Bad Breath
Halitosis, commonly known as bad breath, is an embarrassing health condition that affects approximately 30% of people around the world. Bad breath odors vary, depending on the source or the underlying cause.
Some of the common causes of bad breath are the following:
1) Dental factors:
1.1) Dental cavities
1.2) Gum disease
Gingivitis and periodontal disease can also cause bad breath when left untreated, and the odor will only be masked by outside agents, not cured. Identifying and treating gum disease is the only way to stop periodontal bad breath.
Keeping your mouth free from bacteria and plaque is the best line of defense against bad breath. If you have persistent bad breath that is not caused by medication, food choices, or dry mouth, ask for a periodontal consultation to check for gum disease.
1.3) Infection
1.4) Defective dental restoration or any dental appliances
Badly fitting braces, bridges, and dentures can allow food particles to become trapped and cause halitosis. Having dental appliances checked and refitted regularly can help avoid this issue.
2) Non pathological factors:
2.1) Food choices.
Many foods can cause bad breath – especially those which are strongly flavored, spicy, or which have a strong odor on their own, such as fish or cheese. Meat can cause bad breath more than vegetables. Avoiding such foods or brushing and flossing immediately after eating can help prevent them from causing bad breath. Mouth sprays, strips, and mints can also help.
2.2) Alcohol consumption
2.3) Tobacco use
Chewing and smoking tobacco products not only causes bad breath, but significantly increases the risk of gum disease.
2.4) Oral dryness
Some people have dry mouth naturally; others take medications which have dry mouth as a side effect. When saliva isn’t present to continually wash the gums and teeth, decay of bacteria present in the mouth causes bad breath. Chewing gum can help prevent dry mouth.
2.5) Hunger breath
2.6) Snoring or mouth breathing
Can cause morning breath greater than in a normal case.
3) Pathology factors:
3.1) Respiratory system
3.2) Gastrointestinal tract disorder
A flatulence or constipation condition can also cause bad breath.
3.3) Abnormal accumulation of certain substance in blood circulation.
For example: acetone odor in a diabetes patient, urine breath from a kidney problem, and amine breath from a liver problem.
Clinical and x-ray examination is necessary to find out if you have any dental factors and to provide you with a treatment solution. If there are no dental factors relating to the bad breath condition, our dentist can recommend you to getting further medical advice or a consultation.