Bad Breath Causes, Symptoms and
Treatments
What is Bad Breath?
Bad breath, which is also called halitosis, is an embarrassing health condition
that affects approximately 30% of people around the world. It is associated with
a foul oral odor. According to the Academy of General Dentistry, in over 90% of
bad breath cases, the odor originates in the mouth, throat, and tonsils.
The bad breath odor is usually caused by a group of anaerobic, sulfur-producing
bacteria that breed beneath the surface of the tongue and often in the throat
and tonsil area. These bacteria occur naturally in your oral environment and are
supposed to be there because they assist your digestion by breaking down
proteins into amino acids. Proteins are commonly found in food, mucus or phlegm,
blood and in diseased oral tissue.
As the bad breath bacteria feast on proteins in your mouth, sulfur compounds are
released from the back of your tongue and throat. The bacteria excrete waste as
hydrogen sulfide, methyl mercaptan and other odorous and bad tasting compounds
known as volatile sulfur compounds. As long as this process of anaerobic
bacteria feeding on proteins and excreting volatile sulfur compounds continues
unchecked, your breath will become worse and worse.
4 Common Bad Breath Causes
There are many causes of bad breath but there are 4 causes of bad breath that
are very common.
Dry mouth - a dry mouth provides a perfect environment for anaerobic bacteria
reproduction. Longperiods of speaking, smoking, drinking alcohol and snoring are
a few common reasons why people experience dry mouth. Most people experience bad
breath in the morning due to lack of saliva production while they sleep. For
healthy individuals, food odors are temporary and normal salivary flow will
eliminate it within several minutes. However, those who suffer from dry mouth
and lack of saliva find that even minor food odors may end up becoming long term
bad breath problems.
Foods - Bad breath can be made worse by certain foods such as onions and garlic
because they contain smelly sulfur compounds. Dairy, meat and fish contain dense
proteins which are used as a food source by the anaerobic, sulfur-producing
bacteria that cause bad breath. Refined and processed sugars also provide a food
source for bacteria. Coffee and juices can contribute to bad breath because they
are acidic and provide the bacteria with an ideal breeding environment.
Poor dental hygiene - Inadequate oral care leads to bacterial buildup on the
teeth and gums. This leads to gum diseases like gingivitis and periodontitis,
which can cause halitosis because the proteins from bleeding gums and diseased
oral tissue provide fuel to odor-causing bacteria.
Illness and disease - According to studies, in approximately 10% of all cases,
bad breath is caused by certain illnesses. Individuals who suffer from diabetes,
lung disease, kidney disease, cancer, liver disease, respiratory tract
infections or metabolic disorders often experience chronic bad breath due to dry
mouth. Sinusitis, pneumonia, bronchitis, post nasal drip and polyps affect the
airways and may cause halitosis. Other common illnesses than can cause bad
breath include nasal odor, putrefaction from the tonsils, tooth decay, yeast
infections of the mouth and gum disease. Certain drugs such as antidepressants,
high blood pressure medications and antihistamines can cause bad breath because
they reduce saliva production.
Please Note - Bad breath is rarely associated with life-threatening diseases.
However, it is important that you consult your doctor or dentist as soon as you
notice consistent white spots on the tonsils and sores in the mouth with or
without a fever. Sometimes bad breath is triggered by severe health problems
such as throat or mouth cancers, human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection,
digestive system disorders or diabetes. Halitosis can also indicate dehydration
or zinc deficiency. Taking proper care of your teeth and visiting the dentist at
least twice a year are the easiest ways to avoid breath problems.
Symptoms of Bad Breath
woman with bad breathBad breath is a medical condition that lowers self-esteem
and affects everyday life and personal relationships. People with chronic or
recurring bad breath often lose their self-confidence. However, it can be
difficult to know if you have bad breath. Family members and colleagues may not
tell you.
The most common symptoms of bad breath include post-nasal drip, a bitter
metallic taste, a white coating on the tongue and thick saliva.
Most symptoms of bad breath depend on the underlying cause of bad breath. Many
individuals who suffer from bad breath because of dry mouth can experience
difficulty speaking, difficulty swallowing, a burning sensation in the mouth or
dry eyes. Fever, sore throat, persistent cough and swollen lymph nodes in the
neck indicate respiratory tract infections which can also mean bad breath.
One of the best ways to find out if you have bad breath is to lick the inside of
your wrist, wait five seconds and then take a whiff.
Using a Halimeter® to Diagnose Bad Breath
The Halimeter is the most commonly used clinical diagnostic instrument in the
field of Halitosis. It measures the concentration of Hydrogen Sulfide in parts
per billion (ppb) in mouth air. The Halimeter (also known as a portable sulfide
gas monitor) uses a patented electrochemical voltammetric sensor, providing
reproducible results for clinicians for the past 20 years. It has been
demonstrated hundreds of times on national and local television by Dr. Harold
Katz on programs such as The View, Good Morning America, and CBS Morning News.
Bad Breath Treatment
Bad Breath TreatmentIn most cases bad breath can be successfully treated. Bad
breath treatment depends on its cause.
Please keep in mind that you cannot eliminate the bacteria that cause bad breath
from the tongue. Consequently, scraping or brushing the tongue is a temporary
solution at best, and is typically frustrating for those who believe tongue
scraping or tongue brushing is a permanent solution to bad breath. The bacteria
that cause bad breath are actually part of your normal oral flora and need to be
present in order to break down proteins as a key step in proper digestion.
A much simpler and clinically-proven method to treat bad breath is to interrupt
the bacteria’s chemical production of odors by the introduction of oxygenating
compounds to your oral environment. Oxygen is lethal to the bacteria that cause
bad breath because they are anaerobes and cannot survive or function in the
presence of oxygen.
In general, a dentist will recommend mouthwashes and toothpastes that contain
oxidizing agents such as chlorine dioxide or sodium chlorite to neutralize
volatile sulfur compounds and help control odor causing bacteria found in the
mouth.
If you are experiencing dryness in the mouth, your dentist will recommend a
saliva substitute to moisten the mouth throughout the day.
Some effective, natural ingredients to look for in oral care products are zinc
gluconate, aloe vera, green tea, tea tree oil, xylitol, CoQ10, glycyrrhizic acid
and oral probiotics like K12 and M18.
6 Bad Breath Home Remedies
The practice of a few, simple, self-care techniques can help to minimize bad
breath. There are several things you can at home to treat bad breath.
Advance oral care products - Use oral care products such as mouthwashes and
toothpastes that have been shown to be effective in fighting bad breath.
Proper oral care - Brush and floss your teeth at least twice a day. This helps
to remove any food and plaque which can be used as a fuel source by the
anaerobic, sulfur-producing bacteria that cause bad breath.
Stimulate your salivary flow - Prevent dry mouth with chewing gum, lozenges, or
mints that are sugar free. Look for Xylitol as a sweetener. In recent years,
Xylitol has been shown to have anti-cavity properties and is a non-sucrose
sweetener.
Eat fibrous fruits and vegetables- One of the best ways to remove bacteria in
the mouth is to eat an apple a day. It helps moisten the mouth, too.
Take a dietary supplement- Take Vitamin C, Vitamin D, Vitamin E, and Vitamin B.
These vitamins are effective at helping your body eliminate excess mucus and
toxins naturally.
Brush your teeth occasionally with baking soda – Thebacteria that cause bad
breath thrive in an acidic oral environment.
Brushing your teeth with
baking soda helps neutralize excess acids found in the oral cavity.
12 Easy Ways to Prevent Bad Breath
Please remember, preventing bad breath is always easier than treating it. By
developing the right habits, you can be effective at preventing bad breath.
Eat foods rich in fiber - High fiber foods actually help prevent halitosis.
Avoid eating heavily processed foods that contain refined carbohydrates such as
cookies, cakes, sweets and ice cream.
Use mouthwash - Some mouthwashes or oral rinses are effective at preventing bad
breath. However, you should never use alcohol based mouthwashes because the
alcohol makes the mouth very dry, which will actually cause bad breath.
Drink green and black teas - They contain polyphenols that help eliminate sulfur
compounds and reduce oral bacteria.
Avoid drying medication - Avoid taking antidepressants, diuretics, pain
relievers and antihistamines unless it is absolutely, medically necessary. These
drugs inhibit saliva flow and cause halitosis.
Avoid products with sodium lauryl sulfate or alcohol - Do not use any oral
hygiene products that contain sodium lauryl sulfate or alcohol because the
alcohol makes the mouth very dry, which is a leading cause of bad breath.
Clean your mouth after eating meat, fish or dairy products - Practice consistent
and thorough oral hygiene to prevent bad breath.
Stop smoking - Studies have
shown that smokers present a higher risk of developing periodontal disease and
bad breath because smoking causes dry mouth which can cause bad breath.
Breathe through your nose instead of your mouth - Try to address any snoring or
sleep apnea issues that could be affecting your breath and causing dry mouth.
Drink water - Keep your mouth moist by drinking plenty of water.
Clean your dentures at least once a day - Practice the same, proper oral care
that you would with your original teeth.
Eliminate dairy products from your diet - Bad breath can easily be caused by
lactose intolerance.
Use an oral probiotic like S. salivarius K12 and M18 - Use probiotics to balance
the oral cavity and prevent an overgrowth of the odor causing bacteria that can
cause bad breath.
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