#16 ORAL HYGIENE
Nowadays, around 30 per cent of people get affected by bad breath. It is also known as halitosis. People with awful breaths can feel embarrassed and even feel anxious. In today’s world, there are several stores with overflowing mints, gums, mouthwashes, mouth fresheners, etc. They are specially made to fight bad breath. However, all these products work only for a short period and do not impact the actual reason behind the issue.
WHAT IS HALITOSIS?
It is a common
problem many people face, which causes serious psychological distress to them.
There are numerous bad breath treatments available for people. It is found that
2 in 5 people have halitosis frequently. People suffering from it require oral
care.
WHAT CAUSES BAD BREATH?
It is always
recommended to visit a dentist if people have frequent bad breath. Mentioned
below are some of the potential causes of halitosis.
FOOD
When the food
breaks down, small food particles get stuck between the teeth, responsible for
causing odors. Some people especially cause bad breath, such as garlic and
onion. Once digested, the breakdown items are carried to the lungs through the
blood. Thus, it affects the breath and makes them smell bad.
TOBACCO
Tobacco products
can increase the chances of getting gum diseases. These products generate their
kind of mouth odor. It causes bad breath, and people do not like it generally.
Such people need bad breathe treatment as early as possible.
ORAL HYGIENE
The food
particles stuck between the teeth can get removed by properly brushing and
flossing. Those particles slowly break down and generate odor in the mouth. The
plaque will start building up if you do not brush your teeth regularly.
Sometimes, the plaque might cause inflammation between the gums and teeth by
irritating the gums. The increasing number of bacteria in the mouth can result
in halitosis.
MOUTH, NOSE AND THROAT CONDITIONS
At the back of
our throat, tonsils are present, which allows small, bacterial stones to be
formed on them. It produces a bad odor in our mouth. The dentists also provide
knowledge about what causes bad breath to the public. The other reason behind
halitosis can be the inflammation or infections in the throat, nose, or
sinuses.
DISEASES
In some people,
what cause bad breath are multiple diseases such as liver failure, cancer,
metabolic diseases, etc. A bad smell is produced because of the mixture of
chemicals. People having these diseases need to get bad breath treatment for
their betterment.
DRY MOUTH
Saliva is
essential for the human body as it helps clean the mouth. If your mouth is dry
either naturally or for a particular reason, it can produce an odor. In some
cases, the odor can be produced due to xerostomia disease.
SYMPTOMS: WHAT CAUSES BAD BREATH?
The odor of the
breath might vary according to the reason behind the problem. It is suggested
to take help from a family member, close friend, relative, etc., to check on
the smell of your mouth. It can be done with someone else’s help because people
might not be able to do it themselves.
However, if you
live alone, you can opt for another method to check on your odor. You can lick
your wrist and leave it to get dry. Once it is dried, smell it. If the wrist
has a bad odor, then you have halitosis.
There are a few people who have more concerned
about their breath. Even if their breath has no or little odor, they feel
anxious and unhappy about it. This is a condition known as halitophobia. It
results in obsessive mouth-cleansing
practice.
DIAGNOSIS: WHAT CAUSES BAD BREATH?
Dentists can
detect halitosis in a simple way only. They will smell the odor from the mouth
and rate it on a six-point intensity scale. They also check the strongest
source of smell which can be obtained through the scrapes from the backside of
the tongue. The dentists take the scraping and smell it to determine if the
person has halitosis or not.
There are
multiple ultra-modern detectors which help in rating the odor more accurately. Mentioned
below are some of the detectors that are useful for the dentist while
diagnosing bad breath.
- Gas
chromatography: It is a type of test responsible
for measuring three different volatile sulfur compounds, namely, hydrogen
sulfide, dimethyl sulfide, and methyl mercaptan.
- Beta-galactosidase
test: It
finds the level of enzyme beta-galactosidase to correlate with the breath odor.
- Halimeter: It
determines the low level of sulfur.
- BANA
test: It
helps determine the level of a particular enzyme caused by the bacteria
responsible for halitosis.
The dentist can
identify the cause behind the issue and will give a bad breath treatment.
TREATMENT
To
reduce bad breath, help avoid cavities and lower your risk of gum disease,
consistently practice good oral hygiene. Further treatment for bad breath can
vary, depending on the cause. If your bad breath is thought to be caused by an
underlying health condition, your dentist will likely refer you to your primary
care provider.
For causes related to oral
health, your dentist will work with you to help you better control that
condition. Dental measures may include:
·
Mouth rinses and toothpastes. If
you’re bad breath is due to a buildup of bacteria (plaque) on your teeth, your
dentist may recommend a mouth rinse that kills the bacteria. Your dentist may
also recommend toothpaste that contains an antibacterial agent to kill the
bacteria that cause plaque buildup.
·
Treatment of dental disease. If
you have gum disease, you may be referred to a gum specialist (periodontist).
Gum disease can cause gums to pull away from your teeth, leaving deep pockets
that fill with odor-causing bacteria. Sometimes only professional cleaning
removes these bacteria. Your dentist might also recommend replacing faulty
tooth restorations, a breeding ground for bacteria.
LIFESTYLE
AND HOME REMEDIES
To reduce or prevent bad breath
·
Brush your teeth after you eat. Keep
a toothbrush at work to use after eating. Brush using fluoride-containing
toothpaste at least twice a day, especially after meals. Toothpaste with
antibacterial properties has been shown to reduce bad breath odors.
·
Floss at least once a day. Proper
flossing removes food particles and plaque from between your teeth, helping to
control bad breath.
·
Brush your tongue. Your
tongue harbors bacteria, so carefully brushing it may reduce odors. People who
have a coated tongue from a significant overgrowth of bacteria (from smoking or
dry mouth, for example) may benefit from using a tongue scraper. Or use a
toothbrush that has a built-in tongue cleaner.
·
Clean dentures or dental
appliances. If you wear a bridge or a denture, clean it thoroughly at
least once a day or as directed by your dentist. If you have a dental retainer
or mouth guard, clean it each time before you put it in your mouth. Your
dentist can recommend the best cleaning product.
·
Avoid dry mouth. To
keep your mouth moist, avoid tobacco and drink plenty of water — not coffee,
soft drinks or alcohol, which can lead to a drier mouth. Chew gum or suck on
candy (preferably sugarless) to stimulate saliva. For chronic dry mouth, your
dentist or physician may prescribe an artificial saliva preparation or an oral
medication that stimulates the flow of saliva.
·
Adjust your diet. Avoid
foods such as onions and garlic that can cause bad breath. Eating a lot of
sugary foods is also linked with bad breath.
·
Regularly get a new toothbrush. Change
your toothbrush when it becomes frayed, about every three to four months, and
choose a soft-bristled toothbrush.
·
Schedule regular dental
checkups. See your dentist on a regular basis — generally twice a
year — to have your teeth or dentures examined and cleaned.
CONCLUSION
The people
concerned about what causes bad breath should always take care of their mouth,
teeth, tongue, and complete oral care. The gums and mints present in the
marketplace are only a temporary solution as they cover the odor mask just for
a while. It would be best to visit the dentist for regular checkups and
cleanings. Sometimes, bad breath might result from gum disease or sinusitis.
REFERENCE:
Prepared by,
Dept of Medicine,
Pondicherry
Maritime Academy.
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