Bad breath, also known as halitosis, is a very common
problem. In most cases of halitosis, the bad breath
originates from the mouth itself. Its intensity varies throughout the day, depending on various factors.
Certain foods like garlic and onions, smoking and
alcohol consumption can all be contributing factors to
bad breath. “Morning breath” is due to reduced saliva
flow and the mouth being exposed to less oxygen
during the night, and often disappears following
eating, brushing, flossing and rinsing with mouthwash.
Some foods can help mask bad breath and more often than not, bad breath goes away. This type of halitosis is called transient. However, in approximately 25% of cases, halitosis is persistent (chronic bad breath). These are the cases that are more serious in nature and should be addressed by your dentist.
The tongue
The main culprit for mouth-related halitosis is the tongue. Bacteria thrives on the tongue and is responsible for 80 to 90 per cent of all cases of bad breath. While many people use mints, mouth sprays, mouthwash or gum in their attempts to get rid of bad breath, they don’t work well as they only temporarily mask the odour. The only way to eliminate the halitosis is to eliminate this bacteria by cleaning the tongue with a toothbrush or tongue scraper.
Gum disease
Periodontal disease often causes bad breath or a bad taste in the mouth so if these persist, it could be a sign that you have gum disease. Gum disease is caused by plaque – the sticky film that forms on teeth. Brushing and flossing is the only way to effectively remove this plaque, thereby keeping your teeth healthy and your breath fresh.
Smoking
Tobacco products also cause bad breath, not to mention stain teeth, reduce your ability to taste food and irritate your gum tissues (often causing gum disease) – all are excellent reasons to quit the habit.
Illnesses
Sometimes persistent bad breath can be a sign that you have a serious health problem. For example, diabetes is often associated with a fruity odour, liver failure with a musty scent, and kidney failure with an ammonia-like smell.
Dentures
Improperly cleaned dentures can also harbor odour-causing bacteria. If you wear removable dentures, take them out at night, clean them thoroughly and keep them out of your mouth while sleeping.
Treatment
If you feel that you have a problem with persistent halitosis, go see your dentist. If he or she determines that your mouth is healthy and that the odour is not dental in nature, you may be referred to your family physician to determine the cause of the odour and treatment. If the odour is due to gum disease, your dentist can work with you on a treatment plan which would more than likely include a detailed cleaning to remove the bacteria and plaque that has accumulated.
As previously mentioned, most mouthwashes are generally in effective at treating chronic bad breath. Having said that, if your bad breath persists even after following good oral hygiene protocols, there are special products your dentist may prescribe that effectively reduce the bacteria levels that causes halitosis.
Steven Deskin is a Brantford Dentist in general practice.
