Bad breath (halitosis) is an unpleasant smell of breath that others notice when speaking or exhaling.
These complaints may be caused by poor oral hygiene or indicate other health problems.
Bad breath can also be aggravated by:
- Some foods that you consume,
- Other unhealthy lifestyle habits.
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Causes of bad breath
Poor dental hygiene – Experts estimate that bad breath is caused by poor dental hygiene in 90% of cases.
When eating, food is broken down by bacteria that are naturally present in the mouth. When breaking down food and proteins, the body produces and releases gases (for example, hydrogen sulfide vapors) that sometimes smell bad.
After swallowing, food residues settle between the teeth, which decompose (rot). Bacteria then continue the decomposition process.
Rotten eggs usually give off hydrogen sulfide (hydrogen sulfide).
The stench can be caused by methylmercaptan.
The bacteria living in the mouth release hydrogen sulfide. These are compounds of sulfur. Dentists often refer to these compounds with the abbreviation VSC (Volatile Sulphur Compounds).
Volatile is the term for volatile evaporation, even at normal temperatures.
Dry mouth – The mouth is moistened and kept clean by the saliva. With dry mouth, dead cells accumulate:
- Tongue
- Gums
- Inner walls of the cheek.
These cells begin to rot and give off an unpleasant odor.
Smoking can cause dry mouth.
With dysfunction of the salivary glands, the likelihood of dry mouth and bad breath increases.
Morning bad breath – Most people observe that breath smells much worse in the morning than during the day.
The mouth becomes drier when sleeping.
If you sleep with your mouth open, you often have a very dry mouth when you wake up in the morning.
When getting up and having breakfast, salivation is stimulated.
With good dental hygiene, the morning bad breath usually only exists for a short time.
Food and drink – Certain foods such as onions, garlic, and some spices can cause bad breath.
Bicarbonate can help against these odors.
Alcohol and coffee are other possible causes of bad breath. Garlic-related halitosis is not mainly caused by bacteria, but by the garlic itself.
The bacteria in the mouth tend to produce large amounts of smelly gas when they break down proteins, for example when consuming:
- Meat
- Fish.
If meat remains settle between the teeth and the teeth are not brushed thoroughly, the occurrence of bad breath is much more likely.
As a rule, vegan people do not suffer from bad breath, as fruits, vegetables, nuts and legumes do not cause halitosis.
The problem occurs when:
- animal products (meat, fish, milk and milk products) are consumed,
- Processed and processed foods with many ingredients are consumed, which are difficult to digest.
Cigarette smoke – The bad breath does not arise solely because of the unpleasant smell of smoke entering the mouth and respiratory tract.
Smokers also suffer more from gum disease and other dental problems, which in turn lead to bad breath.
Non-smokers are much less likely to have bad breath than smokers.
Bacteria – In most cases of bad breath, it is assumed that the bad smell is caused by the bacterial decomposition of food residues in the mouth.
When the bacteria break down proteins and other residues in the mouth, bad-smelling gases are produced.
Food residues between the teeth. During normal tooth brushing, not all food residues are removed. The residues rot and are full of bacteria. By brushing your teeth after eating and flossing, you can eliminate and prevent this problem.
Plaque and tartar
Dental plaque is the accumulation of a whitish, soft material that forms on the surface of the teeth.
It occurs when bacteria mix with food and saliva.
Dental plaque contains many types of bacteria.
Tartar consists of 80% mineral salts, which are formed from hardened and calcified dental plaque. Tartar is firmly attached to the tooth.
Gum disease is infection or inflammation of the tissues associated with the teeth.
Periodontitis is an infection characterized by the growth of Gram-negative bacteria.
These bacteria produce volatile sulfur compounds that are the cause of bad breath (Multidisciplinary breath-odour clinic Delanghe G, Ghyselen J, van Steenberghe D, Feenstra L Lancet. 1997)
White tongue coating at the back. In some people, a thin, white layer develops in the back of the tongue.
This coating may contain:
- Bacteria
- Fungi
- Keratin
- Waste products.
That would explain why some people have bad breath who actually practice good oral hygiene.
Medication
Some medications can cause halitosis. Medications associated with halitosis include:
- Nitrates – used to treat angina
- Some chemotherapeutic medicines
- Phenothiazines (sedative).
If the medication taken causes bad breath, the doctor may recommend an alternative.
Strict diet or fasting
Hunger can cause a sweetish, unpleasant smell of breath.
When blood sugar levels are low, the body breaks down fatty acids and forms ketones (ketone bodies) to cover the required energy requirements.
In children, ketosis can occur when they cannot eat due to certain ailments.
Some ketones are released through the breath and cause a fruity smell.
Other diseases that cause halitosis include:
- Infections of the lungs, nose or throat
- Bronchitis
- Bronchiectasis
- Sinusitis
- Diabetes
- Liver diseases such as cirrhosis
- Gastroesophageal reflux
Who can help with bad breath odor?
To make a diagnosis, you should contact the dentist.
The assessment of bad breath is subjective and is based on the air exhaled from the nose or mouth and compares them with each other (organoleptic test).
The smell, which is detectable from the mouth but not from the nose, is probably of oral or pharyngeal origin.
Nasal odor alone can come from the nose or sinuses.
In rare cases, foul odor comes from both the nose and mouth, likely:
- From the digestive system,
- From the respiratory system.
Remedies for halitosis or bad breath
To avoid bad breath, a change in diet is recommended.
A vegetarian or vegan diet without garlic, onions and other spices may already be enough to solve the problem.
There are also herbal remedies, herbs or essential oils that can help.
- Fennel
Fennel is an excellent remedy for the mouth. In addition, it is a natural antibiotic and fights the bacteria in the mouth.- Chew a spoonful of fennel slowly to freshen the breath and stimulate saliva production.
- You can also drink a cup of fennel tea several times a day. To do this, brew two teaspoons of fennel seeds in a cup of hot water and leave to infuse. Drink after 5 to 10 minutes.
- Fenugreek
Tea from fenugreek is very effective when bad breath is caused by a respiratory infection, for example, sore throat, laryngitis or bronchitis.- Boil a teaspoon of fenugreek seeds in a cup of water.
- Filter and drink this tea once a day until the mouth smells fresh again.
- Cloves
Cloves refresh the breath and also have a strong antibacterial effect.- The easiest method is to chew a few cloves in your mouth. In this way, bad breath can be eliminated in a few minutes.
- You can also make a tea with cloves. To do this, bring a cup of water to a boil, add a tablespoon of cloves and leave to infuse for 5 to 10 minutes. You can also use the tea twice a day for gargling.
Treatment of bad breath (halitosis), depending on the cause
As a rule, the most effective method against bad breath is improved dental hygiene. The daily care program should include:
- Thorough brushing of teeth and gums,
- cleaning of the interdental spaces with dental floss,
- Tongue cleaning.
Brushing your teeth for bad breath
According to the dentist’s recommendation, the teeth should be brushed at least twice a day with a fluoride-containing toothpaste.
- One should choose a toothbrush of small to medium size with soft, synthetic bristles.
- Change the toothbrush every 3 to 4 months.
- After eating, teeth should be brushed for at least two minutes. You should also have a toothbrush with you at work or school and brush your teeth after lunch.
- Brush all tooth surfaces carefully, special attention should be paid to the area between teeth and gums.
Dentist or dental hygienist may recommend a special toothbrush with a few long bristles for certain problems in the mouth.
Use a separate toothbrush or tongue cleaner to gently clean the tongue. Some toothbrushes have a scraper at the back of the brush head for this purpose.
Use dental floss to clean the interdental spaces and remove food residues to prevent tooth decay. When brushing your teeth, only about 60% of the tooth surface is cleaned.
The dentist sometimes recommends a daily mouthwash with antibacterial or odor-enhancing mouthwash solutions.
The mouthwash does not replace brushing your teeth, but can be used as a supplementary home remedy.
Cleaning of dentures or dentures in case of bad breath
Dentures should be taken out at night so that the mouth has an opportunity to recover.
The dentures must be carefully cleaned before being reinserted the next morning. Please note the following:
- Do not use toothpaste to clean your teeth, as this could damage the surface and lead to staining.
- Carefully clean the dentures with soap and lukewarm water, denture cream or special cleaning solutions.
- Use a separate toothbrush to clean the dentures.
In this way, the dentures remain fresh and clean and this prevents the formation of plaque that could cause bad breath.
Effective means for fresh breath
- Healthy, balanced diet and renunciation of strongly flavored and spicy foods.
- Consume as little sugary food and drink as possible, as they increase the amount of oral bacteria. Above all, sweet snacks should be avoided.
- Limit alcohol consumption.
- Quit smoking.
- Limit coffee consumption.
- Drink plenty of water to prevent dry mouth.
Chewing gum
Some people chew sugar-free gum after each meal. It is not known to what extent this measure relieves bad breath, but chewing stimulates salivation in any case.
Saliva supports mouthwash and the elimination of food residues after eating.
Nevertheless, chewing gum is harmful to the organism, so it is not recommended.
Diet and nutrition
Sugar and sweet foods are the main foods responsible for allowing the bacteria to thrive and produce acid, which promotes the development of tooth decay. Acidic drinks and food are other factors that contribute to tooth erosion.
Some tips against bad breath:
- Try to reduce the amount of acid that comes into contact with the teeth.
- Avoid carbonated drinks (including mineral water) and fruit juices, as they tend to be acidic.
- Swallow acidic drinks (carbonated drinks and fruit juices) quickly – do not hold in your mouth for a long time.
- Do not brush your teeth immediately after consuming acidic foods and drinks, e.g. fruit juice or oranges, but let 30 minutes pass before brushing your teeth to prevent erosion of the teeth.
Even after vomiting, an hour should pass until brushing your teeth (because acid is also contained in vomit).
