Bad breath?Causes, Treatment>>>

>>>>Bad breath is estimated to affect up to 50 percent of the population, with varying degrees of severity.  It can be embarrassing  for the patients suffering from bad breath and affects their social life. "Certainly bad breath can ruin relationships," John Woodall, DDS, a dentist with Woodall and McNeill in Raleigh, N.C., tells WebMD A public investigation in 2005 in The Netherlands showed that halitosis was one of the 100 biggest human overall exasperations (TNS-NIPO). Some studies have suggested that bad breath may rank only behind dental cavities and gum disease as the most frequent reasons for visits to the dentist. A cross-sectional Brazilian study among university students and their families, showed a malodour incidence of 15%. Men suffered more from the problem than women, especially when they were over 20 years. Place your hand near your mouth, while your mouth is open and breathe out….That's how you will know if you have a bad breath.


Bad breath can be caused by many factors>>> ranging from poor hygiene to what you eat.
According to a research published in International Journal of Oral Science,microbial degradation in the oral cavity is the main cause of oral malodour. Due to this process, volatile sulphur compounds (VSCs) are formed. The most important VSCs involved in halitosis are hydrogen sulphide (H₂S), methyl mercaptan (CH₃SH) and dimethyl sulphide (CH₃)₂S. These VSCs are mainly produced by Gram-negative anaerobic oral bacteria. Other molecules involved in this bacterial degradation process are: diamines (indole and skatole) or polyamines (cadverin and putrescin). Miyazaki found that there is a clear correlation between age and oral malodour: the older one gets, the more intense the odour will become.

 Poor hygiene>>> Bad breath is primarily caused by poor oral hygiene which can lead to bacterial buildup  on the teeth and gum This leads to gum diseases like gingivitis and periodontitis, which can cause halitosis because the proteins from bleeding gums and diseased oral tissue provide fuel to odor-causing bacteria. According to the Mayo Clinic, gum disease can cause the gums to pull away from the teeth, , leaving behind pockets where bacteria can settle in and replicate. The bacterial can also build up in your mouth  causing inflammation and giving off noxious odors or gases that smell like sulfur. Bacteria can also live on the rough surface of your tongue

Some medical conditions - According to studies, in approximately 10% of all cases, bad breath is caused by certain illnesses. Individuals who suffer from diabetes, lung disease, kidney disease, cancer, liver disease, respiratory tract infections or metabolic disorders often experience chronic bad breath due to dry mouth.

What you eat>>> Eating certain foods such as strong flavoured foods,  like garlic, onions and some other spicy foods can cause bad breath.  According to John Woodall, DDS, in Raleigh, North Carolina, chronic garlic users cannot only have chronic bad breath, they also often have body odor. Studies reveal that 80% of the bad breaths take place due to some oral factors such as, gum disease, cavities, unclean dentures, food particles trapped in tonsils and cracked fillings.

Smoking>>>>> Cigarette contain several chemicals that produce a strong odor and teeth stains.
It can also significantly affect the development of gum disease, another major cause of bad breath. Cigarette-induced halitosis is one of the more serious forms of bad breath. 

Medications>>>> Some drugs exposes you to a wide number of synthetic, chemical compounds, which are likely linked to a wide variety of side effects, including dry mouth. According to one study published in 2000, over 600 drugs have the ability to suppress saliva production, thereby contributing to bad breath.  Included in the list are antidepressants, diuretics, and aspirin.

>>>Bad breath can be fixed with improved oral hygiene.
Treatments for bad breath usually involve either improving oral hygiene or targeting the underlying health problems. A regimen that includes tongue brushing and scraping can successfully treat bad breath caused by the overgrowth of bacteria on the surface of the tongue, according to a review published in the International Journal of Dental Hygiene. Some dental researchers have found mouthwashes containing zinc chloride, hydrogen peroxide, chlorine dioxide, or other oxidizing chemicals to be effective in reducing or eliminating bad breath. According to Dr. Harold Katz, founder of California Breath Clinics, the only effective mouthwashes are those that "oxidize" volatile sulfur compounds and turn them into non-odorous organic salts. Avoid breath busters such as garlic, onions, and some other spicy foodsActivities that encourage saliva production, which aids in washing away food particles and odor-causing bacteria such as drinking lots of water, chewing sugarless gum or sucking on sugarless candy can also help prevent bad breath. Consider snacking on raw carrots, celery, or apple slices. It's good to have a nice watery vegetable in there - something like celery - that will help clear your mouth of debris,according to Frangella a dentist with DSS Dental in New York, tells WebMD. says. Another study, published in the Journal of Clinical Periodontology, reported that using an essential oil mouthwash was able to reduce the presence of Streptococcus mutans, a strain that causes dental carries, by 75 percent. These oils were also able to prevent bad breath for up to three hours by eliminating odor-producing germs in the mouth. Several studies, including one from the University of Rochester Eastman Dental Center, New York, has found that these natural solutions reduce inflammation and plaque that may cause bad breath.


Sources: http://www.nhs.uk
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