Is bad breath making you conscious? Does your spouse, friend or family member ever point out you for bad breath. Do you know bad breath significantly affects your public image? Some studies have shown 50 % of adults have had bad breath at some point of their life.
Well, your bad breath can be the first sign of your underlying oral and medical problems. Keep reading here to know more about bad breath and how to cure that.
What is bad breath?
Bad breath is a layman term for halitosis (medical term). Halitosis is defined as “any disagreeable odor of expired air, regardless of the origin”.
What are the causes of bad breath?
Bad breath could be a result of both intra-oral and extra-oral causes. Below is the list of most commonly occurring causes-
1. Dry mouth - Could be as a result of drinking less water or due to any underlying medical condition.
2. Gum infection (Gingivitis or Periodontitis)
3. Tooth infection – Decayed teeth or food lodgment.
E.g., if your wisdom tooth is impacted and has not come in your oral cavity in the right position, often food or food particles get lodged between the gum fold that covers the tooth. In no time bacterial growth begins leading to infection and thus the bad breath.
4.Poor Oral Hygiene - If your teeth and tongue are not regularly cleaned then it leads to various oral health problems, one of them being bad breath. People who wear dentures and don’t take them out at night or brush them are also prone to bad breath.
5. Extra-oral causes - Diabetes, Gastro-esophageal reflux disease.
6. Habits - Smoking, tobacco chewing are also responsible for bad breath.
I understood the causes, but how would that lead to bad breath?
The main culprit of bad breath is sulfur containing gases- known as volatile sulfur compounds which are produced by bacteria that thrives due to above listed reasons. Get rid of the causes and it will significantly reduce the bacterial load that produces such gases.
Are there any self - testing methods?
Yes! You may test at home if you feel you are suffering from bad breath. Here are the following techniques to test at home.
· Smelling a metallic or non- odorous plastic spoon after scraping back of tongue.
· Smelling a toothpick /dental floss after introducing it to interdental area.
· Smelling saliva spit into a cup or spoon.
· Licking the wrist and allowing it to dry (wrist lick test).
Drawback of self-tests- Most of the individuals are often unable to detect the presence of their own malodor due to adaptation or dulling of sensation due to frequent exposure.
How to mask this malodor?
Lozenges, mouth sprays or chewing gums can help you mask the bad breath. However, they all work for short term and don’t cure the underlying cause for bad breath. A good oral hygiene routine and drinking ample amount of water also helps.
What’s the permanent solution to bad breath?
As bad breath is due to multiple reasons, therefore the management at a dental office will have a combination of treatment plans. Here are the most practiced treatment strategies-
1. Mechanical reduction – This includes cleaning of your teeth to remove all the debris, plaque and calculus(tartar). This may also include root planing or curettage (steps to clean teeth and gums at a deeper level). This entirely depends on individual needs as assessed by the dentist.
If bad breath is due to cavities or food lodgment then your dentist will suggest restorations(dental fillings), root canal treatment.
2. Chemical reduction – Your dentist may prescribe you different mouthwash to be incorporated in your daily oral hygiene routine. There are certain mouthwashes that cater more specifically to bad breath problems. Your dentist may prescribe one of them.
3. Masking the malodor – This includes chewing gums or mouth sprays as mentioned before. They have a temporary effect and might be prescribed by your dentist for the time being post your cleaning(scaling) appointment.
Bad breath is indicative of underlying dental problems, and it needs your attention. NEVER miss your oral hygiene routine. Make sure you brush properly and scrape the tongue coatings away. Visit your dentist to get it permanently solved.
We at Clean and Correct dentistry are here to help you with bad breath issues.
We suggest you take a morning appointment for testing the bad breath as food consumption throughout the day might impact the same. We also suggest you to not wear any perfumes or scented lotions so that it doesn’t hinder the diagnosis.
Have a healthy mouth and healthy smile!
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