If a person has bad breath, it becomes a cause of concern for him and a cause of embarrassment for others. Every person going to a business meeting, a romantic date or just visiting friends wants to have fresh, pleasant breath.
Modern advertising convinces the consumer that there are many ways to remove bad breath, quickly and effectively. Today we’ll talk about which ways to freshen your breath really work, and which are just an advertising gimmick.
First, let's list the methods by which a person can freshen their breath:
- mouth freshener in the form of a spray;
- mouth rinse;
- refreshing candies;
- chewing gum with mint flavor;
- mint, greens.
But before we begin a detailed description of each method of freshening breath, we will answer the question: why does bad breath appear?
Types of halitosis
- Physiological . This type of halitosis is associated with the physiological characteristics of the oral cavity and the predominantly putrefactive composition of the microflora of plaque on the back of the tongue. In this case, teeth and gums can be completely healthy.
- Pathological . In this case, the cause of bad breath may be various inflammations in the oral cavity or diseases of the internal organs.
- Pseudogalithosis . With this type of halitosis, there is a slight odor from the mouth, which is almost not felt by others, but bothers the patient himself. These cases are typical for people who suffered from true halitosis, successfully treated it, but continue to worry about bad breath.
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Oral probiotics (oral probiotics)
Probiotics are live microorganisms that promote the growth of friendly microbiota. Most often, such substances are used to improve intestinal microflora, but not many people know that there are probiotics for the oral cavity.
It is important to understand that probiotics for the oral cavity are represented by one group of substances, and probiotics for the intestines are a completely different one. Scientific research regarding these drugs is very controversial, so dentists recommend using them only as an addition to the prescribed treatment for dysbiosis.
Causes of bad breath
Local reasons
- Dental problems . One of the causes of bad breath is dental caries and its complications. In the cavities formed when teeth decay, food particles accumulate and bacteria actively multiply, which causes a stale odor.
- Gum diseases . Inflammation of the gums and oral mucosa can also cause halitosis.
- Insufficient oral hygiene . Insufficient care of teeth, gums, tongue, as well as orthodontic and orthopedic structures (prostheses, appliances, mouthguards, etc.) is a common cause of bad breath. As a result of neglect of daily hygiene, food particles accumulate between the teeth, on the back of the tongue, near the gums and on the elements of the denture, which become a favorable environment for the growth of bacteria. During the life of these microorganisms, highly volatile sulfur compounds are released, causing bad breath.
- Dry mouth syndrome . This syndrome is a common cause of bad breath. Due to the fact that saliva is produced slowly and in small quantities, the processes of natural cleansing of the oral cavity are disrupted and a breeding ground is created for the proliferation of pathogenic bacteria. Dry mouth can be caused by: diseases of the salivary glands,
- diabetes mellitus,
- vitamin deficiency,
- radiation damage,
- botulism,
- taking certain medications.
Common reasons
- Nutritional pattern . The development of bad breath is promoted by eating protein-rich meat and dairy products. During their processing, alkaline compounds are formed that change the acid-base balance in the oral cavity. At the same time, microorganisms begin to actively multiply, causing bad breath. Eating foods containing large amounts of carbohydrates, on the contrary, helps reduce the intensity of the odor.
- Somatic diseases . The appearance of an unpleasant odor is caused by: some diseases of the digestive system,
- liver pathology, severe lung diseases,
- pathology of ENT organs.
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Microflora of the oral cavity
The human oral cavity is a unique ecological system. The permanent microflora in the mouth is formed by hundreds of different organisms; a moist, relatively warm environment creates favorable conditions for their reproduction.
The following play a significant role in the composition of the normal microflora of the oral cavity:
- veillonella, which neutralize acidic foods;
- bacteria of the genera Propionibacterium, Corynebacterium and Eubacterium, producing molecular oxygen;
- lactobacilli;
- rod-shaped lactobacilli - producers of lactic acid;
- bifidobacteria, necessary for the fermentation of carbohydrates and the production of B vitamins and others.
It is difficult to overestimate the importance of healthy oral microflora for the body. It is in this environment that the primary process of food digestion occurs, and therefore the absorption of vitamins and nutrients. Normal microflora is necessary for the proper functioning of the immune system and protecting the body from various fungal, bacterial and viral infections.
With the uncontrolled proliferation of opportunistic microflora and an imbalance of bacteria in the oral mucosa, oral dysbiosis occurs, an extremely unpleasant disease that provokes damage to tooth enamel and gums and can lead to extremely serious consequences for the entire body.
How to identify bad breath
Spoon or napkin test.
With a spoon. The plaque is removed from the back third of the tongue using a plastic spoon. After 1 minute, the smell is assessed by the patient himself or a trusted person conducting the test.
With a napkin. You can also use a sanitary napkin to remove plaque from the back of your tongue. To do this, stick it out as far as possible, holding it by the tip. The back third of the tongue is wiped with a clean napkin and its smell is assessed after 40-45 seconds. The results of such a test make it possible not only to identify halitosis, but also to determine the source of the microorganisms that provoke it - plaque on the back of the tongue.
Dental floss test.
The spaces between the upper and lower molars are cleaned with unscented and unwaxed dental floss.
Then they look at what color the used section of thread was dyed. A yellow tint indicates the presence of plaque, a red tint indicates bleeding gums. Both signs are factors that contribute to the development of halitosis.
30-40 seconds after cleaning the interdental space, the smell of the floss is assessed.
Organoleptic measurement of breath odor.
The dentist assesses the intensity and nature of bad breath. To obtain accurate test results on the eve of the test, the patient and the researcher should refrain from taking antimicrobial drugs, eating spicy foods, seasonings, onions and garlic (2 days before the test), and using scented cosmetics (one day before the test). For 12 hours before the measurement, the patient should not smoke, brush his teeth, use mouthwash, breath fresheners or chewing gum.
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For what purpose is it used?
Antiseptic solutions, gels and ointments are used for dental pathologies that require an integrated approach. They allow you to quickly stop the inflammatory process, efficiently cleanse the mucous membranes of infectious agents, and reduce pain in the teeth and gums. Their use is relevant during the recovery period after dental surgery (including the removal of a diseased tooth), to relieve swelling, and eliminate foul odor.
It should be remembered that drugs of this group can cause negative side reactions. So, sometimes instead of the long-awaited recovery, patients receive:
- tissue irritation;
- itching;
- peeling;
- increased sensitivity of the gums.
If such negative symptoms appear, you should stop treatment and get a second dental consultation . It is possible that the disorder was caused by other drugs that the patient applied to the tissue in parallel with the disinfectant medication. Therefore, it is advisable to immediately clarify the situation.
How to eliminate bad breath
Regular oral hygiene. Regular oral care is one of the main ways to combat unpleasant odor. To fix the problem you need to:
- brush your teeth at least 2 times a day;
- Use floss or mouthwash after every meal. LISTERINE® rinses will do an excellent job of eliminating unpleasant odors;
- clean the tongue of plaque, which is a breeding ground for the proliferation of microorganisms.
Elimination of dental problems. Since the cause of unpleasant odor can be various inflammations in the oral cavity and dental problems, you should regularly visit the dentist for timely detection of diseases and their treatment. The doctor carefully examines the mucous membrane, periodontium and teeth, and examines the ducts of the salivary glands. If necessary, professional sanitation of the oral cavity is carried out, including removal of plaque and tartar, treatment of caries and its complications, elimination of foci of infection, etc. Sometimes it may be necessary to replace dentures with new ones that meet modern dental standards.
Correction of diet. It is recommended to eliminate from the diet foods that cause bad breath: onions, garlic, peppers, cheeses, salami, etc. They contain cysteine, which with the participation of microorganisms is converted into hydrogen sulfide. The latter often causes bad breath.
Rejection of bad habits. To eliminate the unpleasant odor, it is recommended to stop smoking and drinking alcoholic beverages.
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Chronic kidney disease (CKD)
CKD includes a number of diseases and disorders that damage the kidneys and limit their ability to filter waste from the body. This leads to a severe buildup of toxins in the body, including ammonia, resulting in urine odor.
Other complications that can result from CKD include anemia, high blood pressure, abnormal electrolyte levels, fluid build-up, heart disease, increased risk of stroke and heart attack, and kidney failure.
Several factors can increase the risk of CKD, including diabetes, drug abuse, high blood pressure and a family history of kidney disease.
There is no cure for CKD, so treatment is aimed at relieving symptoms. People with CKD must make lifestyle changes and may also take medications for high blood pressure and high cholesterol.
People with severe CKD may need dialysis or a kidney transplant.
Treatment of bad breath
Treatment of the underlying disease. Sometimes halitosis is a symptom of some systematic disease of the body. Bad breath can occur when:
- dysfunction of the gastrointestinal tract,
- renal and liver failure,
- ENT diseases,
- problems with the bronchopulmonary system, etc.
In this case, to eliminate halitosis, the underlying disease is diagnosed and treated (conservative, physiotherapeutic, etc.).
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Content:
- The main causes of the smell of acetone from the mouth 1.1. Hunger 1.2. Alcohol poisoning 1.3. Physical fatigue 1.4. Acetonemic syndrome 1.5. Gestation period 1.6. Diabetes mellitus 1.7. Ketoacidosis 1.8. Thyrotoxicosis 1.9. Liver diseases 1.10. Kidney diseases 1.11. Schizophrenia
- Other causes of the problem
- Diagnostic measures
If your breath smells like acetone (dimethyl ketone), you should think about your health. This is a dangerous symptom that occurs in a variety of diseases. Normally, the acetone smell should not come from a person. Therefore, it is important to identify why it appeared and what can be done to get rid of it.
Treatment of dental diseases
- filling teeth affected by caries,
- tooth extraction if treatment is impossible,
- treatment of inflammatory gum diseases.
Use of local medicines. Today there is a wide range of products that help get rid of bad breath:
- toothpastes,
- dental gels,
- lozenges, etc.
Before using them, you should consult your doctor.
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Uremia
Uremia is the final stage of kidney failure. Because the kidneys can no longer filter waste effectively, substances such as urea, creatine, and other nitrogenous products accumulate in the blood rather than being excreted in the urine. The accumulation of these nitrogenous compounds often leads to urine odor in the mouth.
Uremia is a serious medical condition requiring emergency care and hospitalization. Doctors will determine the underlying cause of uremia and perform dialysis to filter the blood. Some people may need a kidney transplant.
