One of the most common problems in today's medicine is bad breath. Similar problem a person causes a number of unpleasant emotions in others, in particular a persistent disgust towards this person. What caused the appearance unpleasant odor from the mouth, and how to deal with it?
Causes of bad breath.
It should be noted that bad breath is a pathology that occurs as the body grows and develops. In modern medicine this state known as Halitosis. This problem is, in principle, solvable. Usually the treatment process is very simple and effective, you just need to accurately identify main source occurrence of bad breath. Basically, this is an accumulation in the human mouth (on the back of the tongue, around and between the teeth) of white matter, which contains a large number of anaerobic bacteria (gram-negative anaerobes that live and reproduce in an oxygen-free environment). These bacteria produce chemical compounds (hydrogen sulfide, methyl mercaptan, cadavrine, putrescine, skatole), which are the source of halitosis. Basically, bacteria begin to secrete foul-smelling substances after a person consumes proteins - meat, fish, seafood, eggs, milk, cheese, yogurt, cheeseburgers, cereal products, nuts, legumes, as well as any desserts based on them. In addition, dead oral cells serve as food for bacteria.
In addition to the accumulation of bacteria in the oral cavity, the causes of bad breath can be:
- Diseases digestive system(gastritis, ulcers). In this case this problem caused by a pathology of non-closure of the esophageal sphincter, when odors from the stomach penetrate directly through the esophagus into the oral cavity.
- Intestinal pathology (enteritis and colitis). As a result of inflammatory processes in the intestines, toxic substances penetrate into the blood, which the body removes, including through the lungs, as a result of which bad breath appears.
- Diseases of the liver and pancreas. The process of the appearance of bad breath is similar to the previous option.
- Diseases of the ear, nose and throat (sore throat, chronic tonsillitis, chronic sinusitis). A bad odor occurs against the background of inflammatory processes of a purulent nature.
- Lung diseases (tuberculosis, pneumonia, abscess). Inflammatory processes in the lungs occur with the breakdown of lung tissue, namely a purulent process, which leads to the appearance of this problem.
- Oral diseases (caries). Carious lesions of teeth or tooth abscess occur with the release of purulent bad breath.
- Poor oral hygiene. Putrefactive microbes, their active reproduction and activity in food debris, poorly eliminated as a result of brushing the teeth and oral cavity, contribute to the production of foul-smelling gases.
Excessive smoking or drinking alcohol can also cause bad odor. Basically, the process of its formation is based on nicotine, tar and other substances contained in tobacco smoke. They accumulate on the teeth and soft tissues of a heavy smoker. In this case, you can get rid of the problem only by giving up cigarettes. Perfect oral hygiene will help reduce the odor somewhat, but will not eliminate it completely. In addition, smoking leads to dehydration of oral tissues, as a result of which saliva somewhat loses its moisturizing and disinfecting effect. This results in dry mouth or xerostomia, which also leads to an unpleasant odor. Decreased saliva production leads to dry mouth. This is especially noticeable in the morning. As a result, our breath becomes less fresh. By constantly swallowing saliva, we cleanse our mouth of the waste products of the bacteria inhabiting it and of the bacteria themselves. Dry mouth significantly reduces the positive effect of saliva, resulting in the appearance of favorable conditions for bacterial growth. Chronic xerostomia may occur as a side effect while taking certain medicines(antihistamines, drugs, normalizing blood pressure, antidepressants, diuretics, tranquilizers, narcotic substances). This problem may become worse over the years as efficiency salivary glands decreases, and the composition of saliva also changes, as a result of which the cleansing effect of saliva weakens. Chronic dry mouth, or xerostomia, contributes to the development of periodontal disease (gum disease).
Periodontal disease can also lead to bad breath. Typically, this disease occurs in people over 35 years of age and consists of bacterial infection of the soft tissues that surround the teeth. In its advanced form, the disease can cause complications in the form of serious damage to the bone on which the tooth is located. IN active form diseases, gaps are formed between the teeth and gums, the so-called “periodontal pockets”, where excessive amounts of bacteria are concentrated. These gaps are sometimes very deep, which makes hygienic cleaning difficult, resulting in accumulated bacteria and their waste products causing bad breath.
Diseases of the upper respiratory tract may cause bad breath. This is due to the fact that mucous secretions accompanying diseases enter the oral cavity from the nasal cavity, and their accumulation leads to the appearance of this problem.
People suffering from sinusitis are forced to breathe through the mouth due to nasal congestion, which in turn leads to dry mouth and, as a result, an unpleasant odor. During the treatment of sinusitis, they are usually prescribed antihistamines, which also contribute to dry mouth.
It should be noted that wearing dentures can also negatively affect the freshness of your breath. It is very easy to find out whether dentures have a bad odor or not. You just need to remove them and place them in a closed container for a day. After the specified time, open the container and immediately smell. This is approximately the aroma that comes from you when communicating with people. In addition, bacteria can also accumulate on the surface of the denture, resulting in a foul odor. Therefore, it is very important to clean them thoroughly and daily, both internally and externally. outside. Usually, when installing them, the dentist talks about the hygiene features of dentures. After cleaning, dentures should be placed in a container with an antiseptic liquid (as recommended by your doctor).
How to get rid of an unpleasant odor?
When solving the problem of bad breath, most people mask it with chewing gum or mouth rinses, not realizing that it is represented by volatile compounds. They also don’t know that chewing gum has a negative effect on the gastrointestinal tract, and their effect is only short-lived. Mouth rinses often disrupt the natural flora in your mouth, which only makes the bad odor worse. There are many other remedies, but doctors most often prescribe CB12, since, unlike others, it does not mask, but neutralizes those same volatile compounds, eliminating the unpleasant odor for at least 12 hours. At the same time, it does not disturb the normal flora of the oral cavity and can be used even by pregnant and lactating women. CB12 is actively used by users of braces and prostheses. For lasting fresh breath, it is recommended to use the mouthwash every day.
To deprive bacteria of nutrients, you should include more fresh vegetables and fruits (especially apples and oranges) in your diet and limit your meat intake. It has been proven that vegetarians have virtually no problems with fresh breath. Proper and timely cleaning of the oral cavity is also of great importance, especially after eating protein foods. If you don't thoroughly clean the spaces between your teeth every day where food remains get stuck, you won't be able to cope with the unpleasant odor. Therefore, if you have a problem with fresh breath, it is recommended to brush your teeth, gums and tongue after each meal, rinse your mouth thoroughly and use dental floss. All this will help keep your mouth clean and prevent the appearance of plaque, which is home to bacteria that produce unpleasant “odors.”
If you keep your mouth perfectly clean, but the bad breath does not disappear, you should visit a dentist, who, if necessary, will teach you proper cleaning teeth with a toothbrush and will help with the use of dental floss. Unfortunately, even today, a large number of people do not use these hygiene attributes correctly. If you have tartar on your teeth, your doctor will remove it quickly and effectively. If periodontal disease is detected, the dentist will prescribe necessary treatment. Also, if any other untreated medical conditions are found that may be the source of bad breath. If, after an examination, the dentist finds nothing that could be the source of the problem, he may refer you to a general practitioner for evaluation.
To get rid of this problem, it is important, in addition to the teeth and gums, to thoroughly clean the surface of the tongue every day. Unfortunately, most of us ignore this procedure, but in vain. After all, it is this procedure that often helps to get rid of this problem without using any additional methods. It should be noted that it is necessary to clean the back of the tongue, since the front, in the process of constant movement of the tongue, touches the hard palate and thus cleans itself. Therefore, bacteria that produce unpleasant-smelling compounds mainly concentrate on the back of the tongue, which is where it needs thorough cleaning.
To eliminate unpleasant odor, it is best to use toothpaste that contains antibacterial substances (chlorine dioxide or cetylpyridone chloride). This paste not only cleans well, but also has a detrimental effect on anaerobic bacteria.
Additional use of liquid mouthwash will help combat the unpleasant odor. Its composition has antibacterial properties and the ability to neutralize volatile sulfur compounds.
Rinse aids can be of several types:
- containing chlorine dioxide or sodium chlorite (kills bacteria and neutralizes their secretions);
- with zinc content (neutralizes volatile sulfur compounds);
- antiseptic (kills bacteria, but does not eliminate odor);
- containing cetylpyridone chloride (reduces the number of anaerobic bacteria).
As an additional means of getting rid of an unpleasant odor, you can use various mint tablets, lozenges, drops, sprays, chewing gums, etc. It is good if these products contain substances such as chlorine dioxide, sodium chlorite and zinc, which neutralize volatile sulfur compounds. In addition, mints, lollipops and chewing gum stimulate the production of saliva, which, thanks to its cleansing properties, removes bacteria and their waste products from the oral cavity, and therefore eliminates unpleasant odors.
Irrigators as a way to get rid of unpleasant odor
Recently, dentists are increasingly advising patients to use irrigators. These are devices that deliver a pressurized stream of water that washes away food debris and accumulations of bacteria even from the most inaccessible places.
One of the new models on Russian market is a stationary irrigator of the German brand ACleon TF600, which has advanced functionality. Seven attachments included allow you to eliminate bacteria even from the most inaccessible places and thoroughly clean the oral cavity (including attachments for the tongue, braces and implants). The presence of a built-in ultraviolet lamp and disinfection nozzle prevents the entry of new microorganisms.
An analogue of a stationary irrigator is a portable model of the same brand, ACleon TF200. It weighs only 250 grams, comes in a case and comes with a battery, so you can take it with you anywhere. Use irrigators, and the problem of bad breath will not affect you.
Video: Review of ACleon TF600 and TF200 irrigators
Additional measures to eliminate unpleasant odors.
Drink more fluids throughout the day. This will reduce the unpleasant odor. An insufficient amount Consuming water during the day will cause the body to begin to retain it by reducing saliva production. And this will negatively affect the natural cleansing of the oral cavity from bacteria and their secretions. It is especially important to drink plenty of fluids for people who suffer from chronic dry mouth (xerostomia).
Rinse your mouth with water several times a day. This will somewhat reduce bad breath by dissolving and washing away bacterial waste products.
Constantly stimulate the process of salivation, which will reduce the unpleasant odor. The easiest way is to chew something (mint tablets, propolis, chewing gum, mint, cloves, dill, parsley, etc.). If you prefer chewing gum or mints, you should make sure that they do not contain sugar, as this stimulates the growth of bacteria that cause tooth decay.
Folk remedies for getting rid of unpleasant odor.
Add three to four teaspoons of three percent hydrogen peroxide to a glass of water. Rinse your mouth with the resulting liquid two to three times during the day. Under the influence of active oxygen formed due to hydrogen peroxide, putrefactive bacteria, which cause an unpleasant odor, die.
For the same purposes, you can use hydroperite (hydrogen peroxide in tablet form).
Fresh Siberian cedar needles will help get rid of diseases of the oral cavity and gums (you can use pine or fir henna). It is necessary to chew the needles until water forms. In the process of chewing, due to coniferous phytoncides, the oral cavity is disinfected and cleansed of food debris. Two weeks of daily procedure will eliminate the unpleasant odor forever.
For decreased salivation and severe dry mouth, it is recommended to chew a slice of lemon. This will eliminate the repulsive odor from your mouth for an hour and a half.
Rinsing your mouth with decoctions of bitter herbs (wormwood, yarrow, tansy) also eliminates unpleasant odor. This is due to the fact that herbs enhance the secretion of saliva, which suppresses pathological microflora, which is the source of the unpleasant odor. To prepare the infusion, you need to pour a glass of boiling water over the dried and crushed herb (a tablespoon) and leave for fifteen minutes. Rinse your mouth with this infusion two to three times a day.
An infusion of chamomile and calendula has an anti-inflammatory effect, will reduce inflammation of the tonsils, the back wall of the pharynx and the root of the tongue, reducing the intensity of bad breath. Preparation of the infusion is similar to the previous recipe.
Lemon leaf tea peppermint, rose hips, caraway seeds, thyme herbs give freshness to the breath. Brew the herb instead of tea and drink with honey.
Eating nuts or fennel in the morning will also reduce the unpleasant odor.
Rinse your mouth with tincture of St. John's wort (twenty to thirty drops per half glass of water).
Use an infusion of strawberry leaves: pour two glasses of boiling water over a tablespoon of raw material and put on fire, cook for twenty minutes, then strain. Drink half a glass daily.
Infuse cranberries in water and consume daily.
Juice, water and alcohol infusion, alcohol tincture, syrup and sea buckthorn oil, consumed internally, will help get rid of the unpleasant odor.
Drinking an infusion of sorrel leaves also solves this unpleasant problem. tablespoon fresh leaves pour two glasses of water, put on fire and cook from the moment of boiling for fifteen minutes. Then leave the broth for two hours and strain. Drink 50 ml four times a day fifteen minutes before meals.
A decoction of oak bark helps with chronic tonsillitis, stomatitis, pharyngitis, and bad breath. Rinse your mouth with it two to three times a day for ten minutes.
Foods with odors can cause bad breath. Halitosis is the medical term for bad smell from mouth. Treatment for halitosis will depend on what is causing the bad breath. Treatment for bad breath is very simple. If bad breath persists, you should consult a doctor to determine the causes of bad breath and treatment. And treatment is necessary if the bad breath is constant and if you cannot determine the cause of this bad breath, consult a doctor to identify the cause of the bad breath and treatment. Smell from the mouth. Treatment methods folk remedies. The causes of bad breath can be divided into two groups: associated with oral diseases or associated with diseases internal organs. Let's consider below not only everything possible reasons bad breath, but also methods of treating it.
Bad breath - causes and treatment
Bad breath can destroy any image, even a well-formed one. With the help of advice professional doctors We will help you, at a minimum, not to attract the attention of others with your breathing.
Halitosis- a medical term for unpleasant odor from the mouth.
Morning bad breath is purely physiological phenomenon and can be removed with a regular toothbrush. Additionally, certain foods such as garlic, onions or cabbage can also cause bad breath. All these manifestations relate to physiological odor from the mouth (halitosis (bad breath)). Eat less of these smelly foods.
However, more than a quarter of the entire world's population suffers from pathological halitosis (bad breath) (bad breath). In this case, neither tons of chewing gum, nor mountains of mint candies, nor newfangled mouth sprays help - the smell still remains unpleasant.
Bad breath can also be caused by advanced caries. A large number of anaerobic bacteria and food debris accumulate in carious cavities. These cavities are difficult to clean using conventional hygiene products, which makes the disease highly resistant. The same applies to periodontitis - microbes actively multiply under the gums, causing a sulfurous odor. In this case, even the blood and purulent inflammatory exudate located in the gum pockets smell unpleasant.
Wearing dentures can also lead to halitosis - firstly, the smell will be absorbed by the polymer base of the denture, and secondly, pieces of food can remain under the dentures and decompose there, emitting “odors”.
Another cause of halitosis is decreased saliva secretion and dry mouth syndrome. When saliva is not released quickly enough and in small quantities, the natural cleaning of the oral cavity from food debris is disrupted, favorable conditions are created for the proliferation of microorganisms, and local immunity is reduced.
TO common reasons The occurrence of halitosis mainly includes chronic diseases associated with the gastrointestinal tract, ENT diseases, metabolic disorders, hormonal disorders, etc. For example, in women, bad breath may appear due to the onset of menstrual cycle, which is associated with increased estrogen levels. These hormones promote increased desquamation of the epithelium, including on the oral mucosa, and this is a favorite breeding ground for anaerobic microorganisms.
In many cases, halitosis should make the patient check his health - the smell also signals a more serious illness. Thus, in approximately 8% of cases, the cause of halitosis is pathology of the ENT organs. Chronic sinusitis, rhinitis, tonsillitis, nasal polyps often make themselves felt with an unpleasant odor.
Many people know that the consequence diabetes mellitus Often there is the smell of acetone released when breathing. Dysfunction of the liver and gall bladder is also accompanied by a “pungent” heavy odor, and kidney failure is accompanied by a putrid “fishy” odor. So, before you run to the pharmacy for a new toothbrush and advertised toothpaste that kills germs outright, go to the doctor.
Food is also of great importance. For example, garlic and raw onions contain substances that belong to the group of sulfur compounds. They are able to be absorbed into the blood and then released through the lungs during breathing.
Alcohol, nicotine, coffee and some medications (antibiotics and sulfonamides, antidepressants, antihistamines and anti-inflammatory drugs) cause dry mouth and, as a result, lead to an unpleasant odor.
Stress also leads to halitosis, nervous tension or excessive enthusiasm for diets and fasting. During fasting, a deficiency in the intake of proteins and fats is created in the body, and the utilization of endogenous reserves begins, which can also cause an unpleasant odor. It appears during a stressful situation and disappears after it stops. emotional stress. Among the causes are impaired salivation and dry mouth.
Nowadays medicine uses effective methods for diagnosing halitosis. You can evaluate the intensity of an unpleasant odor using special device- halimeter. It is not only useful for diagnosis, but also allows you to evaluate how well the treatment is progressing.
To identify bacteria that cause halitosis, some dentists use microbiological tests, for example, analyzing the composition of dental plaque. Using a mirror, the back of the tongue is examined - it should be the same color as the oral mucosa. White, cream or brown color indicates glossitis. The condition of the patient’s teeth is also assessed for the quality of hygiene.
It is also necessary to consult an ENT doctor (for the presence of sinusitis and polyps) and a gastroenterologist - he should exclude systemic diseases, such as diabetes, liver and kidney failure.
Treatment for halitosis will depend on what caused the disease. If these are advanced ENT diseases, then you will have to undergo treatment from an otolaryngologist. Other chronic diseases require consultation and treatment from appropriate specialists.
If the cause of the unpleasant odor lies in the oral cavity, then it is necessary to eliminate foci of infection, remove decayed teeth that cannot be restored, and take a course professional hygiene oral cavity with the removal of supragingival and subgingival dental plaque.
Any odor is a volatile compound. This problem is being solved different ways. People often try to mask the odor with mouthwash or chewing gum. But few people know that the effect of chewing gum is temporary and they have a detrimental effect on the gastrointestinal tract. As for rinses, they kill the natural flora of the oral cavity, and this can only increase the unpleasant odor. Today, CB12 anti-bad breath is the only product that completely neutralizes volatile compounds rather than masking them. With daily use of the product, fresh breath will become your constant companion. Unlike other rinses, it retains its effect for 12 hours, acts directly on the cause of the odor, without disturbing the normal flora in the mouth.
Compliance with hygiene rules is of great importance: teeth should be brushed using a toothbrush and floss (dental floss) to remove plaque and food debris from the teeth. And cleaning your tongue should become a mandatory daily procedure. This not only helps eliminate odor, but also reduces total bacteria in the oral cavity, which has a beneficial effect on the health of periodontal tissues. If periodontitis has already been diagnosed, it is worth starting to use special oral irrigators to more effectively remove infected masses and food debris from the periodontal pockets. In addition, these irrigators will help get rid of dry mouth.
Don't forget about proper nutrition: excess fast carbohydrates(sugar and processed foods) increases the amount of plaque on teeth and leads to caries. Eat more fiber. Fresh greens, vegetables and fruits will help normalize intestinal function and reduce bad breath.
Checking your breathing
In order to determine the freshness of your breath, just bring your palm to your face in such a way as to simultaneously cover your mouth and nose. After this, exhale deeply through your mouth. Did you smell it? If you can’t clearly determine what and how much it smells, buy a disposable mask at the pharmacy and breathe into it for a minute. The smell under the mask will exactly match the smell that others smell from you during communication.
Today, specialized breath indicators are produced that can determine the level of freshness on a five-point scale. The manufacturers of this device claim that its use is a sign of good manners. In fact, it is easier to talk about the smell with your loved ones, ideally with your child, because children are less diplomatic in these matters and will tell the whole truth.
IN medical institutions They use a more complex device - a gas analyzer. With its help you can determine chemical composition air that is exhaled, and based on the analysis, determine the causes of the bad odor.
Why is my breath bad?
The main causes of halitosis (bad breath) are:
- insufficient level of hygiene;
- diseases of teeth and gums;
- xerostomia - insufficient level of hydration of the oral mucosa;
- inflammatory processes in the oral cavity.
In these cases the reason foul odor are bacteria accumulated in the oral cavity and residual food fragments. It is almost impossible to combat these phenomena at home. Such halitosis (bad breath) can only be cured in dental clinics.
But it is necessary to take into account that halitosis (bad breath) can be caused not only by diseases of the oral cavity.
In one case out of ten, the causes of odor are:
- ENT diseases: sore throats, sinusitis, runny nose;
- diseases of the intestines and stomach;
- lung diseases;
- endocrine system disorders;
- all kinds of diets;
- some medicines;
- smoking.
What does illness smell like?
The hydrogen sulfide smell is the smell of rotten eggs. The cause of the smell is the process of rotting protein substances. If the smell is accompanied by pain symptoms in the abdominal area after eating, belching and nausea, then it can be caused by gastritis with low acidity, peptic ulcer, diverticulosis of the stomach or esophagus, etc.
Very often, such an unpleasant odor can occur after a banal “holiday” overeating. In such cases, you can get rid of it with the help of absorbent substances (activated carbon, Smecta), as well as enzyme-based drugs (Festal, Pancreatin, Mezim, etc.).
A sour smell and taste in the mouth can cause: gastritis with increased acidity, gastrointestinal ulcers, esophageal diseases.
The smell and taste of bitterness is a manifestation of diseases of the gallbladder and liver, this may also indicate yellow plaque on the tongue.
The smell of feces from the mouth can occur with dysbacteriosis, intestinal motor neuroses (dyskinesia) and intestinal obstruction.
The acetone smell with a sweet aftertaste can cause pancreatic diseases and diabetes.
The smell of urine from the mouth indicates kidney disease.
Treatment of bad breath (halitosis - bad breath)
First of all, try adding a tongue cleansing procedure to your daily twice-daily brushing of your teeth. It is better to do this in the evening using an ordinary teaspoon. Using light, gentle movements from root to tip, clean your tongue of daytime plaque. The procedure is not very pleasant, but effective.
Cleaning your tongue will rid you of bacteria, the population of which could increase significantly overnight in a favorable oral environment. Believe me, thanks to this evening procedure, your breath will be much fresher the next morning.
Clean the spaces between your teeth using a special floss. If you don’t have this tool at hand, use the old-fashioned method: tear off a strip of pure polyethylene, stretch it into a thread and remove food debris and plaque from the interdental space.
- After eating, be sure to rinse your mouth. You should not use tea for this purpose; it darkens tooth enamel.
Making your own mouth rinses
1. A tablespoon of mint, chamomile, sage or strawberry is poured into a glass of boiling water. After cooling, the broth is filtered. Use for rinsing after meals 3-4 times a day.
2. A tablespoon of oak bark is poured into 200 ml of boiling water and heated in a water bath for up to 30 minutes. Strain after cooling and rinse your mouth and throat. Oak bark has a strengthening effect on the gums and clears plaque from the tonsils, which can be sources of bad breath due to large cluster infectious components.
An irrigator provides more effective cleaning of the oral cavity at home. This is a toothbrush-type tool that cleans the spaces between teeth using a strong jet of water, which massages the surface of the gums and activates blood circulation.
Choosing a toothpaste for bad breath
If you have halitosis (bad breath), you should choose a toothpaste that does not contain alcohol. Alcohol dries out the oral mucosa, which intensifies the odor.
In addition, pay attention to pastes that contain antibacterial agents based on chlorine compounds.
When choosing a rinse aid, the same principles are used as when choosing a toothpaste. In addition, modern mouthwashes may contain components (zinc- and choloro-containing) that reduce the activity of halitosis (bad breath) due to chemical reactions.
Quick effect of fresh breath
There is a large number modern means quick relief from bad breath: aerosol fresheners, chewing gum, lollipops, etc. They are characterized by both rapid efficiency and low stability due to their short duration of action.
What to do when they are not at hand at the right time?
First of all, try drinking a cup of strong tea, then rinse your mouth and throat with clean water.
Apples and carrots will help get rid of the smell. The aroma of onions or garlic can be neutralized with parsley or celery root.
Chewing coffee beans can reduce the unpleasant smell and taste in your mouth.
Not rare bad smell people who have to talk a lot during the day are different from their mouths. This is due to drying of the oral mucosa due to a decrease in the amount of saliva.
Saliva is natural remedy cleansing the oral cavity. Saliva contains the antibacterial enzyme lysozyme, which ensures the destruction of bacterial cells. In addition, saliva ensures the dissolution of food debris and toxins released by bacteria. Lack of saliva is one of the main reasons for increased bad breath.
In such situations, you should simply drink more often. A small amount of liquid will protect the oral cavity from drying out and remove bad taste and freshens your breath.
Include in your morning diet rolled oats porridge, this product significantly activates saliva production.
If there is no toothbrush nearby, you can wipe your teeth, gums and tongue with your finger. Thus, you will not only get rid of the unpleasant odor, but also massage your gums.
Use pulp walnut for wiping gums. In this way you can ensure the oral cavity essential vitamins and freshen your breath with a pleasant nutty taste.
It is necessary to understand that bad breath is a problem that interferes with your normal life. Halitosis (bad breath) is a direct threat not only to personal self-esteem, but also social status person. Communication, attractiveness and sexuality can be destroyed in an instant by repulsive bad breath.
Halitosis (bad breath) is a problem that requires mandatory solutions. At the same time, we should not go to extremes; traditional methods of hygiene procedures are familiar to us from childhood, and they should not be neglected.
If the odor remains, even after daily oral hygiene, you need to contact your dentist. Nine times out of ten, your problem will be resolved within a few visits. If your mouth and teeth turn out to be healthy, and the smell continues to bother you, then you will have to look for the reasons inside the body.
Start visiting doctors with an ENT specialist. Diseases of the nose, throat and ear most often provoke problems with fresh breath. If no complaints are found from these bodies, then it’s time to visit a therapist. It is possible that the cause of the unpleasant odor is an exacerbation of a disease that has become chronic and to which you have long been accustomed.
The problem of bad breath is quite common and reaches 80-90% of the adult population, but only in 25% of cases bad breath is persistent and its cause is the presence of a chronic pathological process in the human body. Bad breath is usually caused by diseases of the digestive organs (stomach, liver, intestines, teeth and oral cavity). In most cases, it occurs due to the accumulation in a person’s mouth - on the tongue, around the teeth and between the teeth - of a large number of anaerobic bacteria.
This condition is also known as “halitosis” or “halitosis”, “ozostomia”, “stomatodysody”. The problem of bad breath is by no means insoluble. Methods for its treatment are usually very simple and effective - you just need to correctly recognize the main cause of the unpleasant odor.
Do you have bad breath?
Of course, under certain circumstances, each of us may experience bad breath, and we ourselves can often find out about this only by the reaction of the people around us. Determining whether you have bad breath can often be difficult, primarily because the mouth, the source of all these odors, is connected to the nose through an opening at the back of the mouth, in the area of the soft palate. And since the nose “filters” odors that arise in the back of the mouth, it also filters this most unpleasant odor. That is, it is quite possible that you have this bad breath - but you yourself don’t know about it.
If even our own noses can't help us determine with certainty what our breath smells like, can we still know? One way is to get an opinion on this matter from one of your closest relatives. You can also make the same request to a close friend, or to your dentist during your next visit to him. If this question seems too personal to you and you are afraid to “entrust” it to adults, do not be embarrassed and ask your children about it. As we well know, it is through their mouths that the truth often speaks.
Is it possible to independently determine what your breath smells like?
Such methods are also known. For example, lick your wrist, let the saliva dry for about five seconds, and then smell the area. So how? That's pretty much what you smell like. Or, to be precise, this is what the front of your tongue smells like.
Now try to figure out what the back of your tongue smells like. Take a spoon, turn it over, and scrape the farthest part of your tongue with it. (Don't be surprised if you start choking when you do this.) Look at the remaining substance on the spoon that you scraped off your tongue - it is usually thick and whitish. Now smell it. This is the smell of your breath (as opposed to the smell of the front of your tongue) that others are likely to smell.
The main cause of unpleasant odor
Now you know that in most cases the source of bad breath is white matter covering the back of the tongue. Or, to be more precise, the bacteria that live in this white substance.
There is another, also very common cause of unpleasant odor - bacteria that accumulate in other areas of the mouth.
What conditions or circumstances can cause or increase an unpleasant odor? Many of these factors are somehow related to:
Oral bacteria.
- Conditions that stimulate the growth of these bacteria.
- Poor cleaning of areas where bacteria accumulate.
Can food cause an unpleasant odor?
Some food products have a long-standing reputation for causing unpleasant odors, such as onions or garlic. When food is digested, the molecules that make it up are absorbed by our body and then removed from it through the bloodstream.
Some of these molecules, which have very characteristic and unpleasant odors, enter our lungs along with the bloodstream. They are removed from the lungs when you exhale - hence the unpleasant odor. Although this kind of unpleasant odor is a rather annoying problem, we will not discuss it in detail on these pages. The unpleasant odor caused by the consumption of certain foods usually disappears on its own after a day or two - as soon as the body eliminates all the “bad-smelling” molecules. And getting rid of such a smell is quite simple - you just need to exclude such foods from your diet or reduce their consumption to a minimum.
Does smoking cause bad odor?
You've probably met people who smoke heavily and whose breath has a specific smell. Although many factors influence the formation of the unpleasant odor associated with smoking, the main ones are nicotine, tar and other foul-smelling substances contained in tobacco smoke. These substances accumulate on the teeth and soft tissues of a smoker's mouth - gums, cheek tissue, tongue. And let's make a reservation again - we will not discuss this type of unpleasant odor in detail on these pages either. The only way To completely get rid of this smell - quit smoking (although if you improve your oral hygiene, this smell can be somewhat weakened). Note also that smoking itself dehydrates the tissues of the mouth. This weakens the moisturizing and disinfecting effect of saliva, which washes away bacteria and their metabolic products. Dry mouth is discussed in more detail below. It is known that people who smoke are more likely to experience problems associated with periodontal disease (“gum disease”).
Periodontal diseases also occur due to bacterial activity. Gum disease and its connection to bad odor is discussed in more detail below.
Does xerostomia (dry mouth) contribute to bad breath?
Even if you don’t have any particular problems with unpleasant odor, you’ve probably noticed that in the morning when you just woke up, your breath is much less fresh. This happens because our mouth “dries out” at night - because during sleep our body produces less saliva. The result of this drying out is “morning breath”. A similar “drying effect” is often noticed by, for example, teachers or lawyers who have to talk for several hours - this also causes their mouths to dry out. Some people suffer from chronic dry mouth, a condition called xerostomia. It is even more difficult for them to solve problems with fresh breath. Moisture in our mouths helps cleanse. We constantly swallow saliva - and with each swallow, millions of bacteria are washed out of our mouth, as well as the food particles that these bacteria feed on. In addition, saliva dissolves and washes away the waste products of bacteria living in the mouth.
Saliva - special shape Mouth moisturizing liquid, a kind of natural mouth cleaner. Any moisture can have a cleansing and dissolving effect; saliva, in addition, contains special components that kill bacteria and neutralize their metabolic products. When your mouth dries out, the beneficial effects of saliva are greatly reduced. Neutralization of bacteria slows down and conditions for their growth improve.
Chronic dry mouth - xerostomia - can also be a side effect of taking certain medications. Xerostomia can be caused by antihistamines (allergy and cold medications), antidepressants, medications that regulate blood pressure, diuretics, tranquilizers, and narcotics. Dry mouth can get worse as you age. Over time our salivary glands stop working with the same efficiency, and the composition of saliva changes. This leads to the fact that the cleansing properties of saliva weaken. People who suffer from xerostomia for a long time are more likely to develop periodontal disease (gum disease). Gum disease can also cause bad breath.
Can periodontal disease cause bad odor?
Periodontal disease, commonly referred to simply as “gum disease,” can also cause bad breath. Ask any dentist - the smell of gum disease is very specific, and an experienced doctor can determine the presence of such a disease even before examining the patient.
Oral diseases are the second most common cause of bad breath (the first, as you remember, is the accumulation of bacteria).
More often they occur in people over 35 years of age, that is, than older man, the more likely it is that problems with fresh breath are caused by the condition of his gums. Periodontal disease is a bacterial infection of the soft tissues surrounding the teeth. If such a disease is neglected, it can lead to serious damage to the bone into which our teeth are “inserted.” Often, as this disease progresses, gaps (dentists call them “periodontal pockets”) form between the teeth and gums, where large amounts of bacteria accumulate. These pockets can be so deep that they are difficult to clean properly; bacteria and their metabolic products that accumulate in them also cause an unpleasant odor.
Can a respiratory disease cause an unpleasant odor?
Of course it can. Diseases of the upper respiratory tract, allergies - all these diseases lead to the fact that mucous secretions begin to flow from the nasal cavity into the oral cavity, through the opening in the soft palate. The accumulation of these secretions in the mouth can also cause an unpleasant odor.
People with sinus disease often have a stuffy nose, forcing them to breathe through their mouth. Breathing through the mouth causes it to dry out, which, as we already know, also causes an unpleasant odor. For sinus disease, antihistamines (anti-allergic) medications are often taken, which also contribute to dry mouth.
What dental diseases can cause an unpleasant odor?
In most cases, the occurrence of unpleasant odor in the mouth is associated with various diseases of the oral cavity itself. Any active infection in the mouth, such as an abscessed tooth or partially erupted wisdom tooth, can cause an unpleasant odor. Extensive untreated carious cavities A large number of bacteria and food debris can accumulate on the teeth, which also cause an unpleasant odor. If you have such diseases, during your examination your dentist will definitely identify them and offer effective treatment methods.
Can other untreated diseases cause bad odor?
Some diseases of the internal organs can also cause an unpleasant odor. If the patient has tried all the usual methods for eliminating an unpleasant odor in such cases, but they have led nowhere, then a visit to a therapist will not hurt. Your doctor, of course, knows which diseases are most likely in your case; but, for general information, bad breath can occur with diseases of the respiratory tract, liver, kidneys, and gastrointestinal diseases.
Can dentures cause bad odor?
Dentures (full, partial, removable, etc.) can have a significant impact on the freshness of your breath. If you wear any dentures, there is a simple test you can do to see if your dentures are causing bad odor:
Remove your dentures and place them in a closed container, such as a plastic lunch box. Close it tightly and leave it like that for five minutes. Then open it sharply and immediately smell it. This is roughly what the people you talk to smell like from your mouth.
Although most cases of bad breath are caused by the buildup of bacteria on the tongue, on or around the teeth (periodontal disease), bacteria can also accumulate on the surface of dentures and cause bad breath.
What is actually the main cause of unpleasant odor?
In most cases, the occurrence of bad breath is associated with the condition of the oral cavity. Namely, an unpleasant odor is usually caused by bacteria living in it. Bacteria, like humans, consume food and excrete waste throughout their lives. The waste products of some types of bacteria are sulfur compounds, and they are the cause of the unpleasant odor. Remember what a rotten egg smells like? This smell is also caused by the formation of a sulfur compound in the egg - hydrogen sulfide. The characteristic smell of compost heaps or barnyards also owes its “fragrance” to the presence of a sulfur compound - methyl mercaptan. And both of these compounds are released by bacteria that live in our mouths. These substances are collectively called "volatile sulfur compounds" (VSCs). The term "volatile" means that these substances evaporate quickly, even when normal temperatures. The “volatility” of these compounds explains their ability to quickly penetrate, so to speak, into the noses of the people around us. Although these substances mainly create bad breath, bacteria. living in the oral cavity, they also secrete other products that have a very unpleasant aroma. Here are some of them:
Cadavrine is a substance that produces a characteristic cadaverous odor.
- Putrescine - forms a stench when meat rots.
- Skatole is the main component of the odor of human feces.
You will probably be quite surprised to learn that in an ordinary human mouth there can be such a “bouquet” of unpleasant odors - but this is so, and, unfortunately, there are no exceptions. Every person, to one degree or another, has these, so to speak, aromas in his breath. Fortunately, the human sense of smell does not detect these odors if their concentration in the breath is low. Only when it rises does that characteristic unpleasant odor form.
What types of bacteria cause bad odor?
Majority chemical compounds that cause an unpleasant odor (hydrogen sulfide, methyl mercaptan, cadavrine, putrescine, skatole) are released anaerobic bacteria(their more accurate name is gram-negative anaerobes). The term "anaerobic" means that they live and reproduce best in places where there is no oxygen. In our mouths, there is a constant struggle for living space between bacteria that produce products that create an unpleasant odor, and other bacteria that do not. The freshness of our breath is determined, strictly speaking, by the degree of balance in the presence of both bacteria. Accumulation of plaque (the white film that forms on the tongue and teeth - at the gum line and below) can tip this balance in favor of odor-producing bacteria. Imagine - a layer of plaque only one or two tenths of a millimeter thick (that is, approximately the thickness of a banknote) no longer contains oxygen at all - that is, there is no better place for bacteria. Therefore, as plaque accumulates, it is inhabited by more and more bacteria that create an unpleasant odor - which means that each of our exhalations contains more and more compounds released by these bacteria.
What do anaerobic bacteria that produce an unpleasant odor feed on?
Most of the foul-smelling substances that cause bad breath are released by bacteria after consuming proteins. That is, when we eat foods such as meat or fish, the bacteria living in our mouth also receive their share of food. And what they secrete after eating are those same compounds. which cause an unpleasant odor. Anaerobic bacteria will find proteins - their favorite food - in anything, even the cheeseburger you eat. In addition, in our mouths there is always “natural” protein food for them - for example, dead skin cells, or numerous protein components contained in saliva. If you do not regularly use a toothbrush and floss, a real feast for bacteria will form in your mouth - leftover food from today's breakfast, yesterday's dinner, the day before yesterday's lunch...
Which foods contain the most protein?
Meat, fish and seafood, eggs, dairy products (milk, cheeses and yoghurts) - all these products contain a lot of protein. Most people get about two-thirds of their protein needs from them. Other sources of protein are cereals and products made from them, nuts, leguminous plants (peas, beans and lentils). The ingredients found in many of our favorite desserts (like cakes and pies) make these delicious foods protein pantries.
Where do the bacteria that cause bad odor live?
In most cases, these bacteria accumulate on the tongue, but they have many other “habitats”.
Language
Remember the "experiment" we recommended you do at the beginning of this section. Although the odor produced at the front of our tongue may not be the most pleasant, it is usually not the main source of breath freshness problems. The main “component” of the unpleasant odor is formed in the back of the tongue. Go to the mirror, stick out your tongue and look at it carefully. You will probably see a whitish coating on its surface. Closer to the back of the tongue, this coating becomes denser. The amount of bacteria that accumulates on the human tongue depends on the texture of its surface. People whose tongue surface has more folds, grooves and indentations will have more of this amount than people with a smoother tongue surface. In order to create a favorable environment for the life of bacteria in the white layer of the tongue - i.e. deprived of oxygen - this layer can have a thickness of only one or two tenths of a millimeter. This “oxygen-free” environment is also called “anaerobic”; This is where bacteria live and multiply best. Studies have shown that the number of bacteria on the human tongue directly depends on the thickness of the white layer covering it. And as you can guess, the freshness of your breath depends on the number of bacteria: the fewer there are, the fresher it is.
Periodontal sources
Bacteria that cause an unpleasant odor also feel quite comfortable in areas of the oral cavity other than the tongue. Perhaps you have noticed that while flossing your teeth, an unpleasant odor sometimes also appears. And perhaps this smell becomes more noticeable when you start brushing between your back teeth. In the spaces between the teeth, bacteria that create an unpleasant odor also find refuge. Dentists call these areas “periodontal” (“paro” means “about” and “dont” means “tooth”). Even in a more or less healthy mouth, bacteria can find an oxygen-deprived (anaerobic) environment - for example, under the gum line, around and between teeth. And in people suffering from periodontal disease (“gum disease”), the number of such anaerobic “corners” increases many times over. Periodontal disease often damages the bone that surrounds the teeth. This, in turn, leads to the formation of depressions between the teeth and gums (dentists call them “periodontal pockets”). These pockets are usually very difficult or impossible to clean, and they become an ideal anaerobic environment in which odor-causing bacteria live and thrive.
How to get rid of an unpleasant odor?
Since the main source of bad breath is foul-smelling bacterial secretions (volatile sulfur compounds), the main way to get rid of them is to cleanse the oral cavity in such a way as to:
Deprive bacteria of nutrients.
- Reduce the amount of bacteria already accumulated in the mouth.
- Reduce the anaerobic environment in which bacteria live and multiply.
- Prevent the formation of new breeding grounds for bacteria.
You can also use cleaners that reduce the activity of odor-causing volatile sulfur compounds.
How to deprive bacteria of nutrients?
As you remember, the main source of bad breath is the foul-smelling waste bacteria produce when digesting proteins. Therefore, people who adhere to vegetarian food(consisting mainly of fruits and vegetables), are less likely to have problems with fresh breath than those who consume a lot of protein foods - for example, meat. In addition, it is very important to clean the oral cavity in a timely and proper manner - especially after consuming protein-rich foods. After finishing breakfast, lunch or dinner, tiny particles of food remain in our mouths, which get stuck between the teeth and also settle in a white coating on the back of the tongue. And since it is in these places that anaerobic bacteria accumulate, causing an unpleasant odor, then, without properly cleaning your mouth after eating, you will thereby provide them with a sufficient amount of nutrients for a long time.
To get rid of unpleasant odor, you need to brush your teeth and gums. The bacteria that produce products that cause bad breath also live in the plaque that accumulates on the teeth and gum line. In order to reduce this plaque, prevent its further accumulation and remove food debris that “lingers” in the mouth and serves as food for bacteria, it is necessary to thoroughly clean the teeth and gums with a toothbrush and dental floss. Let us remind you about dental floss once again. If you do not thoroughly and daily clean the spaces between your teeth where a toothbrush cannot reach, you will be unlikely to get rid of bad breath.
Diagnosis of the causes of bad breath
Particular attention must be paid to diagnostic methods. First of all, you need to inform your doctor about the presence of chronic diseases. It has been established that the occurrence of bad breath is significantly influenced by nutritional and hygienic factors, therefore patients are advised to refrain from eating, drinking, rinsing the mouth and smoking for at least two hours before diagnostic measures.
The first is a hedonic research method, carried out by a doctor who evaluates the quality and strength of the unpleasant odor, and gives a rating on the Rosenberg scale from 0 to 5 points. Most main drawback method - subjectivity.
The next step is to measure the amount of sulfur compounds in the exhaled air using a special sulfide monitoring device “Halimeter”. Hydrogen sulfide, methyl mercaptan and dimethyl sulfide account for 90% of all volatile sulfur compounds in the oral cavity, so measuring the concentration of these gases is the main way to determine the severity of halitosis.
The next stage is microbiological examination. The diagnostic stage is very important, since depending on the source of the unpleasant odor and the reasons that caused it, the treatment tactics will depend.
Visit your dentist
If, after all the measures taken, the bad breath does not disappear, call and make an appointment with your dentist, where you can not only discuss the problem in detail, but also carry out the necessary procedures to clean your mouth. This may be the best option because:
1) Not all people know how to use dental floss and dental floss most effectively. After examining your mouth, your doctor will teach you the necessary techniques.
2) Effective cleaning of teeth can be hindered by tartar built up on them. Your dentist will remove it.
3) If you have signs of periodontal disease (“gum disease”), your doctor will identify them and provide you with appropriate treatment. Periodontal disease can seriously damage your teeth and the surrounding bone. This creates deep “pockets” between the teeth and gums in which bacteria accumulate, so deep that they are difficult or even impossible to clean.
4) During the examination, your doctor will identify - if any - other untreated diseases that may increase the unpleasant odor.
5) If your doctor seems unlikely that these diseases are the cause of the unpleasant odor, he will suggest that you make an appointment with a therapist and will provide appropriate explanations.
You need to clean your tongue thoroughly
Since most people tend to ignore this procedure, try making it part of your daily care behind oral cavity. Very often, the use of this method alone - without additional measures - helps eliminate the unpleasant odor. Think back again to the “experiment” we recommended you do at the beginning of this section. Then we found that the front of the tongue has a less unpleasant odor than the back. This happens because the front area of the tongue constantly cleans itself - and therefore fewer anaerobic bacteria accumulate on it. As the tongue moves, its front part constantly rubs against the hard palate - this is how cleansing occurs. preventing the accumulation of bacteria. Unlike the front, the back of the tongue during its movement comes into contact only with the soft palate. In this case, effective cleaning is not possible. Therefore, odor-causing bacteria accumulate mainly on the back of the tongue, which is why it is this area that needs periodic cleaning.
How to properly clean your tongue? There are several ways to clean the back of the tongue, but they all have the same goal - to remove bacteria and food debris that accumulate in this area. When cleaning your tongue - no matter what method you use - you should try to reach as far as possible to clean as much of its surface area as possible. If you start choking, don't be surprised. This natural reaction, but over time this reflex should weaken.
How to clean your tongue using a toothbrush or a special brush.
To clean the surface of the tongue you can use toothbrush or a special brush for cleaning the tongue. Start brushing with the furthest areas you can reach, then gradually move the brush strokes (directed anteriorly) towards the front of the tongue. The movements should be made with some pressure on the surface of the tongue - but, of course, not too strong so as not to cause irritation. To clean your tongue more effectively, you can use toothpaste, since it contains the same ingredients as mouth cleansers. You can learn more about this on the page dedicated to oral cleaners. Pastes that neutralize volatile sulfur compounds. Since VSCs are what cause bad odors, toothpastes containing neutralizing VSCs - such as chlorine dioxide or zinc - improve the freshness of your breath.
Pastes with antibacterial properties
If the toothpaste you use contains antibacterial agents - such as chlorine dioxide or cetylpyridone chloride - you can both "expel" and destroy anaerobic bacteria when cleaning your tongue.
Although brushing your tongue with a toothbrush can provide quite satisfactory results, many people prefer to use a special tongue scraping spoon, believing this method is more effective. Some patients claim that they choke less when scraping their tongue with a spoon than when cleaning it with a toothbrush or special brush. In order to test your reaction to this method, you can conduct a simple experiment. Take a regular spoon from the kitchen (better a teaspoon than a table spoon), turn it over and try to scrape your tongue with it. To do this, touch the back of your tongue with a spoon, press it lightly and pull it forward. Do this carefully, but without effort. Don't scrub too hard as this may irritate the surface of your tongue. If scraping as a method is not objectionable to you, buy a special spoon designed for this purpose at the pharmacy. It is quite possible that it will clean the tongue more effectively than a teaspoon.
What types of liquid mouth cleaners can help get rid of bad breath?
Liquid mouth rinses, if used along with regular and effective cleaning tongue, brushing and flossing your teeth can also help a lot in getting rid of unpleasant odor. You should not just rely on rinse aids and neglect the other measures listed. The ability of a liquid mouthwash to effectively combat bad breath is associated with some of its properties, namely:
A) Antibacterial properties. If the mouthwash has the ability to kill bacteria, it can help reduce the amount of anaerobic bacteria in your mouth. Since it is these bacteria that emit volatile sulfur compounds, which in turn form bad breath, the fewer of these bacteria there are in the mouth, the better.
C) The ability to neutralize volatile sulfur compounds. Rinse aids contain components that have the ability to neutralize volatile sulfur compounds and the substances that form them. As you remember, volatile sulfur compounds are foul-smelling substances that create an unpleasant odor. If a purifier is able to reduce their content in your breath, then it will naturally be fresher.
Listed below are some substances that have the ability to effectively neutralize unpleasant odors. These substances are usually included in mouthwashes sold in pharmacies.
A) Rinse aids containing chlorine dioxide or sodium chlorite (Antibacterial / Neutralizes volatile sulfur compounds)
Many dentists believe that rinses containing chlorine dioxide or its constituent sodium chlorite play a role in vital role in neutralizing bad breath. Research data suggests that chlorine dioxide has a dual effect:
Chlorine dioxide is an oxidizing substance (meaning it releases oxygen). Since most odor-causing bacteria are anaerobic (that is, they prefer to live in places where there is no oxygen), exposure to an oxidizing agent helps reduce their numbers, which consequently reduces the unpleasant odor.
Chlorine dioxide also affects the level of volatile sulfur compounds in the mouth. It neutralizes those compounds that bacteria have already released, and at the same time destroys those substances from which these compounds are subsequently formed. The result is that the concentration of volatile sulfur compounds in the mouth decreases sharply, and the breath, of course, becomes cleaner.
B) Rinse aids containing zinc (Neutralizes volatile sulfur compounds)
Research has shown that rinse aids containing zinc ions can also reduce the concentration of volatile sulfur compounds. It is believed that this is due to the ability of zinc ions to destroy those substances from which bacteria “make” sulfur compounds.
B) “Antiseptic” type rinses (Antibacterial)
"Antiseptic" cleaners (such as Listerine and its equivalents) are also considered suitable odor neutralizers. The effectiveness of these products is related to their ability to kill bacteria that produce volatile sulfur compounds. However, “antiseptic” rinses themselves cannot destroy these compounds. Many dentists believe that “antiseptic” rinses are not the best choice. These statements are also due to the fact that in “antiseptic” rinses high content alcohol (often around 25 percent). Alcohol is a strong desiccant (dehydrating agent) and therefore dries out the soft tissues of the mouth. And if you remember our section on xerostomia, dry mouth can be one of the causes of unpleasant odor.
D) Rinse aids containing cetylpyridone chloride (Antibacterial)
Cetylpyridinium chloride is a component that is sometimes included in liquid mouthwashes. Possessing antibacterial effect, it helps reduce the number of anaerobic bacteria.
Do mint tablets, lozenges, drops, sprays and chewing gum help get rid of unpleasant odor?
So are liquid rinses, mints, lozenges, drops, sprays, chewing gum, etc. in themselves are not the most effective means eliminating unpleasant odors. However, when used in conjunction with careful and regular tongue cleaning, brushing and flossing, these products can have very positive effects - especially if they contain substances (such as chlorine dioxide, sodium chlorite and zinc) that can neutralize volatile sulfur compounds. In addition, mints, lozenges, and chewing gum stimulate saliva production. And we already know that saliva cleanses the oral cavity of bacteria and their secretions, which means it helps get rid of unpleasant odor.
How to use liquid mouthwash to achieve the greatest effect?
Bacteria that create an unpleasant odor live both on the surface and in the depths of the white plaque that accumulates on and around the teeth, gums, tongue. An antibacterial rinse by itself cannot penetrate into the depths of this plaque, and therefore, before using such a cleaner, it is better to remove as much plaque as possible using your usual methods - scraping the tongue, brushing and flossing. Rinsing your mouth with mouthwash after these procedures will help remove any remaining bacteria. You don’t just need to put the mouthwash in your mouth, but rinse it properly. Before rinsing, say “a-a-a” - this will allow you to stick out your tongue so that the rinse gets to the back of it, where bacteria accumulate. After rinsing, the rinse aid should be immediately spit out. This is why children should not be allowed to use mouthwash - they may accidentally swallow it.
How to clean dentures
If your dentist has installed dentures in your mouth, he or she must explain to you how to properly clean them. Because bacteria accumulates on your dentures just as it does on your natural teeth, tongue, and gums, your doctor will advise you to clean your dentures with a regular toothbrush or a special brush, both the outside and inside of them. After cleaning the dentures, they need to be placed in a container with an antiseptic liquid (your dentist will also advise you which one).
What measures can you take on your own to get rid of an unpleasant odor?
Drink more water
Oddly enough, drinking plenty of water throughout the day will also help you reduce bad odor. If there is a lack of water, your body will try to retain it, which will reduce the production of saliva, and it will be less effective at dissolving and washing away bacteria and their secretions, which create an unpleasant odor. Drinking enough water every day is especially important for those suffering from xerostomia (chronic dry mouth).
Rinse your mouth with water
Rinsing your mouth with plain water will also help relieve bad odor for a short period of time. Rinsing also dissolves and washes away bacterial secretions that harm the freshness of your breath.
Stimulate saliva production
This will also help you reduce bad odor. You remember that saliva cleanses the mouth, dissolving and washing away bacteria and their secretions. The simplest way stimulate saliva production - chew something. When you chew—anything—your body thinks you're eating food, so it signals it to increase saliva production. (Saliva is very important component when digesting food). You can, for example, chew clove seeds, dill, mint or parsley. Peppermint tablets, chewing gum and mint candies help salivation. But: if you prefer these products, make sure they do not contain sugar. Sugar promotes the growth of bacteria that can cause tooth decay.
Maintain your oral hygiene especially carefully after consuming protein foods.
Anaerobic bacteria produce volatile sulfur compounds - the cause of unpleasant odors - as a result of consuming proteins. After you eat meat, fish or any other protein-rich food, thoroughly clean your mouth so that the smallest particles of protein food do not serve as a breeding ground for anaerobic bacteria.
Treatment of helminthiases helps eliminate bad breath in children
Scientists note that parents often notice bad breath in children with intestinal helminthiases (especially enterobiasis), which goes away after the helminths are eradicated. Scientists suggest that the cause of the unpleasant odor may be stagnation of intestinal contents due to the presence of worms.
What diseases cause bad breath?
- Diseases of the teeth and gums (caries) Pathology of the respiratory system (any infectious and inflammatory diseases, tumors)
- Trimethylaminuria and lactase deficiency
Reception of many medicines It can also have a detrimental effect on the freshness of your breath.
Treatment for bad breath
First of all, you should contact your dentist for diagnosis and treatment. The doctor will determine whether there is caries or gum disease, perform sanitation (disinfection) of the oral cavity, and remove tartar if present. As a rule, after this the smell ceases to bother most patients.
If the dentist concludes that the odor does not originate in the oral cavity, but in the deeper structures of the body, he will refer you to a therapist.
The therapist will prescribe an examination to determine the cause of your concerns and will treat the disease that he identifies. Many will be disappointed that they did not find the name of a pill for bad breath here, but smart people realize that this treatment will be different depending on your personal cause of the smell. May need the whole complex drugs, including antibiotics, which, as is known, cannot be used without definition pathogenic microorganism, and this can only be done through medical tests.
Which doctors should you contact if you have bad breath?
- Dentist
- Gastroenterologist
- Therapist (general practitioner)
Osostomia, or pathological stomatodysonia, is a problem that a person has encountered at least once in his life. The presence of signs of osostomy is not always a signal for concern. If they are slightly perceptible or appear extremely rarely, the presence of pseudohalitosis can be assumed. This phenomenon is common among children aged two to five years and adolescents, especially during puberty. But it also happens: there is no smell, and not only those around you, but also the dentist talk about absolutely healthy teeth and fresh breath, but the person is sure of the opposite. Perhaps it's all about halitophobia - a mental disorder that is treated exclusively by a psychotherapist. Most reliable way To check whether there is a smell in this case, use a regular cotton thread, which, after cleaning, should be put aside for a minute and then brought to your nose.
Unpleasant or putrid odor from the mouth: causes
Before starting treatment, it is important to understand how often the smell appears, what it is associated with, whether it is constantly present, or whether this phenomenon is temporary. If the smell appears sporadically, certain foods may be the cause of bad breath.
Typically this may include eating onions, garlic, hot sauces or fatty foods. In this case, the appearance of a putrid odor can be completely eliminated by simply brushing your teeth regularly. If the causes of putrefaction in adults are a constant phenomenon and not associated with eating exotic foods, you should be wary.
5 factors of osostomy
Lack of or improper care of teeth and oral cavity, that is, irregular brushing of teeth, can cause the development of ozostomia. Leftover food products - favorable environment for reproduction putrefactive microorganisms and bacteria, the vital products of which are often the cause of osostomia. Most often, teenagers and young children face this problem.
One of the most important factors for osostomy may be the presence of viral or infectious diseases. For example: tonsillitis, sinusitis or purulent sinusitis, inflammation of the mucous membrane, ulcer, dysbacteriosis, food poisoning, caries, tartar, damage to tooth enamel.
Poor or irregular nutrition, eating unhealthy, poorly digestible foods that are difficult to digest, disruption of the intestines and digestive tract, overeating, irregular bowel movements, and chronic constipation can also be a cause.
Bad habits, such as smoking, cause damage to the oral mucosa, increased or pathological decreased salivation, accompanied by dryness, the appearance of ulcers, microcracks, and destruction of tooth enamel. This, in turn, leads to the appearance various diseases and inflammation of the oral cavity. In this case, brushing and caring for your teeth will have no effect.
If putrid breath appears, the reasons may not only be due to improper brushing of teeth or smoking, it may be a signal of a more serious disease, such as liver failure.
Self-diagnosis
It is impossible to independently identify the causes of osostomy; this can only be done by a medical professional after a series of studies. In most cases, you can eliminate the smell on your own, but not for long, since it is not an independent phenomenon, but a symptom of a disease. Failure to see a doctor in a timely manner may result in the appearance of new, more serious illnesses, especially if the prerequisites for the appearance of the odor were diseases of the digestive tract, intestines or liver. If you find yourself with ozostomia (halitosis), it is very important to understand what could be causing the putrid odor from your mouth.
The causes and symptoms of diseases accompanied by halitosis can be divided into several categories based on the type of odor.
Alternative medicine and naturopathy
What to do if there is a putrid odor from your mouth? Only a doctor can identify the causes of this anomaly. However, you can reduce discomfort, which leads not only to a change in the taste of food, but also to a limitation of communication, as follows:
- Chew coffee beans for three or four minutes or eat one-fourth teaspoon of instant granulated coffee;
- Triclosan or Chlorhexidine will help eliminate a problem such as ozostomia caused by anaerobic bacteria for five to ten hours;
- regular use of mouthwash, dental gels and mint toothpastes, as well as cleaning the tongue plate with a special brush will help get rid of the odor for two to three hours in about eighty percent of cases;
- decoctions of chamomile, dill, oak bark, yarrow and propolis, when rinsed daily, help reduce unpleasant odors;
- chewing gum and refreshing sprays, according to dentists, have a refreshing effect that can eliminate the smell, but their effect is very fleeting and goes away in ten to fifteen minutes.
Six types of halitosis
First view. The taste of rotten eggs and the smell of hydrogen sulfide may indicate a digestive disorder. Another sign of this disease may cause bloating, painful sensations, white coating on the tongue plate. If you notice these symptoms, you should consult a doctor, since the cause of halitosis or ozostomia may be gastritis or a stomach ulcer.
Second view. Sour taste and the smell after eating indicates the appearance of gastritis and requires immediate contact with a gastroenterologist.
Third type. A bitter taste in the mouth, regardless of diet and meal time. It is a sign of dysfunction of the gallbladder and liver. In this case, if a putrid odor appears from the mouth, only a specialist can determine the reasons that caused the disturbance in the liver, especially if the odor is accompanied by pain in the side.
Fourth type. Taste of sugar and smell of acetone. One of possible phenomena for diabetes. In most cases, it is painless and can only be detected by late stages along with other pathologies. A timely visit to a doctor if you notice stomatodysonia with a taste reminiscent of acetone can save you from a serious illness.
Fifth view. In case of diseases of the genitourinary system, as well as cystitis, polyneuritis, stones or inflammation in the urethra, it is possible that a specific taste and smell of ammonia may appear, which does not disappear after eating or hygiene procedures.
Sixth type. If after a medical examination no pathologies were identified, then perhaps the whole issue is due to improper brushing of the teeth and tongue.
Dental diseases
Let's look at putrid breath, causes and treatment in dentistry further. Bleeding gums, plaque on the tongue and teeth, and the absence of a filling or part of a tooth can contribute to the appearance of ozostomia. You should not hope that the problem will disappear on its own, since it is only a sign of a more serious disease that requires treatment. First of all, you need to make an appointment with a dentist.
The first appointment in this case should consist of the following procedures: initial examination oral cavity and assessment of the condition of teeth and tooth enamel, gum inflammation, the presence of tartar, odor testing and identifying its source. After examination and diagnosis, the doctor will identify the pathology that is causing the putrid odor from the mouth. The causes and methods of treatment will be described below.
Treatment
Basically, treatment consists of removing or filling the damaged tooth, as well as prescribing products that are optimally suited for high-quality and safe oral care. If during the diagnosis the doctor did not identify any signs dental pathologies or violations and Current state oral cavity could not provoke the appearance of ozostomia, which means you should contact a therapist, who, after carrying out the necessary procedures and tests, will issue a referral to an appointment with a gastroenterologist, endocrinologist or otolaryngologist. Moreover, people suffering chronic diseases, during an exacerbation, they may also experience an unpleasant, slightly noticeable odor. If the smell appears after a sore throat, flu or ARVI, carry out medical examination inappropriate. In this case, you should consult a doctor and take antiviral drugs as prescribed.
Putrid breath: causes and diagnosis
When you have a consultation with a dentist, you need to describe the problem as accurately as possible: talk about exactly how and how long ago the symptoms appeared, whether they were accompanied by food intake, or went away after brushing your teeth or rinsing.
Tell us if white was present on your gums, cheeks or palate, whether you were treated with antibiotics, hormonal pills, and so on.
Halitosis and ulcer
If after dental treatment the problem is not resolved, perhaps the cause is a more serious illness. Putrid odor from the mouth due to an ulcer may have the following causes: exacerbation of the disease, increased acidity, nausea, vomiting, body temperature above 37 degrees, heaviness in the stomach, pain in the lower abdomen, as well as smoking and alcohol intoxication. All this can become a sign of ozostomia against the background of a local defect in the mucous membrane of the stomach or intestines.
Bad breath in children and adolescents
If you notice a putrid odor from your child’s mouth, the causes may be different. Before you worry, you need to identify the duration and frequency of the unpleasant odor.
Temporary factor - usually this kind of smell appears when:
- eating spicy food;
- non-compliance;
- viral disease;
- caries;
- runny nose or sinusitis;
- using nasal sprays.
A constant factor indicates the presence of a serious disease that changes the microflora of the body:
- thrush of the soft palate caused by yeast-like bacteria;
- chronic sinusitis or sinusitis;
- stagnation of feces, disruption of digestion;
- chronic hyperglycemia syndrome;
- loss of baby teeth;
- dysbacteriosis;
- decrease or increase in salivation caused by taking antibiotics.
Diagnosis of halitosis in children
All of the above factors can be a symptom of a serious disease and cause putrefactive causes, diagnosis of the disease can be as follows:
Anna Mironova
Reading time: 9 minutes
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Many people are familiar with the situation when, when communicating with a person, you want to cover your mouth with your palm. It’s especially offensive when bad breath causes an interrupted kiss, problems in communication, or even problems at work. This phenomenon is called halitosis, and it is not as harmless as it seems.
9 Causes of Bad Breath – So Why Is Your Breath Bad?
Sooner or later, everyone experiences halitosis. It pretty much ruins our lives and sometimes makes us give up our desires and intentions. Where do the legs of halitosis “grow” from?
Let's list the main reasons:
- Insufficient hygiene.
- Advanced caries and other dental diseases.
- Taking medications.
- Microbial plaque on the teeth and tongue.
- Wearing dentures.
- Decreased saliva secretion.
- Smoking.
- The smell remaining after eating certain foods (alcohol, fish, seasonings, onions and garlic, coffee, etc.).
- Consequences of diets.
Halitosis as a symptom of serious diseases - be attentive to yourself!
In addition to the above, there are more to the appearance of halitosis. serious reasons. In some cases he may be unkind a sign of any disease.
For example…
- Gastritis, ulcers, pancreatitis and other gastrointestinal diseases (note: hydrogen sulfide smell).
- Chronic tonsillitis, tonsillitis or sinusitis.
- Pneumonia and bronchitis.
- Kidney diseases (note - the smell of acetone).
- Diabetes mellitus (note - the smell of acetone).
- Gallbladder disease (bitter, unpleasant odor).
- Liver diseases (in this case, a specific fecal or fishy odor is noted).
- Tumor of the esophagus (note - smell of rot/decomposition).
- Active tuberculosis (note: smell of pus).
- Kidney failure (note: “fishy” smell).
- Xerostomia caused by taking medications or prolonged mouth breathing (putrid odor).
It is also worth noting pseudohalitosis. This term is used when talking about a condition when a person with fresh breath“I imagine” an unpleasant odor in my mouth.
How to detect bad breath - 8 ways
In most cases, we ourselves know that we have bad breath.
But if you want to know for sure (maybe you just think), there are several ways to check:
- Observe the behavior of your interlocutors. If they move to the side, turn away when communicating, or persistently offer you candy and chewing gum, there is a smell. You can also just ask them about it.
- Bring your palms to your mouth in a “boat” manner and exhale sharply. If an unpleasant odor is present, you will notice it immediately.
- Pass regular cotton floss between your teeth and smell it.
- Lick your wrist and, after waiting a little, smell the skin.
- Scrape the back of your tongue with a spoon and smell it too.
- Wipe your tongue with a cotton pad and sniff.
- Buy a special tester device at a pharmacy. With its help, you can determine the freshness of your breath on a 5-point scale.
- Undergo a special examination by a dentist.
Remember to test In a few hours after using odor masking products (rubber bands, pastes, sprays) and at the end of the day.
Modern medicine in the treatment of halitosis
Nowadays, there are very effective methods for diagnosing this disease.
- The use of a halimeter which, in addition to diagnosis, also helps in assessing the success of treatment for halitosis.
- The composition of dental plaque is also examined.
- And the back of the patient's tongue is examined. It should match the color of the oral mucosa. But with a brown, white or cream tint, we can talk about glossitis.
Considering that in most cases true halitosis is one of the symptoms certain disease,It’s worth seeing other doctors:
- ENT consultation will help exclude polyps and sinusitis.
- On a visit to a gastroenterologist We find out if there is diabetes, problems with the kidneys/liver or gastrointestinal tract.
- At the dentist We eliminate foci of infection and remove bad teeth. A course of professional oral hygiene at the same time as removing dental plaque will not hurt. When diagnosing periodontitis, the use of special irrigators is usually recommended.
9 effective ways to get rid of bad breath at home
You have a meeting soon, you are expecting guests or going on a date...
How can you quickly eliminate bad breath?
- The most basic way is to brush your teeth. Cheap and cheerful.
- Freshener spray. For example, with mint flavor. Today such a device can be found in any pharmacy. Just throw it in your bag and keep it handy at all times. It is enough to spray 1-2 times into the oral cavity, and you don’t have to worry that they will run away from you after a minute of communication. Choose a spray with preventive properties(protection against the formation of tartar, plaque, caries).
- Rinse aid. Also useful for teeth and mouth. In addition to the fact that it freshens breath, it also has an additional function - protection against plaque, strengthening teeth, etc. But do not rush to spit it out right away - hold the liquid in your mouth for at least 30 seconds, then its effect will be more pronounced.
- Refreshing sweets. For example, mint candies. They will not bring much benefit, given the sugar content, but it is easy to mask the smell.
- Chewing gum. Not the best useful method, especially if you have stomach problems, but perhaps the simplest. Chewing gum outside the home is even easier to find than candy. The optimal flavor is mint. It is most effective at masking odor. To avoid harming yourself, chew it for a maximum of 10 minutes, only after meals and without dyes (pure white).
- Mint, greens. Sometimes it is enough to chew a leaf of mint, parsley or green salad.
- Fruits, vegetables and berries. The most effective are citrus fruits, apples, and bell peppers.
- Other "camouflage" products: yoghurts, green tea, chocolate
- Spices: cloves, nutmeg, fennel, anise, etc. You just need to hold the spice in your mouth or chew one clove (a piece of nut, etc.).
And, of course, do not forget about the prevention of halitosis:
- An electric toothbrush. It cleans your teeth much more effectively than usual.
- Dental floss. This “instrument of torture” helps remove “remnants of feasts” from the interdental spaces.
- Brush to remove plaque on the tongue. Also a very useful invention.
- Moisturizing the oral cavity. Constant dryness in the mouth can also cause halitosis. Saliva has antibacterial properties, and a decrease in its amount, accordingly, leads to an increase in the number of bacteria. Keep your mouth sufficiently moist.
- Decoctions for rinsing the mouth/throat. You can use chamomile, mint, sage and eucalyptus, oak or magnolia bark. The latter is best for eliminating this problem.
- Nutrition. Avoid eating garlic, coffee, meat and red wine. These foods lead to halitosis. Excess of fast carbohydrates is the path to caries and plaque on teeth, give preference to fiber.
- We brush our teeth twice a day for one and a half to two minutes, choosing brushes of medium hardness. We change the brush at least once every 3 months. It is also recommended to purchase an ionizer-sterilizer for your brush - it will disinfect your “tool.”
- After eating, be sure to remember to rinse your mouth. Preferably, a decoction of herbs, a special rinse or tooth elixir.
- We visit the dentist once every six months and solve dental problems in a timely manner. Don’t forget to get examined by a therapist for chronic diseases.
- Toothpaste choose one that contains natural antiseptic components that can reduce bacterial activity.
- Drink more water.
- Treat bleeding gums promptly- It also causes an unpleasant odor.
- If you have dentures remember to clean them thoroughly every day.
If, despite all your efforts, the smell continues to haunt you - ask specialists for help!
Website website provides background information. Adequate diagnosis and treatment of the disease is possible only under the supervision of a conscientious doctor. If alarming symptoms occur, consult a specialist!
