Around 30% of people suffer from bad breath these days. Halitosis is another name for the condition. People affected are often embarrassed and even worried. Today’s world is full of shops offering mints, chewing gum, mouthwash and breath fresheners in abundance, developed specifically to combat bad breath. All these products are, however, only a temporary solution that changes nothing at the root of the problem.
Halitosis: what is it?
Halitosis is a widespread problem occurring in many people and considerably worsening their psychological distress. There are various ways of treating it. Studies have found that two in five people frequently suffer from bad breath. Patients affected need dental treatment.
What leads to bad breath?
With frequent bad breath it is generally advisable to see a dentist. Some of the likely causes are set out below.
Food
The smell is caused by tiny food particles that lodge between the teeth as food is digested. Some, such as garlic and onions, are particularly unpleasant for the breath. After digestion the breakdown products are transported through the blood to the lungs, which affects the breath and causes an unpleasant smell.
Tobacco
Gum disease can become more likely through the use of tobacco products, which produce a particular kind of bad breath. Anyone affected needs therapy as soon as possible.
Oral hygiene
Proper brushing and the use of floss remove the food particles between the teeth. These particles gradually break down and produce a smell in the mouth. If you do not brush routinely, plaque accumulates. By irritating the gums, plaque can occasionally cause inflammation between gum and tooth. Bad breath can be brought about by a proliferation of oral bacteria.
Conditions of the mouth, nose and throat
Small bacterial stones can form on the tonsils at the back of the throat, leaving an unpleasant aftertaste. Inflammation or infection in the nose, the sinuses or the throat can also be the cause.
Illnesses
Several conditions such as liver failure, cancer and metabolic disorders can contribute to bad breath in certain people. The combination of chemicals leads to an unpleasant smell, and for people with these conditions therapy is necessary.
A dry mouth
Saliva is necessary for health because it keeps the mouth clean. Your mouth can give off a smell if it is naturally dry or dry for other reasons. The condition xerostomia can occasionally be the cause.
The symptoms
Depending on the cause, the smell of the breath can change. It is advisable to ask a family member, a close friend or another relative for help in assessing it. You may not be able to do it yourself, but you can with their help. If you live alone, you can choose another method: lick your wrist, let it dry and then smell it. If your wrist smells unpleasant, you have bad breath.
Some people pay more attention to their breath than others. They are worried and upset about it even when their breath does not smell, or hardly at all. Halitophobia is the medical term for this disorder, which leads to rinsing the mouth becoming an obsession.
How is it diagnosed?
Dentists have a straightforward method for establishing bad breath. They assess it on a six-point intensity scale. The strongest source of smell, which can be established by scraping the back of the tongue, is also examined. To determine whether a patient has bad breath, dentists take a swab and smell it. There are many state-of-the-art detectors that help determine the smell more precisely. Hydrogen sulphide, dimethyl sulphide and methyl mercaptan are three different volatile sulphur compounds that can be measured by gas chromatography. A beta-galactosidase test establishes a connection between the concentration of the enzyme and the smell of the breath. A halimeter detects the low sulphur content. A BANA test helps determine the concentration of a particular enzyme produced by the bacteria that cause bad breath. The dentist can then establish what is causing the problem and eliminate the smell.
The conclusion
People worried about the causes of bad breath should always take good care of their mouth, their teeth, their tongue and their general oral hygiene. The chewing gum and mints available on the market are only a stopgap, since they merely mask the smell temporarily. It is best to arrange routine check-ups and cleanings with a dentist.
