simple methods such as performing the daily cleaning of the teeth in the best way and using dental floss and mouthwash may work.

Using fluoride toothpaste, the teeth should be brushed 3 times a day for at least 2 minutes, after each meal, the food residues between the teeth should be cleaned with dental floss and antibacterial mouthwashes should be used if necessary.

In addition to dental care, you can also clean the bacteria accumulated on the tongue during the day with tongue cleaning brushes specially produced to clean the bacteria on the tongue. If you are using a denture, it should be removed at night and thoroughly cleaned before wearing it the next day.

Less water consumption during the day is also among the factors that can cause bad breath. Drinking water stimulates saliva production, which helps clear bacteria in the mouth. In addition, if the person smokes, it plays an important role in quitting smoking.

If the heavy odor does not disappear despite good oral and dental health care, then other underlying causes can be looked at.

If bad breath develops due to tooth decay or an infection in the gums, bad breath can be treated by the dentist by applying the most appropriate treatment methods. Dental calculus is another factor that causes bad breath and needs to be cleaned once a year. It is recommended that a healthy person have oral and dental examinations twice a year.