What Is Halitosis?

Bad breath, otherwise known as halitosis or malodor, is when there is a foul odor that comes from the mouth for various reasons. This is very common in adults and is treatable as well. Halitosis can happen in the early morning when you wake up, after eating certain foods, or in cases of illness. If regular brushing and mouthwash don’t clear the odor, there may be some lingering health issues that follow.

Possible causes of bad breath

As stated before, there can be a variety of reasons why your breath can have a foul odor. Below are a few of the most common reasons why:

  1. Poor Oral Hygiene: If proper oral hygiene is not practiced, plaque is able to build up on the surface of the teeth and in the gums. Accumulation of this bad bacterium can lead to bad breath because the teeth and tongue are not properly cleared of bacteria.
  2. Sinus Infections and Other Illnesses: When mucus can’t exit through the nose, it lingers and drips down into the throat, causing foul odors to ferment. Liver failure and Ketoacidosis can also lead to bad breath, as they are internal issues that make breaking down certain proteins in the body harder.
  3. Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease: Otherwise known as GERD, is when the stomach acid flows back into the esophagus, or even vomiting. This can cause bad breath to form even deeper in your body, past your mouth.
  4. Bowel Obstructions: When there is a blockage in the digestive tract, the food remains in it. Since it is trapped inside, there are limited options where some gas would exit, like through the mouth. Whatever is left fermenting inside comes up through the mouth as bad breath that often smells like poop.

Possible treatments for bad breath

There are two known ways to help maintain or obtain fresh breath, which are known as oral care at home and oral care through a dental specialist. For not too serious cases, at-home treatment is best recommended, whilst more serious cases that underlie health issues should be consulted with a dental hygienist.

  1. Home Care
  2. A proper oral cleaning at home twice a day should consist of the correct form of brushing, flossing, tongue scraping, and the use of mouthwash afterwards to achieve a clean mouth with a daily hygienic routine.
  3. Instead of chewing on sugar-filled gum, try switching to sugar-free gum or chewing on fresh parsley or mint leaves. Sugar wears away at the enamel.
  4. Smoking tobacco and drinking alcohol can cause bad breath afterwards. Both make your saliva glands produce less, which won’t clear away the lingering bacteria in your mouth. This is a case of dry mouth that leads to bad breath.
  5. Dental Care
  6. For odors caused by lingering bacteria in the teeth, a dentist would do a teeth cleaning or a deep teeth cleaning to clear away any unwanted bacterial buildup.
  7. In some more serious medical cases, the dentist may prescribe medications to take internally to help fight what may be causing the foul odors.

If you or someone you know suffers from bad breath, don’t be afraid to seek a professional for advice and to help prevent further issues that can develop.

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