Halitosis is an oral health problem where the main symptom is bad smelling breath. In most cases, finding the cause of the bad breath is the first step toward treating this preventable condition.
Halitosis and Respiratory Issues: What You Need to Know
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If you have persistent bad breath despite practicing good oral hygiene and making lifestyle changes, it is important to see a doctor. They can help diagnose and treat any underlying medical conditions that may be contributing to halitosis, such as liver disease or diabetes.
But it could also be more serious than that. Bad breath can be an indicator that something is seriously wrong with your health. But how can you tell the difference? Here’s a guide to some of the causes of bad breath, and how serious they might be.
Saliva helps displace bacteria in the mouth that causes bad odors. When you have dry mouth, odor-causing bacteria is not washed away by saliva, resulting in bad breath. This is why most people have "morning breath;" your saliva production decreases when you are sleeping causing dry mouth and bad breath.
Tobacco smoking is the most concentrated form of pollution that most people are exposed to. It impairs the ability to identify odors and diminishes the sense of taste. Quitting smoking improves the smell function.
Another way that alcohol can lead to bad breath is by changing the makeup of bacteria in your mouth. A study published in Microbiome found that people who drank the most were more likely to have bacteria in their mouths that contributed to bad breath.
If you have a follow-up appointment, write down the date, time, and purpose for that visit.
Occasional bad breath is common and can be easily remedied by practicing good oral hygiene. However, chronic halitosis is a more persistent condition that requires further attention. Halitosis is often caused by underlying medical conditions or poor oral health habits that need to be addressed.
- Sugary foods: Bacteria in the mouth feed on sugar and produce acids that can contribute to bad breath.
Certain foods and beverages can contribute to bad breath from the throat. Foods such as garlic, onions, and spices contain volatile compounds that can be absorbed into the bloodstream and released through the breath. These compounds can linger in the throat, causing bad breath.
Visit your dentist on a regular basis. Regular checkups can find problems, such as gum disease, infections, and dry mouth. If you have bad breath and the dentist can’t find a cause, you may be referred to your primary healthcare provider for more follow-up.
Halitosis, also known as bad breath, can be caused by various factors, some of which originate in the mouth, while others may stem from elsewhere in the body. Here are some of the most common reasons and causes of bad breath or halitosis:
At Gross Dentistas we are aware of the importance and seriousness that the problem of halitosis entails. For this reason, we wanted to write this article dedicated to this matter. Throughout it we will show you what are its origins, causes and the treatments that fight it.
If we believe that your bad breath originates elsewhere in the body, we will work with your primary care physician to help you find the right solution for fresh breath.