Bad Breath

Mouth | Odontologie | Bad Breath (Symptom)


Description

The medical term for bad breath is halitosis.

Causes

Halitosis is usually a result of smoking, drinking alcohol, eating garlic or onions, or poor oral hygiene. Persistent bad breath not caused by any of these may be a symptom of mouth infection, sinusitis, or certain lung disorders, such as bronchiectasis. Infections in the lungs, sinuses, or airways can also cause bad breath due to the presence of nasal secretions that may drain into the mouth.

Coughing up sputum from lung infections can also cause bad breath. Dry mouth also known as xerostomia, can be a side effect of certain medications, increasing the tendency to develop bad breath. Certain chronic diseases that severely restrict liver or kidney function may also alter the odour of the breath. Chronic halitosis is not well understood by most physicians and dentists, so effective treatment is not always easy to find.

Diagnosis and Treatment

The following strategies may be suggested to get rid of the bad breath: gently cleaning the tongue surface twice daily is the most effective way to keep bad breath in control (that can be achieved using a tooth brush, tongue cleaner or tongue brush/scraper to wipe off the bacterial biofilm, debris, and mucus); eating a healthy breakfast with rough foods helps clean the very back of the tongue; gargling right before bedtime with an effective mouthwash; probiotic treatments, specifically Streptococcus salivarius K12 has been shown to suppress malodorous bacteria growth. ...