Bad Breath / Halitosis

Bad Breath / Halitosis

Causes of Bad Breath

Bad breath affects 50 to 60% of the population. There are many causes of bad breath but the main ones are decayed teeth and diseased gums. Gingivitis or inflammation of the gums need to be treated right away. If not, the gum becomes red and angry, swollen and would lose its attachment to the tooth, thus developing a pocket around the tooth. Food gets trapped within the pocket, causing more irritation to the gum and bacteria accumulates within the pocket. The bacteria causes breakdown of the food creating compounds called volatile sulphur compounds (VSC).

It is this which is the source of bad breath.

Saliva is a strong antibacterial substance and in its absence, bacteria can grow. Dry mouth can be caused by sickness or is a side effect of certain medicines. Hence, it is important to treat it.

Eating onions and garlic, cheeses could contribute to bad breath.

Smoking, consumption of alcohol.

In sinusitis and tonsillitis where there is accumulation of mucus, bacteria can accumulate in the mucus and produce VSC, thus causing bad breath.

A weakened lower oesophageal sphincter between the stomach and the oesophagus can result in reflux of food back into the oesophagus, thus allowing gases to escape.

Management

Gum disease or periodontal disease causes bad breath. The removal of the subgingival calculus or tartar through curettage and root planning followed by irrigation with hydrogen peroxide would improve mouth odour immensely. However, this can only be done by the dentist as the offending source is beneath the gum line.

Tongue bacteria produce malodorous compounds. The back upper part of the tongue is relatively dry and usually poorly cleansed. Hence, it is continuously coated with a film of food debris and mucus which provides an ideal habitat for bacteria to grow.

Gently cleaning the tongue twice a day is very effective in removing the biofilm of bacteria. This can be achieved with the use of a specially designed tongue scraper or a toothbrush. Brushing a small amount of antibacterial mouth rinse or tongue gel onto the tongue surface will further inhibit bacterial action.
  • Maintaining proper oral hygiene includes brushing and flossing and regular visits to the dentist. Flossing helps remove rotting food debris and dislodge the bacterial film formed at the gum line.
  • Dentures must be properly cleaned with the toothbrush and soaked overnight in an antibacterial solution.
  • Mouthwashes and mouth sprays which reduce the amount of plaque and bacteria in the mouth can also help reduce bad breath. However, they are only a temporary fix. This is because they do not remove the source of bad breath.
  • Chewing sugarless gum stimulates saliva production which helps fight dryness in the mouth. The increased saliva production washes away the bacteria and thus helps reduce bad breath.
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