WHAT IS BAD BREATH ALL ABOUT?;- Causes,Symptoms,Prevention and treatment

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Hello great steemians! Its nice to have you here.

It is good to know thatBad Breath has destroyed some relationships without noticed.
Bad Breath placed the carrier unstable and in captivity of expressing some feelings verbally.

After much research and findings, I was able to share this with you.

Firstly, let's take a look at what Bad Breath is all about.

Bad breath,medically called halitosis, can result from poor dental health habits and may be a sign of other health problems. Bad breath can also be made worse by the types of foods you eat and other unhealthy lifestyle habits.

Halitosis, or bad breath, most often starts in the mouth. Poor oral hygiene allows food particles to collect on the surface of the tongue, between the teeth or along the gingival (gum) tissue that surrounds the teeth. Naturally occurring bacteria in your mouth then break down those food particles, releasing chemicals that have a strong odor.

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What are those things that triger Bad Breath ?

• Saliva helps wash food particles from your mouth; thus, people with a dry mouth are at an increased risk of experiencing bad breath. Some medications, mouth breathing and smoking all can contribute to dry mouth.

• Infections in the mouth, such as dental caries (tooth decay), periodontal (gum) disease or mouth sores related to other conditions may contribute to bad breath. Surgical wounds (from extracted teeth, for example) also can be a source of halitosis.

• The bacterial film called “plaque” that occurs naturally in your mouth can build up if not removed regularly through good oral hygiene practices. The bacteria in plaque give off an odor that affects your breath.

• Diet is a common bad breath culprit. Foods such as garlic and onions, in particular, can foul your breath. Once your food is digested, chemicals that cause odor can be absorbed into your bloodstream and from there into your lungs; these chemicals then are exhaled. Diets high in protein and sugar also have been associated with bad breath.

• Bad breath can be a byproduct of certain health conditions. It may result from infections in the nose, throat or lungs; chronic sinusitis; postnasal drip; chronic bronchitis; or disturbances in your digestive system.

• Almost all causes of bad breath and taste disorders involve a group of anaerobic Sulphur producing bacteria that live below the surface of the tongue, in the throat, often in the tonsils and between the teeth.

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What are the General causes of Bad breath or Mouth Odour

• A dry mouth.
• Post nasal drip
• A diet high in proteins (dairy foods, red meats, beans, Atkins Diet etc).
• Smoking.
• Alcohol (in adult beverages or surprisingly in your mouthwash).
• Hormonal changes.
• Medications which have dry mouth side effects.
• History of diabetes Special food diets (i.e. The Atkins Diet or other high protein diets)
• Excessive use of ‘old fashioned’ oral products (containing alcohol and sodium laurylsulphate).

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What are those Signs and symptoms of Bad breath

• The most obvious sign or symptom of bad breath is noticing an unpleasant smell coming from the mouth
• Unpleasant or sour taste or changes in taste.
• Dry mouth, and a coating on the tongue.

Flushing the inter dental surfaces and brushing the teeth helps in the reduction of oral microflora

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How can Bad Breath be prevent?

Preventing Bad breath/halitosis is always easier than treating it. By developing the right habits, you can effectively help prevent it.

• Eat foods rich in fiber: High fiber foods help prevent halitosis. Avoid eating heavily processed foods that contain refined carbohydrates such as cookies, cakes, sweets and ice cream.

• Use mouthwash: Some mouth washes or oral rinses are effective at preventing bad breath. However, you should never use alcohol based mouth washes because the alcohol makes the mouth very dry, which will actually make the problem worse.

• Drink green and black teas: They contain polyphenols that help eliminate sulfur compounds and reduce oral bacteria.

• Avoid drying medication: Try not to take antidepressants, diuretics, pain relievers, and antihistamines unless it is absolutely medically necessary. These drugs inhibit saliva flow and can cause chronic dry mouth.

• 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, one of the most common causes of bad breath.

• Clean your mouth after eating meat, fish or dairy products: Practicing consistent and thorough oral hygiene is an effective prevention tool.

• Stop smoking: Studies have shown that smokers are at higher risk of developing periodontal disease and dry mouth. Furthermore, people who smoke may also engage in other habits that promote this condition such as dieting, drinking alcohol, and suffering from chronic anxiety conditions that require exacerbating prescription medications.

• Breaths 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: Lactose intolerance can be an underlying cause of halitosis.

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Bad Breath can be treated

The best way to treat bad breath (halitosis) is to instill patients with good oral hygiene practices. Mechanical reduction of malodor (bad breath) can be achieved by reducing the intraoral bacterial count by disrupting the tongue biofilm, thus decreasing the production of volatile sulfur compounds (VSC) or volatile organic compounds (VOCs).

The common methods used include:

• Tongue brushing
• Tongue scraping
• Chewing gum
• Mouthwash such as hexidine, Listerine and Thera breath

Thanks for taken your time to read through.

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