Bad breath

Bad breath is an important problem for many inhabitants of our planet. Statistics show that up to 50% of people in one way or another face this problem throughout their lives. This health situation has consequences for the manifestation of personality in the social sphere. Uncertainty, shyness, communication problems – a small list of what threatens a person with bad breath. He can pursue a person, both constantly and in certain cases, for example, on an empty stomach. Doctors warn that the smell can cause both dental problems and diseases of the internal organs of a person. As for the scientific definition, in medicine this phenomenon is called “halitosis”.

But there is no need to rush and rush in search of unproven methods of treating and eliminating the problem, which would save you from the annoying phenomenon in a matter of days. To begin with, it is recommended to find out what caused this unpleasant odor and reduce the list of possible causes. But the best thing, of course, is to go to an appointment with a qualified dentist. A modern doctor’s office is equipped with equipment that helps to quickly find out if a person has signs of halitosis and diagnose its causes.

If we do not take into account the cases when the cause of this problem is cigarettes, onions, garlic, then it is very often quite difficult to establish that the cause of the smell is sometimes quite serious health problems. Chronic diseases of the liver, stomach, intestines, pancreas, lungs can also lead to this result, because bacteria can develop and multiply not only in the oral cavity, but also in other organs.

Symptoms of halitosis

Oddly enough, many people are not even aware of such a problem due to the fact that they do not feel it. If you still have doubts about this, then the easiest way is to ask an honest person to answer this question from a person you trust or who is close enough to you. If this path is too difficult for you, then the second and perhaps more effective option would be to contact a dentist and then undergo a medical examination.

As a last resort, you can try to check yourself for symptoms. Be sure to pay attention to the fact that the use of toothpastes and chewing gums for a sufficiently long period can dull the unpleasant odor, so the test is best done a few hours after using them.

First of all, you should breathe into the palm of your hand and quickly bring it to your nose. If at the same time an unpleasant odor is felt, it is necessary to begin treatment. You can also use dental floss and insert it between your teeth, moving it a little (after that, sniff). If it has a bad smell, then the problem is really present.

Another effective way is to use a cotton pad, which needs to be wiped effortlessly on the tongue and the inside of the cheeks (if after that it smells unpleasant, then this is halitosis).

Types of halitosis

There are three main types of oral disease associated with bad breath:

1. Physiological: This type of halitosis is more related to the characteristics of the oral cavity of a particular person. The cause of the problem is the microflora that develops on the tongue, most often on its back. In this case, there is no reason to suspect the teeth or gums of the smell and diligently brush them several times a day. Your teeth may be in perfect condition, but the smell from your mouth will not go away. In such cases, it is recommended to check the tongue for plaque. It is he, as a sign of the vital activity of microorganisms, that can cause an unpleasant odor.
2. Pathological: with this type of halitosis, the causes of odor are inflammatory processes that take place in the oral cavity, or negative phenomena that accompany diseases of the internal organs of a person. Perhaps this type is much more dangerous, and in the absence of symptoms of the first subspecies, it is better to consult a doctor and not delay treatment.
3. Pseudogalitosis: the safest type. In such cases, none of the people around and interlocutors of the person feels an unpleasant smell, but the person himself worries about it. Such situations often happen with those people who once had halitosis and successfully got rid of this problem, but at the same time they cannot psychologically free themselves from fears about bad breath.

Characteristics of smells

At the moment, there are certain characteristics of odors that can alert a person to certain health problems:

• with problems associated with the pancreas, the smell of acetone most often occurs;
• with kidney failure or in connection with other kidney problems, the smell of ammonia is manifested;
• pulmonary and bronchial problems are accompanied by a putrid odor;
• digestive problems bring the smell of hydrogen sulfide (rotten eggs);
• with gastritis, a sour smell is characteristic;
• if there are problems with the liver or gallbladder, a bitter smell appears;
• with dysbacteriosis and intestinal obstruction, the smell of fecal secretions occurs.

The main causes of bad breath

There are many reasons why bad breath can develop. Conventionally, they can be divided into the following:

1. Poor-quality hygiene products (the toothbrush should be as maneuverable as possible, not too hard). All this provides maximum access when brushing your teeth and prevents the accumulation of food debris, which in the future can lead to dental problems and bad breath.
2. Inconsistent dental care: Doctors recommend brushing your teeth at least 2 times a day to clean the bacteria that cause cavities and their waste products that cause bad breath.
3. Smoking: its duration in itself can be the cause of such an inconvenient phenomenon (besides, smokers quite often have neglected problems and dental diseases).
4. The most common cause is caries, in the cavities of which food remains get stuck, rot and create bad breath.
5. Diseases of the internal organs of a person, for example, problems with the digestive organs (gastritis).
6. Eating low-quality food or drinks (such as fast food, simple carbohydrate foods, and carbonated drinks).

Who is most likely to develop halitosis?

There are groups of predisposed people in whom this diagnosis is most often manifested, among which there are persons suffering from:

• disorders of the endocrine system;
• overweight;
• from all kinds of hormonal disorders;
• complications associated with the functioning of the salivary glands;
• tendency to gas formation;
• immunodeficiency and disorders in this area;
• inflammatory or infectious phenomena in the oral cavity.

Violations of the intestinal microflora in humans can equally lead to an unpleasant odor from the oral cavity.

Is it necessary to undergo an examination?

Most often, situations arise when a person cannot independently determine the cause of an unpleasant odor from the oral cavity. In such cases, instrumental and laboratory diagnostics will help best of all, and for this you definitely need to seek help from a specialist. Therefore, the most important recommendation is that if the smell still arises and does not disappear for a long time, despite the various hygiene measures that you are trying to eliminate it, then a medical examination and a comprehensive examination are required. For a more accurate analysis and identification of specific causes, you need to visit several specialists. Among them: gastroenterologist, nutritionist, periodontist. You will also have to pass general urine and blood tests.

In the dentist’s office, you can take a fairly quick and simple breath test that will determine whether you have halitosis or just halitophobia. Also, given that the causes of this phenomenon can be very diverse, testing is directed both to the smell directly from the oral cavity, and to nasal breathing and pulmonary air.

Pre-hospital prophylaxis

The most effective way to eliminate problems associated with bad breath is regular oral care. Proper and regular hygiene will help you get rid of the problem and prevent the recurrence of such problems in the future.

In order for all measures not to be useless, you need to brush your teeth at least 2 times a day. After each meal, it is necessary to use mouthwash (or plain water), to clean the tongue from plaque, which is a breeding ground for microorganisms that in the future can cause an unpleasant odor. For this, toothbrushes with a special nozzle on the back, designed to clean the tongue, are ideal.

Also, the ideal way to protect yourself from such problems in the future is to visit the dentist regularly, even despite the subjective absence of problems. Timely treatment of a small focus of the problem will cost an order of magnitude cheaper financially and psychologically. The doctor regularly checks, examines the mucous membrane, teeth and, if necessary, prescribes professional sanitation of the oral cavity (removes harmful plaque, eliminates caries or its complications, infection, etc.).

The most important step towards getting rid of problems will be the correction of the diet. First of all, it is worth removing those foods that lead to bad breath: onions, garlic, cheeses, sausages, etc. They contain elements that, when interacting with microorganisms, provoke unpleasant odors.

In addition, one of the most important methods of dealing with bad smell will be the rejection of bad habits. Many may be surprised, but to eliminate this kind of problem, it is recommended to get rid of not only smoking, but also the frequent use of alcoholic and carbonated drinks.

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