By Chukwudi Phina
Imagine you leaning over to whisper something to your friend and by the look on his face you can fathom that something is up. Could it be your breath? Maybe you shouldn’t have eaten hamburger with extra onion for lunch. No one likes to hear it, but it is better than not knowing that you actually have bad breath.
Bad breath, medically called Halitosis, can result from poor dental health hygiene and may also be a sign of other health problems. In worse case scenarios, what we eat and other unhealthy lifestyle habits can also trigger halitosis.
According to Dr. Yusuf Olorunsogo, halitosis can be caused by tooth decay or gum disease and can be treated depending on what caused it. He says: “halitosis can be caused by decay in the tooth or gum disease. Gum disease, medically called periodontal disease is caused by a build up of plaque on the teeth. If gum disease continues without being Treated, it could lead to damage in the gums and jawbone”.
Olorunsogo suggests a list of preventive measures to take to avoid this disease. “One should eat good food, brush regularly, avoid smoking, make regular visits to the dentist and treat other diseases, which can be associated with halitosis.” This, he says, is because bad breath can sometimes be triggered by severe health condition such as diabetes, mouth cancer, digestive system disorder, among others.”
Sometimes a person’s breath may cause much vexation and put you off, and he or she may not realize that there is a problem. There are tactful ways you can apply to let someone know about their bad breath. You could just offer mints or sugarless gum without uttering a single word, because saying it directly could make them feel uncomfortable and embarrassed. Also, if you suspect that your own breath is foul, ask someone who will give you an honest answer without making jest of you (but just don’t ask your brother or sister, they just might tell you your breath stinks real bad even when it doesn’t).
Studies show that approximately 30 per cent of the people around the world are affected by this embarrassing health condition, which, most times, is associated with a less complicated reason, like what you had for lunch or keeping mute for a long period of time.
Out of the many underlying causes of halitosis, four of them are very common.
Foods you eat: halitosis can be aggravated by certain foods such as onions and garlic because they contain smelly sulfur compounds. If you eat foods with such strong odours, brushing and flossing the mouth thoroughly, merely covers up the odour temporarily, the odour will not go away completely until the foods have passed through your body.
Poor dental hygiene: in adequate dental care can allow bacteria to build up on the gum and teeth. If you don’t brush your teeth daily, food particles can remain in your mouth, promoting bacterial growth between the teeth, around the gums and on the tongue, when the bacteria builds up in the mouth, the toxins produced can cause your breath to smell. Bacteria break down pieces of food in the mouth, and may release an unpleasant-smelling gas. Any food trapped on your teeth, particularly between them is broken down by bacteria which may cause bad breath. Antibacterial mouth rinses are recommended in such cases to help reduce the bacteria.
Illness and disease: studies show that an estimate 10% of all halitosis cases is caused by certain illnesses. People who suffer from lung disease, diabetes, cancer, liver disease or metabolic disorders often experience chronic bad breath due to dry mouth.
Dry mouth: The medical condition dry mouth, also called xerostomia, may be a side effect of various medications such as; salivary gland problems, or continuous breathing through the mouth. Saliva is necessary to moisten the mouth, neutralize acids produced by plaque and wash away dead cells that accumulate on the tongue, gums and cheeks. If not removed, theses cells decompose and can cause bad breath. Most people experience bad breath in the morning due to lack of saliva production while they sleep. Also, long period of speaking, smoking, drinking alcohol, and snoring are a few common underlying causes of dry mouth.
Prevention and treatment
The treatment of bad breath varies, depending on the cause. Naturally, improving your oral hygiene is usually enough to cure bad breath and stop it from recurring. In improving your oral hygiene make sure you:
Eat foods rich in fiber (high fiber helps prevent halitosis); avoid eating heavily processed foods which contain refined carbohydrates such as cookies, cakes, sweets and ice cream; use mouthwash, brush and floss your teeth regularly (some mouthwashes are effective at preventing bad breath, however, you should never use alcohol -based mouthwashes, because the alcohol makes the mouth very dry, which will actually worsen the problem.
You should also avoid smoking and chewing tobacco- based products. Studies have shown that smokers are at higher risk of developing periodontal disease and dry mouth. If you are addicted to the act, ask your dentist for tips on kicking the habit.
Drink lots of water, this will keep your mouth moist.
And above all, see your dentist regularly, at least twice a year. He or she will conduct an oral examination and professional teeth cleaning and will be able to detect and treat periodontal disease, dry mouth or other problems that may be the cause of bad mouth odour.