Bad Breath medically known as Halitosis is actually an unpleasant odor exhaled during breathing. It is one of the major reasons why people seek out for dentists. The reasons might differ depending on different causes. Whenever one consumes eatables like garlic, onions, meat, fish or cheese, he experiences bad breath. Similarly those having problems like obesity, smoking, alcohol consumption, etc also have bad breath problems. Some of the most common solution to these problems includes brushing teeth, flossing, using mouthwash, etc. Bad Breath is either transient or persistent. Transient bad breath can be treated by activities like brushing teeth, flossing or using mouthwash. However persistent bad breath is a chronic disease and requires medical attention.
Some most Common causes for Bad Breath
Bad breath is caused due to various problems apart from eating.
Tongue: Tongue normally generates bacteria, malodorous compounds and fatty acids which in turn creates bad breath. Tongue is exposed to wide range of bacteria, thus it often requires cleansing.
Mouth: Mouth, on an average is affected by more than 600 types of bacteria which produce unpleasant odor. These odors are mainly produced due to the chemical process taking place in mouth once we eat food. The reasons for generating foul odors in the mouth include inter-dental and sub-gingival niches, faulty dental work, and food-impaction areas in between the teeth, abscesses, and unclean dentures.
Gum Disease: Some food items are stuffed in the gum-line. These diseases normally turn into waste products and generate foul smell or Bad Breath.
Tonsils: Bad Breath is also caused due to corrosion from tonsils. This is a major issue which requires immediate medical attention.
Nose: Bad Breath can also be caused due to the pungent air passed from the nostrils. Though it is different from the oral odor, it is considered as bad breath or halitosis. This can majorly be due to entrance of foreign bodies in the nose or sinus infections.
Esophagus: Bad breath can also occur when the valve between stomach and esophagus is not closed properly. Thus gases are allowed to escape from the esophagus and escape in the form of gases through mouth.
Systematic Disease: Bad Breath can also be caused due to some non oral medical conditions. This is really rare and occurs to very few people. These conditions are:
Halitophobia: One of the major reasons for the cause of Bad Breath is Halitopobia. As the name itself suggests, these patients have a feeling that they have halitosis or bad breath. About 0.5 to 1.0% of the population suffers from Halitophobia.
The Treatment:
Before treating any kind of Halitosis, dentists normally investigate about the cause. Dentists primarily clean the areas of plaque between the teeth and recommend you with different mouthwashes and bad breath that eradicates bad breath. These products normally contains chlorine dioxide or sodium chlorite neutralize volatile sulfur compounds that helps controlling bacteria from the mouth. In case of dryness in mouth, dentist offer saliva substitute to the patient.
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