What is bad breath?
Bad breath, sometimes called halitosis,
means that you have an unpleasant smell on your breath that other people notice
when you speak or breathe out. The exact number of people with bad breath is
not known, but it is common.
How can I tell if I have bad breath?
Since you get used to your own
smell and do not tend to notice your own bad breath, often, the only way to
know about it is if a person comments on it. However, most people are too
polite to comment on another person's bad breath. You may have to rely on a
family member or a close friend to be honest and tell you if you have bad
breath.
Perhaps you could ask your dentist next
time you have a check up. A dentist will normally be able to say if you have
bad breath. Gum disease is a common cause of bad breath and a dentist will be
able to advice on treatment if you have gum disease.
Some people suggest a simple test which you
can do yourself to detect bad breath. Lick the inside of your wrist. Wait a few
seconds for the saliva to dry. Then smell the licked part of the wrist. If you
detect an unpleasant smell you are likely to have bad breath.
Causes and types of bad breath
Most cases of bad breath come from problems within the mouth such as poor oral hygiene or gum disease.
Morning bad breath
Most people have some degree of bad breath after a nights sleep. This is normal and occurs because the mouth tends to get dry and stagnate overnight. This usually clears when the flow of saliva increases soon after starting to eat breakfast.
Most people have some degree of bad breath after a nights sleep. This is normal and occurs because the mouth tends to get dry and stagnate overnight. This usually clears when the flow of saliva increases soon after starting to eat breakfast.
Foods, drinks and medicines
Chemicals in foods can get into the bloodstream, and then be breathed out from the lungs. Most people are familiar with the smell of garlic, spicy foods and alcoholic drinks on the breath of people who have recently eaten or drunk these. Various other foods and medicines can cause a smell on the breath. This type of bad breath is temporary and easily cured by not eating the food. (However, some people eat spiced food every day and as a result will constantly have a typical smell on their breath.)
Chemicals in foods can get into the bloodstream, and then be breathed out from the lungs. Most people are familiar with the smell of garlic, spicy foods and alcoholic drinks on the breath of people who have recently eaten or drunk these. Various other foods and medicines can cause a smell on the breath. This type of bad breath is temporary and easily cured by not eating the food. (However, some people eat spiced food every day and as a result will constantly have a typical smell on their breath.)
Smoking
Most non-smokers can tell if a person is a smoker by their breath which 'smells like an ashtray'. Stopping smoking is the only cure for this type of bad breath. Smoking also increases the risk of developing gum disease, another cause of bad breath.
Most non-smokers can tell if a person is a smoker by their breath which 'smells like an ashtray'. Stopping smoking is the only cure for this type of bad breath. Smoking also increases the risk of developing gum disease, another cause of bad breath.
Crash dieting or fasting
Causes a 'sickly sweet smell' on the breath. This is due to chemicals called ketones being made by the breakdown of fat. Some ketones are then breathed out with each breath.
Acidity/acid reflux is again a common cause of bad breath.
Causes a 'sickly sweet smell' on the breath. This is due to chemicals called ketones being made by the breakdown of fat. Some ketones are then breathed out with each breath.
Acidity/acid reflux is again a common cause of bad breath.
Medical causes
People with nose problems can get bad breath. For example, a polyp in a nose, sinusitis or a 'foregin body' stuck in a nostril (occurs most commonly in children) can cause a bad smell. In this situation the smell tends to occur only, or more severely, when you breathe out through your nose. Tonsil infections are also a cause.
People with nose problems can get bad breath. For example, a polyp in a nose, sinusitis or a 'foregin body' stuck in a nostril (occurs most commonly in children) can cause a bad smell. In this situation the smell tends to occur only, or more severely, when you breathe out through your nose. Tonsil infections are also a cause.
Bad breath coming from within the mouth
As mentioned, in most people who have bad
breath the bad smell is thought to come from bacteria within the mouth. As the
bacteria break down proteins and other debris in the mouth, they release foul
smelling gases. One or more of the following may contribute to the build up of
bacteria and bad breath.
- Food
stuck between teeth.
Normal teeth brushing may not clear bits of food (particularly tiny bits
of meat) which can get stuck between teeth. The food then rots and becomes
riddled with bacteria. Regular flossing can clear and prevent this
problem.
- Plaque,
calculus and gum disease. Dental plaque is a soft whitish deposit that forms on the surface
of teeth. It forms when bacteria combine with food and saliva. It sticks firmly to teeth. Gum disease means
infection or inflammation of the tissues that surround the teeth. If your
gums look inflamed, or regularly bleed when you clean your teeth, you are
likely to have gum disease. The severity can range form mild to severe.
- Coating
on the back of the tongue. In some people, a 'coating' develops on the back part of the
tongue. It is not clear why this occurs. It may be from mucus that drips
down from the back of the nose ('post nasal drip'). The coating can
contain many bacteria.
- Mouth
tumours that ulcerate and become infected are an uncommon cause of bad
breath.
The treatment of bad breath coming from
within the mouth is good oral hygiene.
Routine oral hygiene - a cure for most
cases of bad breath
It is important to get into a regular habit
of good oral hygiene - in particular teeth brushing and flossing.
Teeth brushing
Brush your teeth at least twice a day. Use a soft-tufted brush. The head of the brush should be small enough to get into all the areas of the mouth. Spend at least two minutes brushing, covering all areas (the inside, outside, and biting areas of each tooth). Pay particular attention to where the teeth meet the gum. Get a new toothbrush every 3-4 months. Many people find that an electric toothbrush does a better job than the traditional toothbrush, and so they have become popular.
Brush your teeth at least twice a day. Use a soft-tufted brush. The head of the brush should be small enough to get into all the areas of the mouth. Spend at least two minutes brushing, covering all areas (the inside, outside, and biting areas of each tooth). Pay particular attention to where the teeth meet the gum. Get a new toothbrush every 3-4 months. Many people find that an electric toothbrush does a better job than the traditional toothbrush, and so they have become popular.
It is usually advised that you use toothpaste
that contains fluoride. (The fluoride helps to prevent tooth decay.)
Flossing
Floss your teeth at least once a day after brushing, and preferably twice a day. (Some people who have not flossed before are surprised as to how much extra debris and food particles can be removed by flossing in addition to brushing.)
Floss your teeth at least once a day after brushing, and preferably twice a day. (Some people who have not flossed before are surprised as to how much extra debris and food particles can be removed by flossing in addition to brushing.)
Briefly: the usual floss looks a bit like
cotton thread. Cut off about 40 cm. Wind the ends round your middle fingers of
each hand. Then grab the floss between the thumbs and first finger to obtain a
tight 3-4 cm section which you can pull between teeth. Gently scrape the floss
against the sides of each tooth from the gum outwards. This will clean the
narrow spaces between the teeth which toothbrushes cannot get to. Use a fresh
piece of floss each time.
Some people prefer floss 'tape' which
slides between teeth more easily than normal floss. Also, some people use
disposable plastic 'forks' with a small length of floss between the two prongs.
The plastic fork may be easier to hold and manipulate. However, they are
expensive.
The gums may bleed a little when you first
begin to floss. This should settle within a few days. If it persists then see a
dentist as regular bleeding after flossing may indicate early gum disease.
Other general tips
Other things which are important to keep your teeth and gums healthy are:
Other things which are important to keep your teeth and gums healthy are:
- If you
smoke, try to stop. Gum disease is more common in smokers than
non-smokers.
- Eat a well
balanced healthy diet. In particular, you should limit the amount of
sugary foods and drinks that you have. Sugars and sugary foods in the
mouth are the main foods that bacteria thrive on to make acid which can
contribute to tooth decay.
- If children
need medicines, wherever possible use sugar free medicines.
- Have regular
dental checks at intervals recommended by your dentist (this is normally
at least once a year). A dentist can detect excessive build up of plaque
and remove calculus. Early gum disease can be detected and treated to
prevent it from getting worse.
Other things you can do if you have bad
breath
The measures above are usually sufficient to look after your teeth. However, if you also have bad breath coming from your mouth:
The measures above are usually sufficient to look after your teeth. However, if you also have bad breath coming from your mouth:
- Use an
antiseptic mouthwash at least once a day. Just before bedtime is probably
the best time. The mouthwash aims to kill bacteria. (Young children should
not use a mouthwash if they may swallow it.)
- Clean the
back of your tongue at least once a day. Some people do this with a soft
toothbrush dipped in mouthwash (not toothpaste). You need to place it as
far back as you can and then gently scrape forward to clear the tongue of
any coating.
- Some people
chew gum after each meal. Chewing gum increases the flow
of saliva. Saliva helps to 'flush' the mouth to help clear any debris
remaining from the meal.
- If you have
dentures and have bad breath, you may not be cleaning them properly. Ask
your dentist for advice as to how best to clean your dentures.
If any of these measure do not help meet with your ENT specialist and rule out nasal/sinus/tonsil as the cause of bad breath.
Dr. Kumaresh
- www.drkumaresh.com
Senior Consultant- ENT, Head & Neck Surgery including cancer surgery and Neurotology
Governing Council Member - PSG Medical College, Coimbatore
Board Member – PSG Healthcare Innovation, Incubation and Development Center
Coordinator - International Healthcare Collaborations
Director - Waste2Watts, Unique Waste to Energy Environmental Healthcare Start UpDirector - International Relations - International University of RwandaDirector Tvasta Bio-Science Private Limited - 3D Bio Printer Start Up
Director - Forent Technologies - Doctor Patient Connect App
Director - KGVK Medical Technologies Pvt Ltd - Funding start ups and healthcare ventures
Innovator - Opentherapeutics - A Global Life sciences biotechnology working on a cure for Cancer using Synthetic Biology
Mentor/Advisor - Healthcare start ups
Distinguished
Alumni Awardee - PSG
Medical CollegeSenior Consultant- ENT, Head & Neck Surgery including cancer surgery and Neurotology
Governing Council Member - PSG Medical College, Coimbatore
Board Member – PSG Healthcare Innovation, Incubation and Development Center
Coordinator - International Healthcare Collaborations
Director - Waste2Watts, Unique Waste to Energy Environmental Healthcare Start UpDirector - International Relations - International University of RwandaDirector Tvasta Bio-Science Private Limited - 3D Bio Printer Start Up
Director - Forent Technologies - Doctor Patient Connect App
Director - KGVK Medical Technologies Pvt Ltd - Funding start ups and healthcare ventures
Innovator - Opentherapeutics - A Global Life sciences biotechnology working on a cure for Cancer using Synthetic Biology
Mentor/Advisor - Healthcare start ups
Best ENT
Specialist Awardee
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