Bad breath (halitosis)
What is halitosis?
Unpleasant smelling breath, or halitosis, is quite common in healthy people, especially when they first wake up. For some people bad breath is a chronic problem, affecting their personal, business and social life.What causes bad breath?
The usual cause of halitosis is the breakdown of food remains, saliva and blood, by bacteria. This process of breakdown is exactly the same as that which causes food that is left out to ‘go off’. This is known as putrefaction. Most people's mouths contain large numbers of bacteria, which are more common in dental plaque, the substance that builds up on, and between, teeth that are not cleaned on a regular basis.What makes it worse?
Other infections in the mouth, particularly gingivitis (infection of the gums) produce more bacteria to make halitosis worse. Sometimes certain foods, such as garlic, onions and curry, will produce bad breath, but only on a temporary basis. Smokers, and those taking certain drugs, may have bad breath. Sometimes, people with diseases of the liver or kidney, diabetic complications or digestive problems have unpleasant breath as a result, but this is not common.Prevention and treatment of bad breath
The best way to treat and prevent halitosis is to clean your teeth and mouth thoroughly, on a regular basis. This prevents plaque building up and removes the tiny food particles necessary for putrefaction to occur. Dental floss is a good way of cleaning the hard-to-get-at places. Although they help, mouthwashes and breath fresheners are expensive and are no substitute for good dental hygiene. If you have bad breath (and it might take a close friend to tell you), make a visit to the dentist your first priority.Last Reviewed: 08 September 2005
Sponsored links
