BAD BREATH
Bad breath results from build up of bacteria in your mouth, and the balance between the different kinds of bacteria determines the "quality of your breath." It comes mostly from the surface of your tongue, below your gum line, between your teeth and other hard to reach areas where normal brushing is hampered.
Halitosis - As many as 50-80 million individuals in the United States suffer form Halitosis, a condition in which an offensive odor comes from either their oral or nasal passages and they are unable to eliminate it by flossing, brushing or rinsing.
Why "morning breath?"
Because during sleep the mouth is exposed to less oxygen and is inactive bacteria build up causes "bad morning breath."
Signs of bad breath:
- You seem to have some kind of bad taste in your mouth.
- When you are talking to people, they tend to step back away from you
- People keep offering you mints or chewing gum.
- You find a white or yellow film on your tongue.
Here is a technique to determine if I really have bad breath?
Lick your wrist or arm, wait seven seconds and then smell it. If is smells foul, your breath probably smells just as bad.
Tongue Test:
Scrape the back of your tongue with either with an upside down spoon or tongue suppressor. Is there a bad odor coming off any materials you scrapped off from your tongue? If you find a bad odor here, you definitely have bad breath. You can clean your tongue by using either a tongue scrapper or just brushing it with your toothbrush.
Most halitosis sufferers have no idea that they have a breath problem unless they are informed by another person. Halitosis have caused people to become withdrawn and avoid social situations. If you think you may have this problem, please contact Marina Vista Dental in Vallejo, CA, for a consultation or just mention it during your next dental office visit. We cab help. Fortunately, bad breath can be treated relatively quick and inexpensively.
OTHER CAUSES FOR BAD BREATH:
Food -If you are brushing your teeth and floss after meals, food stays in your mouth and then bacteria starts growing in your mouth which can cause bad breath. Decaying food particles caught between your teeth and around your gums and gum pockets create unwanted bacteria can also leave an unpleasant odor in your mouth.
What you eat can also contribute to bad breath. For example, when onions or garlic are consumed and then absorbed into your bloodstream, its then transferred to you lungs. The lungs will absorb the smell from the blood, so when you exhale it, the odor from the decomposing food, bacteria, and plaque causes the offensive odor. Dieting can even produce bad breath from lack of eating! Due to poor digestion resulting in constipation and disorders of the bowel, gasses may escape through your mouth, producing bad breath.
Dry Mouth - Known as xerostomia, occurs when your flow of saliva decreases. Saliva actually acts as a cleanser in your mouth. It naturally washes, dilutes and kills the bacteria in your mouth. What causes dry mouth? You may be suffering from some kind of salivary gland problem. Other causes of dry mouth could include dehydration, possible side effects of certain medications, diseases or infections. Antihistamines (allergy and cold medications), antidepressants, blood pressure agents, diuretics, narcotics, or anti-anxiety medications are each known to produce xerostomia.
Cigarette Smoking -Smoking causes smokers breath which is due to the build up of nicotine and tar in the oral cavities. The smoke is inhaled into the lungs, and then exhaled through the nose and mouth. The chemicals and residue from the smoke remain in your mouth and airways causing gum disease that is one of the primary causes of bad breath.
Medical Conditions - Bad breath could also signal a medical disorder. Local infections in the respiratory tract, chronic sinusitis, postnasal drip, chronic bronchitis, diabetes, gastrointestinal disturbance, liver or kidney ailments can all be leading factors to causing cause breath
Gum Disease - Gingivitis is a big culprit of bad breath. It is the the irritation of your gums and is usually caused by bacterial plaque that accumulates in the small gaps between your gums and teeth due to the long-term effects of plaque deposits. Plaque is a sticky material made of bacteria, mucus, and food debris that develops on the exposed parts of the teeth. If not removed, it later becomes tartar and gets trapped at the base of your tooth. This is one of the major causes of tooth decay and certainly may be a big causing factor of bad breath. Any kind of bacteria and toxins in your mouth will cause the gums to become infected, swollen, tender, thus giving you bad breath.
Nose - The second major source of bad breath is the nose. The air exiting the nostrils has a pungent odor which differs from the oral odor because of the nasal passages that may be involved.
Tonsils - Approximately 7% of the U.S. population suffer from small bits or clusters of calcified matter in crevasses called tonsilloliths or tonsil stones. These stones formed are formed in the tonsils when trapped debris combines and hardens, or calcifies. Tonsils are filled with crevices where bacteria and other materials, including dead cells and mucous, can become trapped. When this occurs, the debris can become concentrated in white formations that occur in the pockets. These stones smell extremely foul when released and can cause bad breath. They may have the feeling of a foreign object lodged inside the tonsil. They are also known to form in the throat and on the roof of the mouth.
Stomach -Conditions such as acid reflux disease, an obstructed bowel, diverticulitis, and just plain indigestion can cause chronic halitosis. In the case of acid reflux disease stomach acids can actually work their way all the back up into the throat and then are expelled in the breath, giving off bad breath. Also, bacteria and harmful enzymes that get absorbed into the system can be released through the breath.
BREATH ODOR PROBLEMS AND CAUSES CHECKLIST:
- Odor after fasting, dieting, sleeping, taking medications, prolonged speaking, exercise
- Dry mouth, insufficient saliva flow
- Poor cleaning between teeth / gum problems
- Postnasal drip on back of tongue
- Odor at onset of menstrual cycle
- Small whitish stones with foul odor appear on tongue
- Tonsilloliths from crypts in tonsils
- Odor appears suddenly from mouth of young children
- Beginning of throat infection
- Odor appears suddenly from nose of young children
- Look for any foreign substance placed in nose
- Dentures kept in mouth at night or not cleaned properly
- Sinus trouble/mucus flow, dryness, foreign substance in nose, hindered air
- Long history of poor oral hygiene, gum disease, bacterial activity on tongue
In order to treat your bad breath, the root cause of halitosis needs to be identified. If your bad breath never seems to go away and over-the-counter breath fresheners such as gum, mints, breath strips, and breath sprays are only providing a temporary relief from bad breath, please Marina Vista Dental in Vallejo, CA, for your breath consultation. We can help.
