HALITOSIS
Have you ever sat close to someone in a vehicle and the moment the person opened the mouth to talk the whole atmosphere became polluted? You are sure the person must have brushed the teeth that morning because he looked well dressed and had a good body smell cause you could perceive he used a good perfume but yet you surprised why the mouth smells so bad.
Halitosis ( bad breath) is a term used to describe any disagreeable bad and unpleasant smell that emanates from the mouth breath. It can occur amongst any age group whether young or old. Sometimes it’s just the individual that can perceive that his mouth has odor but in other cases, others can easily detect that the other party has mouth odor. Bad breath may result from the build-up of bacteria in the mouth.
Halitosis can result from poor dental hygiene. When we do not brush our teeth regularly, we notice that food particles get trapped in the teeth giving room for bacteria to dwell. The combination of trapped decayed food particles and bacteria in the mouth result in an unpleasant smell. The plagues build up causing periodontal diseases that would affect the mouth health. The bacteria now have extra spaces to hide in the mouth beyond the reach of the toothbrush or floss, contributing to halitosis. Some food we eat might also be responsible for halitosis. Onions, garlic, and beverages like coffee contribute to mouth odor. Alcoholics and smokers( tobacco) would also develop halitosis.
There are also other underlying conditions that might contribute to halitosis. Decrease salivary flow resulting in dry mouth can cause halitosis. Certain drugs and salivary gland disease can be responsible for causing dry mouth. Patients with sinus, mouth, or throat conditions can have a mouth odor. Medical conditions like Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) kidney, liver, and diabetes can cause bad breath. Oral cancer, tooth extraction, ulceration, prosthetics are other oral factors that can contribute to halitosis.
Practicing good oral hygiene is the first therapy for halitosis. Brush with a fluoride-containing toothpaste at least twice daily- morning and at bedtime, do not forget to brush the tongue too. Brushing the teeth after every meal is also advised. Dental flossing would help to remove plaque stuck between the teeth. Rinsing the mouth with a good antibacterial mouthwash is recommended. The toothbrush should be changed every 3 months.
Drink plenty of fluid. This would help keep the mouth moist. Chewing gum can help stimulate saliva production. Saliva would assist to wash away food and bacteria. Smoking and alcohol should be avoided.
Visit the dentist regularly to have your teeth examined and professionally cleaned, this way any oral health issue can be easily detected and treated.
pharmMind 