KILL THE BAD BREATH

Have you ever had that frustrating experience of having to sit close or have an unavoidable discussion with someone with bad mouth odour? Trust me it’s a very bad one .Many people actually have bad mouth odour and are not aware.

Breath odour is the scent of the air you breathe out of your mouth. Bad breath or mouth odour medically known as halitosis is a characteristic grossly unpleasant sulphur-like smell caused by sulphur-producing bacteria that normally live on the surface of the tongue and the back of the throat present on exhaled breath.

There are various causes of bad breath. It could be as a result of certain medical conditions such as kidney failure, a sign of ketoacidosis in patients with diabetes (in which case it is an indicator to a potential life threatening condition). Breath that smells like faeces can occur with prolonged vomiting or when there is bowel obstruction. It also occurs when you have constipation. But in 90% of cases the main source of mouth odour is the mouth mostly due to poor oral hygiene.

Have you ever wondered why you wake up in the morning with that bad mouth odour? Or why your mouth smells if you have not eaten for hours even after you had brushed your mouth? Or probably when you have been silent for some hours especially during fasting period?

Everybody suffers a bit of mouth odour from time-to-time. According to Bad-breath Institute (US), 99% of us suffer from the condition when we wake up, when we keep silent for a very long time, when we brush our teeth and have not eaten anything for many hours. This is because during these periods we do not produce enough saliva to wash away the bad bacteria that causes bad breath and absence of ‘mouth activity’ or ‘mouth exercise’ gives those bacteria enough time to disintegrate  proteins by process of reduction to make volatile sulphur compounds which is responsible for the unpleasant smell (Sulphur naturally has a pungent odour).

However, apart from the general transient halitosis common to everybody, some people have stinking breath mostly due to poor oral hygiene, rotten teeth or gum disease, intake of certain foods, alcohol, smoking, certain medications, coated tongue due to dehydration amongst other less common causes. Unfortunately, not all of these people are aware of having mouth odour leaving others at the receiving end. For few that are aware, it is a major concern as people tend to back away or turn their heads when they speak. This can cause a loss of confidence and poor self esteem. It can be embarrassing and create psychological barriers to personal relationships.

images (8)mmmmm4There is no specific treatment for mouth odour. The treatment depends on the cause of the problem most of which definitely involves lifestyle changes such as:

  • Good oral hygiene: The sulphur-producing bacteria resides on the back of the tongue thus effective daily tongue cleaning, brushing and flossing are important. The tongue should be brushed in a gentle but thorough manner from the back towards the front of the tongue, keeping in mind that the hardest to reach back portion smells the worst. Good tongue scrubbing remains the most effective treatment for bad breath and it is recommended to be carried out at least twice a day.
  • Use of mouthwash and toothpaste: Some people still brush their teeth without using toothpaste. Apart from the fact that brushing with plant stems (known as ‘pako’in yoruba) can introduce germs to the mouth and increase bacteria growth, it is also dangerous to the gum and can cause gum injury which may get infected over time. However, there are certain toothpastes and mouthwashes that are effective in fighting mouth odour by reducing the population of the bad bacteria in the mouth and at the same time leaving a long lasting fresh-minty smell in the mouth.
  • Use of fresh mint: Strong mints are often effective in fighting mouth odour. At the same time it is important to note the kind of candy and gums eaten to sweeten the smell of the breath as some candies can further induce tooth decay. Dentists however often prescribe chewing sugar free gums containing sugar substitute ‘Xylitol’(Xylitol is a weight loss friendly sweetener that is recommended for diabetics. It does not cause plaque build-up or tooth decay)
  • Avoiding certain foods: Certain foods naturally produce unpleasant mouth odour when consumed. The odour becomes worsened when mouth is dry or kept shut for a long time because the bacteria in the mouth further acts on the food ruminants Examples of such odoriferous substances include onions, garlic, coffee, alcohol, beans, eggs, fish, etc. Unfortunately most of these foods cannot be avoided as they are essential components of our major diet thus, it is necessary to observe extra oral care after consuming those foods.
  • Treatment of underlying medical conditions. Gum disease and rotten teeth are long standing causes of bad breath. The source can be easily checked by a dentist and in most cases treated successfully.

In conclusion, oral hygiene is a major component of general health and should be taken seriously. General practices such as drinking enough water, rinsing the mouth with water or mouthwash and brushing the teeth after eating goes a long way in maintaining  oral health as those practices reduce population of bad bacteria, keep the mouth hydrated and removes food leftovers which causes tooth decay when acted upon by bacteria in the mouth.

NURSEHEMMAR

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