Halitosis is the formal name for bad breath. And if you suffer from this common issue, you know how embarrassing it can be. But the good news about bad breath is that it's completely reversible, as long as you know how to handle it.
Halitosis is the medical name for bad breath. It's normal to have bad breath when you first wake up. It usually goes away after you have something to drink and clean your teeth. Bad breath that doesn't go away can be the sign of another condition.
Just remember, the odor from what you eat can stick around until the food works its way completely out of your system -- up to 3 days later! 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.
Poor dental hygiene.
If you don't brush and floss daily, food particles remain in your mouth, causing bad breath. A colorless, sticky film of bacteria (plaque) forms on your teeth. If not brushed away, plaque can irritate your gums and eventually form plaque-filled pockets between your teeth and gums (periodontitis).
To detect halitosis, the tongue is wiped with a cotton swab. For periodontal risk assessment, the subgingival plaque is obtained with a curette. To evaluate, the samples are placed on the BANA test strip, which is then inserted into a slot on a small toaster-sized incubator.
Breath that smells of rotten eggs often indicates a problem with the digestive tract. That's because gut microbiota break down sulfur, releasing that eggy-smelling gas.
Drinking water will help keep odor under control because it helps wash away food particles and bacteria, the primary cause of bad breath. If you have chronic dry mouth or take medications that cause you to have dry mouth, talk to your dentist about recommending an over-the-counter saliva substitute.
The most common cause of halitosis is poor oral hygiene. Without proper oral hygiene — like brushing, flossing and routine dental cleanings — harmful bacteria invade your mouth and multiply out of control. This can lead to several oral health issues like halitosis, cavities and gum disease.
If gum or periodontal disease is causing your halitosis, you will have to undergo professional cleaning to remove any plaque buildup or bacteria that has formed in your mouth. This can be treated using a special antimicrobial toothpaste or mouthwash recommended by your dentist.
Rinsing with mouthwash allows you to clean virtually your entire mouth and helps freshen your breath. A twice-daily routine of brushing, flossing and rinsing with an antiseptic mouthwash like LISTERINE® Mouthwash can help prevent and treat halitosis.
A person who constantly has a stale taste in their mouth probably has bad breath. So does a person with a white coating on their tongue, or a person who smokes, suffers from dry mouth or has issues in the digestive or respiratory tract. These signs and risk factors usually imply chronic bad breath.
Coffee beans are roasted to bring out the aroma and flavor locked inside of them. This roasting process causes sulfur-containing aroma compounds to form. These sulfuric compounds and the acid in coffee can cause bad breath. Additionally, drinking coffee causes dry mouth.
Studies showed that green tea, due to its ability to remove the mouth microbial contamination, can eliminate bad breath or halitosis (12). Green tea helps toothpaste and mouthwashes fight viruses by eliminating bacteria.
Betadine gargle is used for the treatment of sore throat, mouth infection, dental infection and bad breath.
A good over the counter anti-bacterial mouthwash is Colgate Savacol (Alcohol-Free). The process of using mouthwash is very important. It is critical for the patient to gargle.
What Listerine does better than any other brand is to kill bacteria. The antiseptic formula helps kill bacteria associated with periodontal disease and gingivitis while users are left with a fresh, clean feeling in their mouth.
Tonsillitis, respiratory infections such as sinusitis or bronchitis, and some gastrointestinal diseases may be responsible for a small number of cases of bad breath. Advanced liver or kidney disease and uncontrolled diabetes can also lead to unpleasant breath.
Breath that smells like feces can occur with prolonged vomiting, especially when there is a bowel obstruction. It may also occur temporarily if a person has a tube placed through the nose or mouth to drain their stomach.
Postnasal drip
The mucus can attract bacteria which, in turn, may create an odor that causes your breath to smell bad. Sinus infections, colds, flu, and strep throat are just some of the many possible causes of a postnasal drip.
Dentists often diagnose halitosis. The diagnosis is based on the person's history and mouth odor during the dental exam. The entire mouth is checked to see if a cause can be found, such as an infection If the dentist can't find the cause, he or she will refer you to an appropriate specialist, such as a doctor.
Certain psychological states related to stress or anxiety can cause genuine halitosis. In particular, this is due to the fact that the salivary glands (stimulated by nervous fibres connected to the autonomic nervous system) produce less saliva when a person is stressed or anxious.