Halitosis — or bad breath — may be due to poor oral hygiene, but this isn't always the case. It can also occur due to a number of health conditions, including dry mouth, heartburn or even disease in another part of your body. Treatment for halitosis depends on the underlying cause.
Causes of bad breath include: eating or drinking strong-smelling or spicy foods and drinks. problems with your teeth or gums, such as gum disease, holes in your teeth or an infection.
Mouth infections can cause bad breath. However, if your dentist has ruled out other causes and you brush and floss every day, your bad breath could be the result of another problem, such as a sinus condition, gastric reflux, diabetes, liver or kidney disease. In this case, see your healthcare provider.
What is halitosis? Halitosis is an oral health problem where the main symptom is bad smelling 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.
The rotten egg smell comes from the breakdown of microbes that live in your digestive system. It may be as simple as addressing acid reflux with an over the counter antacid or with a stronger medication if it is more persistent.
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.
However, many people may be too embarrassed to ask a loved one if the problem needs to be addressed. Another possible reason is our natural inability to actually smell our own breath, caused by an opening in the back of the mouth behind the soft palate, called the pharynx, which connects it to the nose.
Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD).
Persistent acid reflux happens when stomach acid pushes up into the esophagus. This misplaced stomach acid may itself cause bad breath — or, because stomach acid erodes tooth enamel, it can lead to the crevices that trap food.
Gingivitis can cause your breath to smell like sulfur or rotten eggs. This is because of the bacteria in your mouth releasing chemicals that smells like these things. If you have gingivitis, you may also notice that your gingiva, or gums, are red and swollen. You may also bleed when you brush or floss your teeth.
One way is to lick your wrist, let it dry for a second, and sniff it - you would know if your breath stinks. Another way is to take a floss or tongue scraper and gently move it towards the back of your mouth or tongue and then smell it. This should also give you a fair assessment whether your breath smells bad.
A course of an antibiotic, effective against anaerobic bacteria (such as metronidazole, to reduce the overgrowth of sulphur-producing bacteria), may also help. Speak to your dentist, doctor or chemist to identify the cause of your halitosis and to find the most effective treatment for you.
Everyone also should be aware of other new symptoms, in addition to bad breath, that are possible signs of oral, oropharyngeal (throat) or laryngeal cancer.
If you've eaten something with a potent odor such as garlic or fish, and you can still taste it, chances are others can smell it on your breath too. Or if you have a condition such as dry mouth, or if you're dehydrated, you may be able to taste your breath.
Swollen sinus and nasal passages create both dry mouth and post nasal drip conditions, along with the added effect that “lumps” of bacterial colonies are hiding out inside your sinuses. These colonies exacerbate bad breath and make it hard to combat, even after addressing symptoms like post nasal drip.
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.
Your digestive tract may be the cause of your foul breath if you frequently get heartburn or reflux after eating particular meals, such as dairy and spicy cuisine. These acids may smell sour, which causes gaseous odors to impact your breath.
Persistent bad breath is typically associated with chronic halitosis, a dental term that describes poor oral hygiene which causes bacteria build-up and gum disease. However, your bad breath could also indicate poor gut health and even a gastrointestinal disorder or condition.
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.
The right chewing gum can help stop bad breath
Another bonus to an increase in saliva flow and a decrease in bacteria build up is a better smelling mouth. Chewing a spearmint or peppermint flavoured gum not only makes your breath taste and smell fresh, it also reduces bad breath in the long run.