Halitosis (Bad breath)

Dental Health care Practice at Dr C Jagadeesh’s Dental Clinic.

Halitosis is a common dental problem, wherein you experience persistent unpleasant bad breath.
It is widespread, affecting approximately 1 out of 4 people around the globe.

What are the causes of bad breath?

Halitosis is most commonly caused by the sulphur producing bacteria that normally live on the surface of the tongue and throat. Sometimes these bacteria break down the proteins at a higher rate than normal releasing volatile and smelly sulphur compounds.

• The other causes are:

  1. Dry mouth- Saliva is a natural cleanser removing particles that cause bad breath. If you have a dry mouth you produce less saliva. This can occur naturally during sleep, leading to morning breath or gets worse if you sleep with your mouth open.

  2. Prolonged dry mouth can be caused by medicines, alcohol, stress or a problem with the glands that produce saliva due to some medical conditions.

  3. Dental conditions such as gum infections/calculus, dental cavities, improper cleaning of dentures, food lodgement and poor oral hygiene.

  4. Smoking or Tobacco products

  5. Acid reflux from the stomach

  6. Chronic sinusitis (Post nasal discharge)

  7. Chronic medical conditions such as diabetes, lung infection, stomach and kidney disease or cancer

  8. Food such as onion, garlic, spices etc can also cause short term halitosis.What can I do to be safer?

Symptoms of Halitosis:

You may have one of the following if you have bad breath:

1.  White coating on the back of the tongue

2.  Dry mouth

3.  Thick saliva

4.  Build-up of calculus around your teeth

5.  Post nasal drip or mucous

6.  Constant need to clear the throat

7.  Constant bitter taste

8.  Morning bad breath

How can I prevent halitosis?

• 1.  Brush twice a day, for at least two minutes, and floss once a day at least.

  2.  Clean your tongue with your brush or tongue scraper

  3.  Use an alcohol free anti-bacterial mouthwash

  4. Visit your dentist regularly for check-ups and dental cleanings.

  5. Keep your mouth moist by sipping on water frequently.

  6. Eat healthy foods that require a lot of chewing to help your body produce saliva.

  7. Your doctor may recommend artificial saliva if the dry mouth is due to a medical condition.

  8.  Mouthwashes and lozenges can also help to fight bad breath.

  9.  Avoid alcohol, caffeine and tobacco products that can cause dry mouth.

The treatment of Halitosis will depend on the cause. For example, if it is due to poor oral hygiene, a dental cleaning and improved oral hygiene measures at home will help. However, if halitosis is a symptom of an underlying medical condition your doctor will help you with proper diagnosis and treatment.