Fresh breath is a sign of a healthy mouth, and a healthy mouth is often a good indication of your overall health. However, all of us have experienced foul smell from our mouth or someone else’s mouth at one time or another. It is embarrassing and socially unacceptable. In medical terms this bad breath is known as halitosis and is not uncommon. It is not a medical emergency but nearly 25-30% of the world’s population suffer from it. The usual cause is the breakdown of food. However, a host of causes may be related to it and knowing the correct cause leads to proper treatment accordingly.
Causes
Lack of oral hygiene.
Dentures
or other appliances in the mouth.
Dry mouth or xerostomia.
Foods like garlic, onion, cheese, too much sugar.
Drinks like orange juice, alcohol.
Infections in the mouth or gum diseases.
Smoking and tobacco use.
Sinus and respiratory infections.
Diabetes
.
Large doses of vitamins.
Acid reflux
.
DiagnosisA dentist may simply smell the breath of a patient and rate the odour on a six-point intensity scale. The dentist may scrape the back of the tongue and smell the scrapings as this area can often be a source of the aroma.
Other sophisticated detectors that may be used to rate the odour more precisely include:
Halimeter that detects low levels of sulphur.
Gas chromatography that measures three volatile sulphur compunds - hydrogen sulfide, methyl mercaptan and dimethyl sulphide.
BANA test that measures for a specific enzyme produced by halitosis-causing bacteria.
Beta-galactosidase test that detects levels of the enzyme beta-galactosidase that have been found to have a correlation with mouth odour.
Remedies
Brush teeth at least twice a day, i.e., after breakfast and before going to bed.
Do not forget to clean your tongue after brushing.
Floss once a day.
Drink plenty of water.
Replace your toothbrush every two to three months.
An alcohol-free mouthwash
rinse for 30 seconds every day after brushing can work wonders. Add baking soda and a few drops of antimicrobial peppermint essential oil for better results.
Visit your dentist regularly for dental checkups and cleanings
If you wear dentures, remove them at night and clean to get rid of bacterial buildup from food and drink
Avoid the medications causing dry mouth as they may cause bad breath due to the mouth being dry.
Chew a handful of cloves, fennel seeds, or aniseeds. Their antiseptic qualities help fight halitosis-causing bacteria.
Chew a piece of lemon or orange rind for a mouth- freshening burst of flavour. These are sources of citric acid and stimulate the salivary glands.
Chew a fresh sprig of parsley, basil, mint, or cilantro. The chlorophyll in these green plants neutralizes odours.
Raw, crunchy, fibrous fruits and vegetables clean the teeth. Apples contain pectin, which helps control food odours and promotes saliva production.
Cinnamon is antimicrobial.
Active cultures in yogurt help reduce odour-causing bacteria in the mouth.
Stimulate salivary flow to prevent dry mouth using chewing gum, lozenges, or mints that are sugar free.
Take dietary supplements of vitamin C, vitamin D, vitamin E, and vitamin B. These are effective at helping your body eliminate excess mucus and toxins naturally.
Drink green and black teas as they contain polyphenols that help eliminate sulphur compounds and reduce oral bacteria.
Stop alcohol use, or smoking and tobacco use in any form.
Avoid mouth drying medications like antidepressants, diuretics, pain relievers
, and antihistamines unless it is absolutely medically necessary.
Breathe through your nose instead of your mouth.
Eliminate dairy products from your diet as lactose intolerance can be an underlying cause of halitosis.
Use an oral probiotic like S. salivarius K12 and M18 to balance the oral cavity and prevent an overgrowth of the odour-causing bacteria involved in halitosis.
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