Nutrition and diets 

Bad breath: causes and treatment of the disease

Bad breath or halitosis is one of the common problems that cause discomfort and a lot of complexes in a person. What are the causes of this phenomenon and whether it can be eliminated, worries most of the inhabitants.

How to recognize the problem yourself?

Determine for yourself whether it smells or not from the mouth is enough difficult, because it is human nature adapt to your scent. To identify it, use a few simple methods:

  • lick a spoon or wrist. To feel bad breath, you must wait until the area is completely dry. It should be borne in mind that the smell from the mouth will be several times stronger than the one received;
  • use a halimeter- a special pocket device for measuring hydrogen sulfide on exhalation.

Types of halitosis

Bad breath is quite common, but the doctor does not always make the same diagnosis during the examination. This is due to the fact that halitosis, as metabolic process, has several varieties:

True

In this case, a person has bad breath, which is noted not only by him, but also by those around him. This type of halitosis, in turn, is divided into subspecies:

  • pathological. It occurs as a result of various diseases, both local and general. For example, tonsillitis, gastritis, etc. To eliminate the problem, complex treatment with drugs will be required;
  • physiological. It can occur both with poor oral hygiene and after eating foods with a strong corrosive odor, such as garlic.

    The most common option for the development of halitosis is the presence of hard and soft dental deposits. In this case, the composition of saliva is disturbed, which leads to the development of pathogenic microorganisms that emit hydrogen sulfide.

    You can get rid of physiological halitosis by contacting a dentist for a complete sanitation of the oral cavity and limiting yourself to taking certain foods.

pseudohalitosis

In this case, there is a slight degree of bad breath, which is invisible to others. At the same time, the person himself believes that a strong smell comes from his mouth.

Halitophobia

The patient is completely free of bad breath from the oral cavity, but he is convinced of the opposite. And even diagnostics with the readings of instruments designed to assess the emitted hydrogen sulfide cannot convince him. As a rule, halitophobia is a kind of mental disorder.

Why does halitosis occur in adults?

Halitosis is not an independent disease, but acts as a consequence of any pathology or deviation of the body. All the causes of an unpleasant odor can be divided into two groups:

Local

Diseases localized in the oral cavity and ENT organs. The most common include:

  • caries. The affected areas are a good breeding ground for the development of anaerobic bacteria;
  • Availability tartar;
  • complicated wisdom tooth formation with the formation of a gingival hood. As a rule, in this case, the gum becomes inflamed, under which bacteria easily penetrate;
  • stomatitis;
  • various tongue pathology;
  • inflammation of the salivary glands leading to a violation of the viscosity of saliva and a violation of its composition. Often the reason for the violation of the properties of saliva is the use of antibiotics, antihistamines and hormonal drugs;
  • Availability bad habits: smoking, regular consumption of alcoholic beverages. In this case, pronounced pigmentation occurs on the teeth, leading to loosening of the enamel and the appearance of a favorable environment for the spread of bacteria;
  • abnormal bite. Any violation of the location of the dentition, contributes to the accumulation of dental plaque.

Are common

Bad breath can occur not only due to local causes, but also as a result of general body pathologies:

  • stomach diseases. Gastritis, gastric ulcer or gastroduodenitis, are often accompanied by a bad smell from the oral cavity. As a rule, these diseases are characterized by pain, heaviness in the epigastric region, frequent belching and heartburn;
  • stress also contributes xerostomia(increased dry mouth);
  • bowel problems. The main cause of odor is insufficiency of the gastric sphincter. At the same time, the smell is characterized by an acidic tint.

    The appearance of untidy breathing is accompanied by severe bitterness after eating, hiccups, burning in the nasopharynx, and sometimes vomiting. On the teeth, the appearance of thin encircling strips of black color, located on the necks of the crowns, is noted;

  • pathology of the biliary tract and liver Key words: hepatitis, insufficiency, cholecystitis. As a rule, with these diseases, a fishy or fecal odor is detected, and severe nausea;
  • inflammation of the bronchi or lungs. It is characterized by a pronounced smell of rotten eggs, which manifests itself against the background of fever, severe shortness of breath and cough;
  • kidney dysfunction. With pathologies of this organ, halitosis develops with a pronounced ammonia smell;
  • diseases that cause metabolic disease. The main disease in which persistent halitosis occurs is diabetes. In this case, the breath may have fruity notes;
  • inflammation of the submandibular lymphatic system caused by various infections. A bad smell can occur against the background of a strong reddening of the lymph nodes.

    The disease often spreads to the oral cavity. In this case, the gum tissues swell and take on a hyperemic shade.

    In some cases, bleeding occurs and the stability of the teeth is disturbed. There may be manifestations of soft tissues of the oral cavity and nasopharynx.

Children's halitosis

The causes that cause the development of halitosis in a child differ little from the causes in an adult. However, the most common just in childhood:

  • nutritional features leading to a violation of the viscosity of saliva. Children eat a lot of sweets containing a large amount of carbohydrates. Saliva changes its balance and can no longer cope with the bacteria that cause odor in a timely manner;
  • the presence of orthodontic structures in the mouth: braces, leveling plates, etc. Few of the children can boast of a high-quality mouth cleaning procedure. And in the presence of dental systems, this task becomes even more difficult.

    Particles of food can get under the structural elements, which, if untimely removed, become an excellent breeding ground for microbes.

    Particular attention should be paid to complex connecting or locking elements, where bacteria are most difficult to clean out.

A lot of useful information on this topic was told by Dr. Komarovsky:

anaerobic bacteria

There are a lot of bacteria in the mouth. The development of halitosis is provoked Gram-negative anaerobic bacteria, which in the course of their life activity feed and emit waste. It is these substances that form the presence of an unpleasant odor.

The most common causes of bad breath are:

  • hydrogen sulfide- provokes the appearance of the smell of rotten eggs;
  • cadavrine– forms a sharp ammonia smell;
  • putrescine- there is a smell of decay;
  • skatole- There is a smell of feces.

Anaerobic bacteria are active develop in the absence of oxygen. Such places are located in areas under a layer of plaque.

The most common areas of localization of pathogenic microorganisms are:

  1. Language. The structure of the mucous membrane of the tongue allows microbes to firmly settle on its surface and hold firmly during cleaning. The most convenient breeding site is the root of the tongue, since it is less accessible for cleansing than the tip.
  2. Periodontium. A favorite area of ​​localization is not only the outer surface of the soft tissues, but also the gum pockets.

    The presence of dental deposits provokes the accumulation of a large number of bacteria under the gums, which are not removed during normal brushing. This will require the help of a dentist.

  3. Nasopharyngeal mucosa. In this case, the provocateur of the appearance of bacteria are ENT diseases that spread the infection into the oral cavity. The fastest growth of bacteria occurs in pathologies complicated by purulent manifestations: tonsillitis, sinusitis, tonsillitis, etc.

Transfer about the causes and consequences of halitosis:

How to get rid

Treatment for halitosis will depend on the underlying cause. But, in any case, to stop the problem, an integrated approach is needed, which includes various factors: special hygiene products, good nutrition, etc.

Care products

In halitosis, oral care products play an important role.

The occurrence of a bad smell requires careful selection of the paste and the inclusion of additional products in the cleansing procedure:

  1. Toothpaste. To clean the mouth, it is recommended to use pastes with a high content of antiseptic substances. The most effective are the types containing carbamide peroxide and sodium carbonate (baking soda). The total composition should contain from 3 to 10% of these substances.
  2. Rinsers. Effective against anaerobic bacteria, rinses with 0.2% Chlorhexidine solution or 0.05 Triclosan are considered. During the use of these funds, up to 99% of microbes are destroyed. The effect after application lasts up to 5 hours.
  3. Additional funds. To reduce the likelihood of the development of pathogenic microorganisms, it is necessary to use various devices that contribute to a thorough cleaning of the oral cavity.

    An ultrasonic brush is well suited for this, allowing you to clean deposits from under the gums. To clean the surface of the tongue, you should use a dental scraper.

The most popular and effective device for obtaining a positive result in halitosis is an irrigator.

Help from a specialist

Regardless of the cause, halitosis cannot be treated without the help of a dentist. During the initial visit, the doctor carefully examines the clinical picture and determines the treatment plan. Typically, procedures to resolve this issue include the following:

  1. Sanation. This is a mandatory procedure that can only be performed by a dentist. Simultaneously with the cleaning of the crowns with the help of instruments or ultrasound, microbes are washed out from the gum pockets.
  2. Medications. After sanitation, mandatory rinsing with aseptic agents is prescribed. Most often used: Chlorhexidine, Cetylpyridine, Remodent, Camphomen. To obtain an antibacterial effect, it is necessary to strictly follow the recommendations of the dentist.

In this video, experts will tell you how to treat halitosis:

Food

In some cases, to eliminate such a phenomenon as a bad smell, it is enough to balance your diet. When compiling it, the following recommendations should be taken into account:

  • it is desirable to use more solid foods, for example, carrots or apples, they contribute to the removal of plaque, due to the mechanical effect on it;
  • must be entered in the menu vegetables rich in chlorophyll. These include broccoli, cabbage, spinach. The substance in them has a powerful deodorizing and antibacterial effect;
  • at least once a day, it is necessary to introduce into the diet carrot juice. It actively reduces the total number of anaerobic bacteria and slows down the process of plaque formation.

Folk ways

To effectively combat bad breath, there are many methods of alternative treatment. You can fix the problem using the following methods:

  • regularly rinse your mouth with decoction based on ginger and anise seeds. One teaspoon of raw materials is brewed for one glass of water;
  • you can use hydrogen peroxide;
  • no less effective will be the daily use of one apples on an empty stomach, or irrigation of the mouth with diluted apple cider vinegar;
  • helps solution, prepared from chamomile, nettle, wormwood, oak bark.

Quick problem solving

To quickly restore fresh breath, you can use the following tools:

  • essential oils by adding them to the rinse solution. The most effective is the oil of sage, tea tree, grapefruit, mint, cloves;
  • chewing gums. For the best cleaning of the oral cavity, it is necessary to opt for chewing gums, which include xylitol. For example, Orbit, Stimorol, Dirol;
  • conditioners. They can provide the fastest effect. The most powerful mouthwash is Listerin, which instantly removes germs from the mouth.

Prevention

The main preventive measures of halitosis are: oral care and timely treatment of common pathologies. Do not forget about regular visits to the dentist and sanitation of the mouth.

You need to drink enough fluids to ensure normal saliva production.

Limit the use of foods that are too hot to cause mucosal burns, as this can lead to the formation of a favorable flora for bacterial growth.