Learn about the causes of Bad Breath (Halitosis) & find a practitioner in Auckland, Hamilton, Bay of Plenty, Wellington, Christchurch, Dunedin to help you overcome Bad Breath (Halitosis) within New Zealand.
Bad breath - know medically as halitosis is a term used to described a noticeably odour that is exhaled in breathing. Bad breath can be made worse by a dry mouth, bacteria mixed with decaying food particles, poor dental hygiene, sinus problems, gum disease, digestive problems, smoking or other systemic problems.
Causes of bad breath (Halitosis)
Everybody suffers bad breath occasionally and it can affect one quarter
of adults regularly but when the condition is permanent there can many
contributory factors.
The majority of people find their breath
smells bad when waking up and is often referred to as 'morning breath'.
This is a normal occurrence and is caused by the mouth becoming dry
overnight due to a lack of saliva. When sleeping, the function of the
saliva glands slows down and the flow of saliva that would normally
wash away food particles decreases. Bacteria breaks down the residue of
food releasing an unpleasant odour. Once you begin eating again saliva
increases and the smell disappears.
Poor dental hygiene
In
90% of cases of bad breath poor dental hygiene is the cause. The mouth
contains natural bacteria which helps to break down food and proteins.
As this process takes place, a bad smelling gas is released. Any food
that is trapped between the teeth begins to rot and the bacteria leads
to bad breath. Another cause of bad breath is bacteria forming on the
tongue (usually in a black coating) or abscesses in the mouth.
Halitosis
can also occur when there's a build up of plaque on the teeth. Plaque
is a yellow-white soft deposit that can form on the teeth when food,
saliva and bacteria combine. Poor dental hygiene and eating sugary
foods causes tooth decay which is another cause of bad breath.
Gum disease can also cause bad breath as the condition causes the gum tissue around the teeth to become infected and inflamed.
Smoking/Nicotine
Smokers
will have breath that smells of stale smoke and smoking can lead to gum
disease – a cause of bad breath. By stopping smoking you can lower the
risk of gum disease and prevent smoke smelling breath.
Food/Drink
Certain
foods that are heavily flavoured with ingredients such as onion, garlic
and spices can cause your breath to smell after eating. This is usually
temporary and avoidable by not eating them but good oral hygiene will
prevent any chronic problems. Alcohol and caffeine are strong smelling
drinks that can cause bad breath. Caffeine can also lead to staining on
the teeth so reduce the amount of coffee and tea you drink to prevent
this.
Medications
Certain
prescription medicines can lead to bad breath as a side-effect. If
you're having this problem discuss alternatives with your GP
Medical conditions
Although
rare, certain medical conditions can lead to bad breath. Throat
infections and tonsillitis can cause a build up of catarrh which leads
to halitosis. Other medical causes include:
• Xerostomia (dry mouth) – Affects saliva flow leading to bacteria build up in the mouth
• Sinusitis
• Bronchitis
• Diabetes
• Pneumonia
• Kidney or liver problems
• Food reflux
• Diets with low carbohydrate intake (i.e. Atkins)
Symptoms of bad breath (Halitosis)
The main symptom of bad breath is a foul smelling odour coming from the
mouth however someone with halitosis will not realise they have a
problem. The source of halitosis is at the back of the mouth in the
soft palate which is connected to the nose. The nose blocks odour in
the mouth and therefore the individual with bad breath doesn't realise
the problem.
There are some characteristics of halitosis to look for if someone doesn't say you have bad breath:
Diagnosis of bad breath (Halitosis)
The best diagnosis of bad breath is by asking someone you know or your
dentist for an honest opinion. If you think you have a bad breath
problem don't try and mask it when visiting your dentist. Be honest so
they can look to see what the possible cause is.
Food decay can
be treated by your dentist immediately and they'll also give you advice
on maintaining proper oral hygiene to prevent tooth and gum decay in
the future.
Should the problem not be oral, you'll be referred to a specialist to determine the underlying cause of the problem.
*Source: GoToSee.co.uk