Do you worry about your breath every time you go to meet someone special?
Halitosis is a term used to describe noticeably unpleasant odors exhaled in breathing. halitosis is combining the Latin halitus, meaning 'breath', with the Greek suffix osis often used to describe a medical condition, e.g., "cirrhosis of the liver" .
Halitosis is estimated to be the third most frequent reason for seeking dental aid, following tooth decay and periodontal disease.
General cause:
Eating certain foods (such as garlic, onions, meat, fish, and cheese),also obesity, smoking, and alcohol consumption are causing also bad smell .
One of the famous causes also is fasting [ for Muslims ]because of the decrease sugar level in blood .
Morning breath ,Since the mouth is exposed to less oxygen and is inactive during the night, the odor is usually worse upon awakening .
Bad breath may be transient, often disappearing following eating, brushing one's teeth, flossing, or rinsing with specialized mouthwash.
Bad breath may also be persistent (chronic bad breath), which is a more serious condition, affecting some 25% of the population in varying degrees.
Other important causes :
From The Mouth : There are over 600 types of bacteria found in the average mouth. Several dozen of these can produce high levels of foul odors.
- Tongue , due to tongue bacteria . It accounts for 80 to 90 percent of all cases of halitosis .
- Gum disease ,and Periodontal diseases ,Like pockets [ food-impaction areas in between the teeth ], calculus deposits , abscesses , and advanced periodontal disease is a common cause of severe halitosis .
- Dental caries , that had cavities contains food debris,saliva , and bacteria.
From The Nose: It is the second major source of bad breath . Nasal odor differs from the oral odor, may be due to sinus infections or foreign bodies.
From the Tonsils : Like tonsillitis [ inflammation of the tonsils ] is one of the famous causes of halitosis .
From the Esophagus : Duo to some diseases .
From the Stomach : It is uncommon source of bad breath .
Systemic diseases : Like Lower respiratory tract infections (bronchial and lung infections), chronic liver failure, Renal infections and renal failure, Carcinoma, Trimethylaminuria ("fish odor syndrome").
Diabetes mellitus, and Metabolic dysfunction .
Halitophobia
Some patients suffer from a highly exaggerated concern of having bad breath . These patients are sure that they have bad breath
Treatment and Management
Chronic halitosis is not well understood by most physicians and dentists, so effective treatment is not always easy to find. Five strategies may be suggested:
Maintaining proper oral hygiene, including daily tongue cleaning, brushing, flossing, and periodic visits to dentists and hygienists will help much .
- Gently cleaning of the tongue surface twice daily is the most effective way to keep bad breath in control using tongue cleaner (tongue scraper), or a toothbrush.An inverted teaspoon may also do the job. Scraping or otherwise damaging the tongue should be avoided, and scraping of the V-shaped row of taste buds found at the extreme back of the tongue should also be avoided. Brushing a small amount of antibacterial mouth rinse or tongue gel onto the tongue surface will further inhibit bacterial action.
- Removal of the calculus (i.e. tartar or hard plaque) and friable tissue and root planing and irrigation with an antibiotic mouth rinse.
- Filling for all the cavities caused by the dental caries by the dentist .
- Eating a healthy breakfast with rough foods helps clean the very back of the tongue.
- Chewing gum: Since dry-mouth can increase bacterial buildup and cause or worsen bad breath .
- Gargling right before bedtime with an effective mouthwash .
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