Health

Causes of bad breath?

Bad breath is a common problem that concerns the health greately the daytoday activities of somany people. The odor from the mouth offenssive is unwelcome to those who are in close contact with respiratory ill. The problem will be doubled by psychological trauma leading to depression. I suffer from this problem wil be isolated from society. This can also lead to marital disharmony.

Literally speaking all humanbeings are badbreathres. Oral cavity contains millions of anaerobic bacteria such as Fusobacterium and Actinomyces acting on the protein of food materials and putrifies them. This process causes the formation of offenssive gases such as hydrogen sulfide, methyl mescaptan, cadaverine, skatol, putrescine ect causing bad odor. If oral hygiene is not maintained properly all will suffer from bad breath. Most of us control of this language regularly brushing, cleaning and gargling. Maintining Even after cleaning the mouth some individuals suffer from offenssive smell due to various causes, which must be diagnosed and treated appropriately.

Some common causes of bad breath.

1) poor oral hygiene:

If oral hygiene is not maintained properly the mouth becomes the seat of millions of bacteria that produce gas offenssive degrading the food debris. Bad breath is severe in those who do not brush their teeth regularly and clean the mouth after every food. Snacks taken inbetween meals can also produce bad breath because of improper cleaning.
Badbreath is common in almost all people in the morning upon awakening. During sleep there is less production of saliva. Saliva has got some antibacterial properties that help to keep your mouth clean. Saliva conains molecules of oxygen that is required to make oral cavity aerobic.The reduction is the quantity during sleep makes a favorable condition for anaerobic bacteria.

2) food habits:

The main cause of bad smell is due to degradation of protein by the bacteria, and therefore all foods rich in protein promotes bad breath. Meat, fish, dairy products, eggs, sweets, nuts, pears and ECT can cause bad breath. Some food articles can produce particular type of odor that may be unwelcome. Raw onion can produce typical bad smell. It is said that an apple a day keeps the doctor away, a raw onion a day keeps everyone away. Eating peanuts can also produce bad smell. However, if proper cleaning is done smell can be reduced regardless of the nature of the food. Irregularities in times of food can also produce bad breath. Small food articles taken in between meals can also produce bad smell.

3) Biofilm:

There is the formation of a thin sticky layer called biofilm on the tongue and oral mucosa. This coating is often on the posterior surface of the tongue where millions of gram negative bacteriae are seen. The coating thickness on the tongue is always associated with badbreath. Even a thin biofilm can make anaerobic conditions favorable for bacterial growth.

4) Dental caries:

This is a destructive process causing decalcification with destruction of enamel and dentin resulting cavitisation the tooth. These are produced mainly by the lactobacilli. Food particles are deposited inside these cavities and are decomposed by anaerobic bacteria producing bad smell.Brushing does not remove the food debris easily and hence are decomposed completely normal. Caries are common in schoolgoing children and in those who donot maintain proper oral hygiene. Lack of calcium and vitamin E may also predispose caries.

5) Gingivitis:

Gum is a mucus membrane with supporting connective tissue covering the tooth bearing ends of the mandible. The main function is to protect the rubber. Gingivitis is the inflammation of the gingiva. Due to various causes gums are infected resulting in swelling, pain and discharge. If the condition worsen the spread of infection to the area of exhaust peridontal leaders continually called periodontal disease. Sometimes the infection goes deep producing alveolar abscess with discharge of pus. Infection may also reach the bone causing osteomyelitis.All these conditions can produce odor offenssive.

6) Gum retraction:

When the gums retract from the teeth a gap that has developed lodge food particles and cause bad breath.

7) Dental plaques and tartar deposits, plaques and tartar is deposited mainly in the spaces between the teeth and gums. This will provide shelter for food waste and bacteria that cause bad breath.

The ulcerative lesions and finishes:

Almost all ulcerative lesions of the mouth are associated with bad breath. These lesions can be caused by bacteria, viruses, food allergies or due to autoimmune diseases. Apthous ulcer is the commonest among ulcerative lesions. Others are herpes, fungal infections, Vincent angina, infectious mononucleosis, scarlet fever, diphtheria, reactions and ect. Cancerous ulcers produce severe bad breath. All fungal infections produce white coating (candidiasis). Leucoplakia is a thick white patch on the mucous membrane of the mouth and tongue. It is regarded as a precancerous condition. Breath Offenssive is associated with these conditions.

9) Diseases of the salivary glands:

Saliva is very useful for the supply of oxygen to all parts of the oral cavity. Even a thin film coating called biofilm can provide an anaerobic condition in the mouth. Saliva can wet these layers and make an aerobic condition which is unfavorable for the bacteria. Any condition that reduces the production of saliva can increase bacterial activity. Sometimes the salivary duct is obstructed by stones or tumors.Cancer salivary gland is associated with odor offenssive. In dischrge suppurative parotitis purulant mouth causes bad breath.

10) Tonsillitis:

Tonsils are a pair of lymphoid tissue located in the lateral wall of oropharynx. Inflammation of the tonsils is called tonsillitis. Bad breath is seen in acute and chronic tonsillitis. Tonsillitis or peritonsillar abscess can also produce bad breath.

11) Tonsillar plaques & tonsillar fluid:

If bad breath persists even after maintaining proper oral hygiene there is possibility of this condition. Secreated serous fluid from the folds of the tonsils is very offenssive. Some patients complain that they hawk some materials from the throat of cheese, which are very offenssive in nature. These are formed inside the tonsillar crypts which contain thousands of bacteriae. In such conditions tonsillectomy gives noticiable relief from bad breath.

12) Pharyngitis & pharyngial abscess:

Pharynx is a fibromuscular tube which forms the upper digestive tract and respiratory system.Inflmmation pharynx is called pharyngitis, caused mainly by bacteria and viruses. Bad breath is present in pharyngitis along with other signs such as coughing and throat irritation. Abscesses in the wall of the pharynx can also produce offenssive discharge of pus by the throat.

13) Hearing:

Prosthesis users may complain about bad smell due to the presentation of food debris between the small. Proper brushing may not be possible in denture users especially fixed dentures.

14) Tobacco:

Chewing tobacco is associated with bad breath. The smell of tobacco itself is unpleasant for others. Tobacco can irritate the mucous membranes and cause ulcers and coatings. Gingivitis and periodontal disease are common in tobacco chewers. Tartar is deposited on the teeth, especially near the gums. Tobacco chewers get gastric acidity with belching. All these causes odor offenssive.

15) Smoking:

Smokers always have a bad smell. It may also produce lesions in the mouth and lungs, causing bad breath.Smoking increases in carbon dioxide in the oral cavity and reduces the level of oxygen, resulting in a favorable condition for bacteria. Appetite and thirst reduses smoking accordingly acid peptic disease is common in chain smokers.

16) The injury to his nose and ears

Bad breath is occasionally seen in sinusitis (infection of para nasal sinuses). In the case of post nasal drip, bad breath is common due to the presence of protein in the discharges. These proteins are degraded by bacteria. Middle ear infection with discharge of pus in the throat through the eustachian tube (passage from middle ear to the throat) can also cause odors offenssive. Chronic rhinitis (infection of the mucous membranes of the nose) and forign bodies in the nose can also produce bad smell in the air exhaled.

17) Diabetes mellitus:

Most of all diabetic patients suffer from bad breath. Coated tongue, ulcers and coatings in the mouth, increased sugar level in tissues ect are responsible for poor growth breath.Bacterial in diabetic patients is much faster than non-diabetics.

18) Fevers:

Bad breath is common in almost all fevers. Even an acute fever can produce bad breath. Severe bad breath is seen in typhoid. Other infectious diseases like tuberculosis, AIDS, etc. produce bad smell.

19) Fasting and dehydration:

Dry mouth promotes bacterial activity. So that any conditions which produce dryness in the mouth makes the offenssive breath. Eventhough the food particles are known to produce bad breath, fasting can also produce the same. Saliva production decreases during fasting. Chewing and swallowing also helps to keep the mouth clean.

20) In bed patients:

Bedridden patients suffering from breathing offenssive through the thick coating on the tongue.water intake is also limited in these patients. Regurgitation of food aggravates the condition. As we talk less aeration in the oral cavity is reduced, which favors anaerobic bacteria to become active.

21) Diseases of the stomach and esophagus:

Belching of gas and food produce unpleasant odors. Anomaly in the function of lower sphincter can allow the food to regurgitate upwards causing bad breath. Bad breath is also common in gastritis, peptic ulcer and stomach cancer.

22) Intestinal diseases:

Bad breath is common in patients with ulcerative lesions of the intestine as collitis colitis ..Other diseases are tuberculosis, intestinal malabsorption syndrome, peritonitis ect.

23) diseases of the lungs:

Lung diseases like pneumonia, lung abscess, chronic bronchitis, bronchiectasis, tuberculosis, lung cancer, etc. can produce bad odor during expiration.

24) Disorders of the liver:

Liver diseases such as hepatitis, cirrhosis, can cause diseases of the bladder breath.Gall ill with vomiting also causes unpleasant odor.

25) psychiatric patients:

Bad breath is common in psychotic patients due to poor hygiene, irregular food habits, less water intake and ect.

26) somatization disorder

This is a psychiatric disorder charecterised by the presence of a physical symptom that suggest a serious illness. These patients have physical complaints such as pain, difficult breathing, nausea, etc. smell. This condition is diagnosed after a thorough examination of the patient with all investigations.Since this is a psychiatric disorder that must be managed with a psychological approach.

[Aspects of this article is for GENERAL INFORMATION.