What is it about ?
In medical jargon, bad breath is also referred to as “halitosis”. In the morning, many of us suffer from less fresh breath. This is a normal phenomenon. The cause usually lies inside the mouth: a white layer on the back of the tongue (in 1/3 of cases), inflammation of the gums (gingivitis, in 25% of cases) or periodontitis (inflammation of the tissue tooth support, in 25% of cases). Often the root of the problem is poor oral hygiene and / or lack of proper care of the teeth or dentures.
Infections or decreased salivary gland activity may also play a role. The bad smell of the breath is caused by the presence of volatile sulfur compounds, which are produced by the bacteria which transform the remains of food and by the cells in the mouth.
Other causes, much less common, are in the area of the nose, throat or ear: sinusitis, infections of the tonsils (tonsillitis) and salivary glands, foreign bodies in the nose, chronic inflammation of the mucous membrane nasal and tumors.
There is also a long list of possible causes, ranging from stress to respiratory system disorders (e.g. bronchitis) to gastrointestinal disturbances (e.g. reflux of stomach contents, infections). . Foods such as garlic and alcohol, or recreational substances such as tobacco, are also possible explanations.
In people in a coma, the cause of bad breath should always be investigated in an underlying disease, such as diabetes or serious kidney or liver disease.
How to recognize it?
You yourself may notice that your breath is not very fresh or the problem may be brought up by someone close to you or by the doctor.
How is the diagnosis made?
The nature of the symptom speaks for itself. The doctor will just have to smell the air you breathe out. To get an idea of the possible causes, he will ask you various questions: do you go to the dentist regularly? Do you have good mouth and teeth hygiene? Do you drink a lot of alcohol? Do you smoke ? What are your eating habits ? Do you have a dry mouth?
He will then examine the inside of your mouth, as well as the nose, throat and ear area. A more detailed clinical examination and / or additional examinations may be indicated. The doctor will also ask you if bad breath has an impact on your daily life.
What can you do ?
People are often ashamed, which pushes them towards a certain social isolation. Good hygiene of the mouth and teeth is essential: brush your teeth well, use toothpicks or dental floss, remove the white layer that covers your tongue using a special tongue scraper or ” a soft toothbrush, …
Drink regularly and enough to fight against dry mouth. You can stimulate saliva formation by chewing gum, for example. You can also buy artificial saliva in pharmacies.
Eat regularly. This increases the degree of acidity in your mouth, which reduces the formation of volatile sulfur compounds. Chewing (chewing) also has a mechanical cleaning effect.
Avoid potential triggers, like alcohol, garlic, and tobacco.
What can the doctor do?
If possible, the doctor will treat the underlying cause. If necessary, he will refer you to a dentist or specialist. Antiseptic mouthwashes (eg, chlorhexidine) and over-the-counter products (eg, mouth sprays) have a limited role in treatment, but may be considered when there is no cure for the cause. underlying.
Want to know more?
- Mouth and teeth (images) – Christian Mutuality
- Tips for unparalleled oral hygiene – Christian Mutuality
- Visiting your dentist – Christian Mutuality
- Stop smoking. It’s possible – Tabacstop
- Chlorhexidine, to be found on this page of the CBIP, in the section ‘Otorhinolaryngology’ – Belgian Center for Pharmacotherapeutic Information
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