HALITOSIS : BAD BREATH

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HALITOSIS(Bad breath)

Halitosis is a condition in which a person emanates an unpleasant odour from their mouth. It is commonly known as Bad breath. Research has shown that Bad breath affects an estimated 25% of people,i.e 1 in 4 of people globally.

The specific odour of breath can vary depending on the cause. It's advisable to ask a close friend or Relative to guage your mouth Odour as it can be difficult for you to assess it as you could have become acclimated to the odour.

A very popular way of determining the presence of bad breath is to lick the back of your wrist,let the saliva dry for a minute or two then smell the result. There are other methods to detect bad breath using some devices e.g Halimeter, which are mostly used by Dentists.

CAUSES

There are several causes of Bad breath and they include:

- FOOD: Volatile foods e.g Onion,Garlic,Cabbage,Cauliflower e.t.c may leave unpleasant particles in the mouth. These particles are usually putrefied by Bacteria and Volatile sulfur compounds are released which leads to the odour. Also, the breakdown of some food particles after digestion are carried by the blood to the lungs where they can affect the breath.

- SMOKING: Tobacco products causes their types of mouth Odour. Smoking causes Dental decay and Periodontal diseases which in turn leads to bad breath.

- DRY MOUTH: The saliva naturally cleans the mouth. If the mouth is dry either naturally or due to a certain disease, bad breath can occur.

- MENSTRUAL CYCLE: There is an increase production of Volatile sulfur compounds in women during Menstruation and at Mid-cycles. There are possibilities of bad breath during these periods.

- DRUGS: Some drugs when broken down produce odours which is released in the breath. Some certain drugs also reduce Saliva production,thereby leading to Halitosis.

- DENTAL HYGIENE: Poor mouth Hygiene is one of the most commonest cause of bad breath. Biofilms,food Bacteria,dead cells accumulate on the the tongue, especially in smokers and individuals with dry mouth when it's not properly washed leading to bad breath.

- DISEASED CONDITION: Conditions such as Gastroesophageal Reflux disease,liver failure,lower respiratory tract infections,Tosillitis e.t.c can cause Halitosis.

- HALITOPHOBIA: It is a condition in which some individuals are overly concerned about their breath, even though they may have little or no Mouth odour.

TREATMENTS

Oral Hygiene is the solution to most bad breath issues.

- Brush the teeth at least twice a day.

- Change your brush Every 2-3 months.

- Clean Dentures,mouth guards and anything you put into your mouth daily.

- Brush the tongue everyday. Tongue scraper can also be used to clean the tongue.

- Flossing: This is the removal of Food particles and plaque from the teeth using dental floss e.g Oral-B dental Floss.

- Drink plenty of water to prevent dry mouth.

- Avoid alcohol and Tobacco as they both dehydrate the mouth.

- It is advisible to visit the Dentist at least twice a year.

- Antiseptic Mouth washes such as Listerine® can help prevent and treat Halitosis.

- If bad breath still persist it is recommended that the individual visit a doctor.

- Counseling can be used to those who falsely believe that they have bad breath (Halitophobic individuals).

A lot of people with bad breath feel ashamed to visit a doctor or ask their friends to help examine if they have this condition. There is a need to know that Bad breath is a very common condition and it's advisible you open up to people who can help when you notice you have bad breath.

Written by:⁨ Victor-Ogie Uyinonijesu and Semilogo Raphael