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Halitosis (Bad Breath)
Bad breath (halitosis) can cause embarrassment, create
social and psychological barriers , and even affect marriages.
Millions of people suffer from chronic halitosis, you
don't have to suffer any longer. Most bad breath originates from the back
of the tongue where bacteria produce foul smelling sulfur compounds. New
products can effectively neutralize the sulfur compounds and eliminate the
bacteria that produce them.
What causes bad breath:
The majority of bad breath problems begin in the mouth.
 | Bad breath that is of oral cavity origin can be
traced to a sulfur compound produced by bacteria. Dead and dying bacterial
cells release this sulfur compound which gives the breath an unpleasant
odor. |
| Bacterial plaque and food debris accumulate on the
back of the tongue. The tongue's surface is extremely rough and bacteria can
accumulate easily in the cracks and crevices. Large amounts of sulfur
compounds can be produced in this area, making it a frequent site of origin
for bad breath. |
| The tooth attracts bacteria containing plaque and if
not cleaned regularly and thoroughly, this can result in large accumulations
of bacteria which result in bad breath. |
| People who have periodontitis often experience bad
breath because of bacteria accumulating in areas that are not cleaned
easily, such as deep pockets around teeth. |
| Fortunately, treatment is very effective for people
who have bad breath of mouth origin. |
Other reasons for bad breath (other than the mouth)
are:
| infections, especially in the sinuses or lungs |
| diabetes mellitus (acetone smell to the breath) |
| kidney failure (can produce a fishy odor) |
| malfunction of the liver |
| disorders of metabolism (foul, fishy odor that comes
and goes and may be difficult to diagnose) |
| fasting (when the body is not provided with fuel in
the form of food, fat and protein will begin to be broken down; the result
is bad odor from the waste products of this metabolism) |
If your bad breath continues once potential oral health
problems have been treated, see your doctor to rule out any other causes.
Treatment of Bad Breath:
| Treatment begins with a complete oral examination
and health history, you may have an "odor-meter" test done. This
test can accurately measure the volatile sulfur gases and the extent of a
halitosis problem. |
| Periodontal disease and /or cavities should be
treated and repaired. |
| Oral infections must be eliminated or impacted teeth
may need to be removed. |
| Good oral hygiene must be stressed, including
cleaning the teeth and tongue. Once the oral infection is treated and cured,
mouthrinses and toothpastes may have some effectiveness in managing oral
odor. Ask your oral health professional for a product that may be helpful to
you. |
Bad breath sufferers should feel
encouraged to seek treatment because of the high success rate in managing the
problem. |
