What Is Bad Breath? What Is Halitosis? What Causes Bad Breath?

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Main Category: Dentistry
Also Included In: Ear, Nose and Throat;  Respiratory / Asthma;  Nutrition / Diet
Article Date: 07 Oct 2009 - 13:00 PDT

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The medical term for bad breath is halitosis, fetor oris, ozostomia, or stomatodysodia. It means an unpleasant odor of the breath of a person. Halitosis is common among humans around the world and is usually caused by an accumulation of bacteria in the mouth as a result of gum disease, food, or plaque.

Often, the person with halitosis does not know about it before others do. Most people nearby may be too embarrassed to say anything. The majority of people with halitosis who don't know they have it are told by a family member or close friend.

Experts say that at least half of us have halitosis at some point in our lives. Meals with strong tasting foods, such as onions or garlic may result in what some people may consider as bad breath. Some types of bad breath in one culture may not be considered as such in another. Lifestyle may also influence whether certain kinds of "breaths" are smelly and unpleasant; a non-smoker may find a smoker's breath unpleasant, while another smoker may not. However, smoking is linked to a higher risk of dry mouth, dental and gum diseases, which can cause bad breath.

Preventing, curing or masking bad breath is big business. The shelves of supermarkets, pharmacies, and several other types of retail outlets are usually well stocked with a wide range of mints, gums, mouthwashes, sprays and other products aimed at combating bad breath. In the majority of cases they only control the bad breath for a short while - the shopper would be better off focusing on floss, toothpaste and a good toothbrush.

Good dental hygiene can improve bad breath and is usually considered the best preventive measure. Somebody with good dental hygiene who continues having bad breath may need to see a dentist to find out whether an underlying condition may be causing it.

According to Medilexicon's medical dictionary, halitosis is "A foul odor from the mouth."

What are the causes of bad breath?

Halitosis can have a number of different causes, including:

• Poor dental hygiene - experts say that at least 90% of bad breath cases are caused by poor dental hygiene. When we eat, the food is broken down by bacteria that live in our mouths naturally. As the food and proteins are broken down gas is released - this gas (e.g. hydrogen sulfide vapors) is smelly. After swallowing, some of the food is trapped between our teeth and decomposes (rots) - bacteria continue breaking it down.
  
  Rotten eggs usually give out hydrogen sulfide. The stench that is sometimes smelled in barnyards is usually created by methyl mercaptan. Sometimes the ocean may smell, this is partly caused by dimethyl sulfide. Bacteria that live in our mouths excrete hydrogen sulfide. These are all sulfur compounds. Dentists often refer to these compounds as VSCs (volatile sulfur compounds). Volatile means they evaporate readily, even at normal temperatures.
  
  The best way to prevent food from remaining in your mouth after you eat is to brush and floss your teeth regularly and properly.
  
  Bacteria also combine with food and saliva and form a colorless, sticky film on the surface of the teeth - this is called plaque. If you don't brush your teeth regularly or properly plaque can build up. The accumulation of plaque eventually irritates the gum, causing gingivitis and tooth decay, which can also cause the mouth to be smelly.


• Poor denture hygiene - people who use dentures and don't clean them regularly have a higher risk of bad breath. If the dentures don't fit properly food is more likely to get stuck.


• Dry mouth - our mouths are moistened and kept clean with the help of saliva (spit). If the mouth is dry dead cells can build up on the tongue, gums and the insides of our cheeks. These cells then start to rot and give off an unpleasant smell. Smoking can cause dry mouth. If you have a problem with your salivary glands you are more likely to suffer from dry mouth, and possibly bad breath.


• Morning bad breath - most of us find that our mouths are not as nice-smelling first thing in the morning, compared to later on during the day. Our mouths tend to become drier when we sleep. People who sleep with their mouths open will probably have a dry mouth when they wake up. Once we are up and start eating the flow of saliva increases, and with good dental hygiene the morning bad breath is usually temporary.


• Food and drink - certain foods, such as onions, garlic and some spices may cause the breath to smell after consuming them. Alcohol and coffee might also cause bad breath. Bad breath from garlic is not caused mainly from the bacteria, but from the garlic itself - many people would argue that garlic breath is not unpleasant, and therefore not an example of halitosis. The bacteria in our mouths tend to give off higher volumes of smelly gases when they decompose proteins, such as meat or fish. If bits of meat get stuck between your teeth and you don't clean them properly, your risk of having bad breath is significantly increased.


• Medications - any medication that causes a dry mouth or nose is more likely to cause bad breath, examples include antihistamines and drugs for treating sinus problems.


• 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. Smokers are more likely to suffer from gum disease and other dental problems which cause bad breath. A significantly lower percentage of non-smokers have bad breath compared to smokers.


• Illnesses, conditions and situations - experts say that about one tenth of all cases of halitosis are caused by an illness or medical condition. Examples include:
  
  
  • Tonsillitis
  • Other throat infections
  • Diabetes - uncontrolled diabetes may produce a fruity breath.
  • Bronchitis and chronic lung infections, including lung abscesses
  • Sinusitis - nasal discharge can get to the back of the throat and make the mouth smelly.
  • Gastritis
  • Acid reflux (GERD - gastroesophageal reflux disease).
  • Very low carbohydrate diets
  • Liver problems - liver failure may produce a fishy breath.
  • Kidney problems - kidney failure can produce a urine-like odor.
  • Some cancers.

Object blocked in the nose - a child with bad breath may have a foreign object stuck in his/her nose

How is bad breath diagnosed?

Anybody with a sense of smell and who is willing to tell the truth can diagnose your bad breath.

If you are found to have bad breath a visit to the dentist will help you find out what might be causing it. As 90% of cases of halitosis are caused by something in the mouth, the dentist is the best person to see first.

When you visit the dentist do not try to disguise the smell - the smell is one of the signs that helps the health care provider either make a diagnosis, or know who else to refer you to.

If the dentist finds that food decay in the mouth and/or plaque are causing the halitosis, he/she will usually treat this immediately. You will also be advised on how to keep your teeth and gums healthy.

If the dentist does not identify anything in your mouth that might be causing the halitosis, you may be referred to another health care professional.

How do you treat and prevent bad breath?

• Dental hygiene
  
  If you regularly floss and brush your teeth you are much less likely to have bad breath.
  
  Most dentists will advise their patients to brush their teeth at least two times a day, using a fluoride-containing toothpaste.
  
  Your tooth brush should be small to medium sized. It should have soft, multi-tufted nylon bristles.
  
  Replace your toothbrush periodically.
  
  A tooth-brushing session should last at least two minutes. Make sure you have covered all areas, especially where the tooth meets the gum. Use a back and forth brushing motion on the outside and inside of all teeth. Don't forget to reach all your back teeth; the ones that do all the chewing.
  
  Lightly brush your tongue with a tongue scraper or a separate toothbrush.
  
  Floss your teeth once a day with dental floss to remove any trapped food. Flossing will reach areas brushing might not, such as along the gum line between the teeth. Get a strand about 18 inches long and wrap the ends of the strand around the middle finger of each hand until there is about 1 inch of floss between each hand. Gently push the floss in between your teeth "sawing" back and forth until you reach the gum line. When the floss has reached the gum line, scrape the side of each tooth in an up-down motion. Keep moving to new sections of the strand so that you are not flossing with worn floss.
  
  If you like you can also use an anti-bacterial mouthwash. However, this is complementary and should never be a substitute for brushing or flossing.
  
  If you have eaten acidic food or drink, such as oranges (orange juice), wait thirty minutes before brushing your teeth. Your teeth are less likely to erode.


• Dentures Take dentures out at night so that your mouth can recover.
  
  Do not clean dentures with toothpaste, as they will scratch and possibly stain them.
  
  Clean dentures thoroughly with soap and warm water, a denture cream, or a denture-cleaning tablet.

Written by Christian Nordqvist
Copyright: Medical News Today
Not to be reproduced without permission of Medical News Today