About 80-90% of the adult population suffers from bad breath. If in most cases this is a physiological phenomenon that can be eliminated with a toothbrush, then in 25% of patients halitosis is persistent and indicates the development of diseases of the teeth, mucous membranes or internal organs. The problem is not insoluble, but requires examination by specialists. Why does an unpleasant “aroma” appear?

Causes of bad breath

There are two types of halitosis: physiological and pathological. The first type is caused by poor diet and poor hygiene, and the second type by dental problems and diseases of the internal organs.

The main causes of putrid odor:

The appearance of a persistent odor in a man or woman should force the patient to undergo diagnostic testing of the body. In 8% of cases, the cause of the unpleasant taste of rot is diseases of the bronchi, lungs, nasal mucosa and polyps.

Why does it smell rotten?

The occurrence of an unpleasant taste is often associated with personal hygiene. Improper brushing of teeth, insufficient time allocated for morning and evening care, leads to the proliferation of bacteria, the waste products of which are deposited on the teeth, tongue and mucous membrane.

Sometimes a person can identify a problem in the body by the type of smell. So in case of diabetes it smells like acetone, in case of liver failure it smells like fish, and kidney dysfunction is accompanied by a pungent and heavy smell (we recommend reading: why does a child smell like acetone). In this case, complex treatment may be required.

Dental reasons

Bacteria that cause an unpleasant odor live on the tongue, between the teeth, and on the gums:

1. The cause of the discomfort-causing “aroma” may be dental caries. Microbes and food debris accumulate in the cavities of tooth enamel, which decompose over time. It is almost impossible to clean holes in teeth using hygiene products.
2. With periodontitis, microorganisms actively develop under the gums, which is accompanied by the release of a sulfurous odor.
3. Other diseases can also be the cause: stomatitis, periodontal disease, dysbacteriosis, dysfunction of the salivary glands.
4. A common problem is improper care of structures - mouthguards, dentures. The accumulation of saliva and food particles leads to intensive growth of bacteria during their use.

Problems with the gastrointestinal tract

Diseases of the internal organs (stomach, intestines, pancreas) can also cause bad breath. It is also typical for fans of diets due to a monotonous diet or rare meals. A specific aroma is noticeable to others after eating certain foods: onions, garlic, coffee, some types of cheese (we recommend reading: what to do to prevent your breath from smelling like garlic?).

Based on the nature of the smell, you can independently determine the problem:

1. Sour smell (we recommend reading: why does a child have a sour smell from his mouth?). Appears when acidity increases gastric juice. May be a consequence of pancreatitis, stomach ulcers, gastritis.
2. Smell of feces. Appears with intestinal obstruction, dysbiosis, poor absorption nutrients. “Aroma” can be a concern when the digestive process is disrupted, when foods are slowly absorbed, causing fermentation to begin.
3. Smell of hydrogen sulfide. Occurs with gastritis or decreased acidity in the stomach. It may also be a consequence of food poisoning.

Contributes to the development of bad breath protein food: meat and dairy products. Substances break down and form alkaline compounds that change acid balance in the mouth. Microorganisms begin to actively multiply, causing an unpleasant odor.

Other reasons

The smell of rot can be caused by other factors:

The smell of rot in the breath of a child or teenager

A child or teenager may experience bad breath for a number of reasons. The main factor is the development of pathogenic microorganisms on the tongue or in the tonsils due to an imbalance in the microflora. This occurs due to the appearance of dry mouth, the causes of which may be:

Other factors that cause putrid taste– the appearance of caries or diseases of the stomach and intestines. The child will need to undergo a comprehensive examination.

Diagnostic methods

To identify the presence of plaque in the mouth that causes bad breath, you can carry out the procedure yourself using a sanitary napkin or dental floss. If there is a coating on the material yellow color and the smell appears after 30-45 seconds, you should contact a specialist.

Used in medicine different methods identifying halitosis and its causes:

If your breath smells like rot, the doctor can analyze your medical history (when did the smell appear, are there any diseases of the internal organs, is the problem related to food intake). An important part of the study is to perform a detailed blood test on a person to determine the level of sugar, kidney and liver enzymes.

The patient undergoes examinations by an otolaryngologist, gastroenterologist and pulmonologist. This will allow you to identify diseases of the nasopharynx, as well as exclude or confirm systemic diseases liver, kidneys, diabetes, problems with the respiratory system.

Treatment options

Patients wonder what to do if there is bad taste in the mouth? Treatment depends on the cause of the problem.

• ENT diseases require a visit to an otolaryngologist, chronic diseases require consultation with individual specialists.
• If the cause of bad breath is illness oral cavity, it is necessary to remove damaged teeth and fill the areas damaged by caries. It won't hurt to pass professional cleaning deposits (stone, plaque), which can only be done in a dental clinic.

Preventive measures

It is also advisable to simultaneously use a tongue cleaning blade, dental floss and various rinses that have healing and disinfecting properties.

From unpleasant odor Mint tablets, refreshing sprays, and chewing gum help get rid of it. They are not effective means, but with high-quality dental care, their effect will be noticeable: they stimulate the production of saliva, and if they contain chlorine dioxide or zinc, they neutralize sulfur compounds, which are the source of the problem.

Pay attention to the diet: it should be balanced, with content wide range vitamins and microelements. Fresh fruits and vegetables must be present in the daily diet. Ideally, it is better to quit smoking and drinking alcohol.

If a persistent odor appears from the oral cavity, do not get rid of it only with a brush and toothpaste. This will suppress the symptom, but will not get rid of the underlying problem. Visiting the dentist once every 6 months will allow you to monitor your health condition and prescribe treatment on time.

Halitosis is the most common medical term for bad breath. This is serious psychological problem, which often becomes a barrier in communication between people.

The human body is able to adapt to many features of the environment, including smells. We very quickly get used to both the aroma of our perfume, ceasing to notice it, and to the smell of the air coming from our mouth when we exhale.

We don’t feel it, and at the same time, we don’t want those around us to turn away with disgust when talking. How to diagnose your own breathing?

There are several ways to determine the degree of freshness.

• Bring your hand to your face and exhale deeply through your mouth. Smell the air in your palm.
• Buy a disposable mask and breathe into it for a minute. The aroma under the mask will be an exact copy of the smell that those with whom you communicate smell from you.
• Ask people in your household to rate your breathing.
• Be examined using a halitometer - a special device used in dental clinics. This device evaluates the concentration of volatile nitrogen- and sulfur-containing compounds in exhaled air on a 5-point scale.

The first two methods are very subjective, since it is difficult to evaluate your own smell.

The last two require the presence of strangers, which is not always desirable when there is bad breath, the reasons are unknown, and so sensitive issue requires your permission. You can do two simple tests yourself.

Spoon test

An ordinary plastic spoon will help determine how unpleasant the smell of your breath is. It is used to clean off plaque from the back third of the tongue, and after a minute the smell is assessed.

This can be done by the test taker himself or by a trusted person. Using this test, both halitosis and the site of accumulation of the bacteria that provoke it are detected - plaque on the back of the tongue.

Wrist test

Try licking your own wrist and smelling it after 10 seconds. If the smell is unpleasant, then the stench that your interlocutors perceive is even stronger. After all, from the wrist comes the smell of the front of the tongue, cleansed with saliva.

Video: bad breath

Causes

Let's try to figure out why your breath stinks. In most cases, the cause of the repulsive odor is volatile sulfur-containing compounds and amines.

These substances are waste products of so-called anaerobic (growing and multiplying without oxygen) bacteria.

Halitosis can be caused by both insufficient hygiene and various diseases.

Those who choose a low-carbohydrate diet as a means of losing weight also complain of bad breath. During a fat-burning diet, the body produces ketone - a volatile organic matter, which is excreted in the urine, as well as by the respiratory system.

To get rid of the unwanted side effect of dieting in the form of bad breath, you should include some carbohydrates in your diet.

An unpleasant acetone odor may appear on an empty stomach. If you are fasting, be prepared to smell this aroma in your exhaled breath.

Already on the second day of fasting, the body, in need of energy and nutrition, begins to use reserves - fats and proteins, the breakdown of which produces acetone.

Often an unpleasant odor appears due to bad habits and the use of some food products with exceptional aromatic characteristics.

Video: the most popular reasons

Strong smelling foods, alcohol and smoking

You should not overuse garlic and onions before going to public places.

Sulfur compounds are present in these products in significant quantities.

They create a characteristic garlic or onion smell, which makes interlocutors turn away from lovers of strong-smelling products. The body copes with this kind of aroma, removing it in a relatively short term"odorous" molecules.

It’s strange to hear a question from a smoker who doesn’t deprive himself of strong drinks: “Why might there be a smell in the mouth?”

Photo: Smoking and alcohol - causes of bad breath

Alcoholic drinks and tobacco significantly worsen the aroma of exhaled air. Alcohol, tobacco combustion products and nicotine themselves have a strong, specific odor.

As a result of smoking:

• the mucous membrane of the oral cavity dries out, contributing to the appearance of a disgusting odor;
• the oxygen content in the oral cavity decreases, which creates conditions for the progressive development of anaerobes;
• the risk of developing inflammatory diseases in the mouth and tartar deposits increases.

Smell and coating on the tongue

An unpleasant odor and a white tongue are closely related.

It is in the thickness of the plaque on the tongue that the most favorable “oxygen-free” environment for anaerobic bacteria is created.

The appearance of plaque indicates a malfunction or disease of any organ, but can also be observed in a completely healthy person.

Based on the severity of the bacterial layer, its thickness, consistency, color, and location, experienced doctors can judge the presence of certain diseases.

Often the cause of plaque is insufficient oral hygiene. Simple and effective method freshening breath - eating raw vegetables and fruits, chewing which helps mechanically remove bacterial plaque from the tongue.

Photo: Eating raw fruit freshens your breath

The air you exhale will become much cleaner if carrots and apples are present in your diet.

Video: how to clean your tongue

Inflammatory diseases of the oral cavity

Dental diseases occupy a leading position in the ranking of causes of halitosis.

Dental diseases

There is a direct relationship between dental disease and unpleasant odor.

The main enemies of our teeth are caries and its complications (pulpitis, periodontitis), which cause a lot of trouble. Avoid developing more severe forms of oral disease.

Carious disease destroys enamel and hard fabrics, causes pain and rewards the owner of a bad tooth with bad breath.

Sometimes, after tooth extraction, alveolitis develops - inflammation of the walls of the tooth socket (alveoli), accompanied by painful sensations and increased bad odor from the mouth.

Most often, this complication occurs after the removal of a wisdom tooth. In such cases, you should rush to the dentist to avoid more serious consequences.

Particular attention should be paid to the condition of the oral cavity and teeth during pregnancy. During this period, the body actively consumes calcium, which greatly increases the risk of tooth decay.

To avoid the discomfort associated with bad breath, you should contact your dentist at the first sign of trouble.

Video: caries, pulpitis, periodontitis

Gum diseases

Pest bacteria thrive in periodontal areas along the gum line and in the spaces between teeth.

Periodontal diseases are accompanied by the formation of “periodontal pockets” - depressions with an environment fertile for harmful bacteria.

Photo: Deposits in periodontal pockets

Without the help of a specialist, it is very difficult, and sometimes impossible, to clean these depressions. The most common inflammatory diseases, which can cause a very unpleasant odor are gingivitis and periodontitis.

If you do not have dental diseases, but the smell continues to bother you, look for reasons inside the body.

Video: gum disease

Respiratory system diseases

Respiratory diseases with sources of infection in the form of inflammation and purulent discharge, occupy second place in the ranking of causes of bad breath.

Tonsillitis and pharyngitis

Chronic tonsillitis is accompanied by the formation purulent plugs and smell. If the tonsils have increased in size and become red, and the body temperature has increased, a diagnosis of acute tonsillitis is made.

The tonsils are sources of stench due to the accumulation of large amounts of pus.

For sore throat, signs of intoxication and a characteristic odor, antibiotics are prescribed.

Pharyngitis, an acute or chronic inflammatory process in the mucous membrane of the pharynx, is also characterized by the appearance of bad breath.

The doctor determines the treatment regimen for this disease individually for each specific case.

For pharyngitis, gargling with herbal decoctions is useful, which to a certain extent reduces the unpleasant odor. These can be decoctions of eucalyptus, sage, calendula or chamomile.

Video: chronic tonsillitis

Sinusitis and sinusitis

A very unpleasant odor sometimes comes from the mouth of patients with sinusitis or sinusitis.

Treatment of inflammation paranasal sinuses nose surgery should be carried out under the supervision of an ENT doctor, since self-medication here can only cause harm.

Video: treatment of sinusitis

With adenoid vegetation in the nasopharynx, lymphoid tissue grows and becomes inflamed.

As a result, mucus with a purulent odor accumulates on the surface of the adenoids.

Enlarged adenoids do not allow air to penetrate freely Airways. The patient breathes through his mouth, spreading the stench around him.

Video: treat or remove adenoids

Bronchitis

The problem of fresh breath also exists with bronchitis.

The unpleasant odor occurs due to stagnation of purulent sputum in the bronchi.

Video: chronic bronchitis

Dry mouth

Xerostomia - dry mouth that has taken chronic form.

Xerostomia, accompanied by an unpleasant odor, is observed in teachers, tour guides, and representatives of other professions whose activities involve the need to talk a lot.

Dry mouth may be side effect taking a number of medications or develop at an advanced age.

In these situations, the amount of saliva must be replenished by consuming a sufficient amount of clean water (about 2 liters per day). The additional amount of liquid prevents the mouth from drying out and freshens your breath.

Insufficient hygiene

On poorly cleaned teeth, gums, tongue, and in the spaces between teeth, food debris accumulates and decomposes under the influence of bacteria.

As a result of poor hygiene, halitosis occurs, and sometimes more serious diseases of the oral cavity.

Video: what you need for proper oral hygiene

Problems with internal organs

Gastrointestinal diseases

Sick stomach: gastritis or ulcer

Halitosis can be caused by stomach disease (gastritis, ulcers) caused by the anaerobic spiral-shaped bacterium Helicobacter pylori.

For gastrointestinal diseases:

• immunity decreases,
• activity decreases digestive enzymes saliva,
• a coating appears on the tongue.

As a rule, the breath of a patient with this kind of diagnosis loses its former freshness.

Liver diseases

Liver diseases and disorders associated with the outflow of bile from the gallbladder give an unpleasant odor both in the morning and throughout the day.

These diseases may include liver cirrhosis and liver failure.

Kidneys

If the smell appears after physical activity and in the morning, you need to be examined by a nephrologist.

An unpleasant odor can occur with kidney failure and problems with the urinary tract.

Diabetes

The smell of acetone coming from the mouth - characteristic feature diabetes mellitus

Video: symptoms of diabetes

What is the smell like?

What does this or that shade of the smell of exhaled air indicate? Below are given brief characteristics some “flavors” from the oral cavity.

Hydrogen sulfide, or rotten eggs

The cause of the hydrogen sulfide smell is the process of rotting protein compounds.

If the smell is accompanied by pain in the abdominal area after eating, nausea, belching, then the possibility of developing gastritis with low acidity or ulcers cannot be ruled out.

Sour

The sour smell can be caused by stomach contents refluxing into the esophagus.

It is characteristic of gastritis with high acidity, peptic ulcers and problems with the esophagus.

Iron

A characteristic metallic odor may indicate periodontal disease, which is associated with bleeding gums.

Smell of ammonia, urine

The smell of urine indicates kidney disease.

Bitter

The taste and smell of bitterness is one of the manifestations of liver and gall bladder diseases.

Smells like acetone or sweet

The acetone odor with a sweetish aftertaste causes pancreatic diseases and diabetes.

Pus or rot

A putrid odor occurs in diseases of the esophagus and stomach with low acidity.

Exhaled air has an unpleasant shade of fecal matter due to dysbacteriosis, intestinal obstruction and dyskinesia.

Video: intestinal obstruction

Fish

Trimethylamines are foul-smelling compounds found in marine fish.

In fishy odor syndrome (trimethylaminuria), these substances are excreted in sweat, urine and exhaled air.

Iodine

The smell of iodine may indicate that the body is oversaturated with this microelement. To find out the true cause of the iodine odor, you should contact an endocrinologist.

What to do, how to treat?

Elimination of causes

The solution to any problem must begin with eliminating the causes that gave rise to it. Find out why your breath smells bad. Unpleasant aroma - enough alarming symptom, which should be given attention.

You can't just drown out the smell. Otherwise, the true disease will progress and turn into an advanced form, which is much more difficult to cure.

Cleansing the oral cavity

The fight for fresh breath begins with proper oral care.

Add cleaning the surface of your tongue to your daily routine of brushing your teeth twice a day. Do this in the evening using a brush, the back of which has a ribbed surface, or a regular teaspoon.

Photo: Toothbrush with tongue cleaning surface

Using gentle movements from root to tip, remove daytime plaque. The procedure does not bring pleasure, but it gives a noticeable effect.

Clean the spaces between your teeth using a special floss. Be sure to rinse your mouth after every meal.

Photo: Cleaning spaces between teeth with floss

Eliminate odor using rinses

Often the effect is achieved due to the strong mint flavor. Many mouthwashes contain alcohol, which dries out the mouth, which subsequently increases the odor.

Photo: Rinses 32 Bionorm Long-lasting fresh breath and Colgate Plax ICE Mint ice

Choose modern rinses with zinc- and cholo-containing substances that can chemical reactions reduce the activity of halitosis.

Choose toothpaste, which does not contain alcohol, which dries out the mucous membrane.

Pay attention to pastes containing antibacterial agents based on chloride compounds.

Photo: Splat Arktikum and LACALUT flora toothpastes

Ways to quickly freshen your breath

To quickly get rid of bad odors, it is convenient to use chewing gum, aerosol fresheners, and lollipops. These agents are effective, but have low stability due to their short duration of action.

Photo: ROCS spray and Ice Breakers lollipops

How to remove bad breath when there are no fresheners at hand at the right time?

• Drink a cup of tea and rinse your mouth with clean water.
• Eat an apple or carrot.
• Neutralize the flavor of onion or garlic with parsley or celery root.
• Chew the coffee bean and reduce the unpleasant taste and smell.
• Pour a teaspoon of 3% hydrogen peroxide into a glass of water and use the solution to rinse your mouth.

Folk remedies

Treatment at home is not only possible, but also necessary.

Try rinsing your mouth with the following decoctions.

• Pour a tablespoon of a mixture of mint, chamomile and sage into a glass of boiling water. Cool and strain the broth. Use after meals to rinse 3-4 times a day.
• Pour 200 ml of boiling water over a tablespoon of oak bark and heat in a water bath for about 30 minutes. Oak bark can clear plaque from the tonsils and have a strengthening effect on the gums.

Bad breath is embarrassing and brings a lot of inconvenience. You may not realize you have bad breath until a brave friend—or worse, crush or boyfriend—tells you about it. Luckily, there are several breath testing methods that can help you determine if you have bad breath. These methods usually do not allow you to find out exactly what smell the people around you smell, but with their help you can judge the purity of your breath.

Steps

Sniffing saliva

Lick inner side your wrist. Wait 5-10 seconds for the saliva to dry. Do this alone, in a secluded place, otherwise your behavior may seem strange to others. Don't do this test right after you've brushed your teeth, used mouthwash, or eaten something containing mint, as fresh breath may skew the results.

When the saliva has dried, smell the inside of your wrist. This will give you an idea of ​​what your breath smells like. If you notice an unpleasant odor, you should be more careful about keeping your teeth and mouth clean. If you don't smell anything, it's not that bad, but to make sure you don't actually have bad breath, you'll need a different method.

Try to remove saliva from the back of your tongue. Place your finger or a piece of cotton wool deep into your mouth (but not too deep to trigger a gag reflex) and rub the back of your tongue. As a result, there will be bacteria on your finger or cotton wool, causing a bad odor. By sniffing the extracted smear (on your fingertip or cotton wool), you will determine what smell is coming from the depths of your mouth.

Talk to your doctor about your condition gastrointestinal tract. Problems with the gastrointestinal tract may be the culprit of bad breath. You may have stomach ulcers, reflux, or H. pylori infection. If the doctor discovers any disease, he will prescribe you treatment and advise you on how to take care of your health in the future.

Take care of your nasal health. Allergies, sinus infections, and nasal drip can cause bad breath, so it's worth making every effort to prevent and treat them. Try to keep your nasal cavity clean and fight allergies without exacerbating them.

Eat right . It's not just about products that promote fresh breath: healthy eating can eliminate the problem of bad odor in the bud. Eat less processed foods, red meats and cheeses. Try to include fiber-rich foods in your diet, such as oatmeal, flaxseeds, and kale.

Neutralize bad breath. Chew before an important meeting chewing gum, suck on a mint or jelly bean. You can successfully eliminate the very cause of bad breath, but after that it doesn’t hurt to freshen your breath from time to time. Chew something.

• Chew a handful of cloves, fennel seeds or anise. Their antiseptic properties will help eliminate odor-causing bacteria.
• Chew a lemon slice or orange peel to freshen your breath (the peel should be washed thoroughly). Lemon acid stimulates salivary glands, eliminating unpleasant odors.
• Chew fresh sprigs of parsley, basil, mint or cilantro. The chlorophyll they contain neutralizes odors.

1. Don't use tobacco. If you've been missing a good reason to quit smoking, here it is - smoking causes bad breath. Tobacco dries out your mouth and leaves behind an unpleasant odor that lingers even after you brush your teeth.

2. Discuss your problem with your dentist. Maintain good oral hygiene by visiting your dentist regularly. If you have persistent halitosis, your dentist will be able to rule out causes such as tooth decay, gum disease, and tongue coating.

   • If your dentist thinks your problem is due to a physical (internal) cause, such as an infection, he or she will refer you to a primary care physician or other doctor.

• If you want to get rid of bad breath in the morning, drink a glass of water and brush your teeth before going to bed. Make sure your body doesn't lack fluids, as morning bad breath is caused by dryness.
• Keep mints, chewing gum, or other breath fresheners on hand. Use them as a temporary solution: they will help you hide the unpleasant odor without getting rid of the bacteria that causes it.
• To ensure clean breath, brush your teeth thoroughly, use dental floss and mouthwash. After brushing your teeth, lightly scrub your tongue and upper palate with a toothbrush. Be sure to clean your tongue of plaque.
• Taking a tablespoon of honey and cinnamon once a day will help get rid of bad breath. Parsley will also help get rid of unpleasant odors from the stomach.
• Brush your teeth after every meal to remove food particles stuck between your teeth.

Foods with odors can cause bad breath. Halitosis is medical term, denoting bad smell from mouth. Treatment for halitosis will depend on what is causing the bad breath. Treatment for bad breath is very simple. If bad breath persists, you should consult a doctor to determine the causes of bad breath and treatment. And treatment is necessary if the bad breath is constant and if you cannot determine the cause of this bad breath, consult a doctor to identify the cause of the bad breath and treatment. Smell from the mouth. Treatment methods folk remedies. The causes of bad breath can be divided into two groups: those associated with diseases of the oral cavity or those associated with diseases of the internal organs. Let's consider below not only everything possible reasons bad breath, but also methods of treating it.

Bad breath - causes and treatment

Bad breath can destroy any image, even a well-formed one. With the help of advice professional doctors We will help you, at a minimum, not to attract the attention of others with your breathing.
Halitosis- a medical term for unpleasant odor from the mouth.
Morning bad breath is purely physiological phenomenon and can be removed with a regular toothbrush. Additionally, certain foods such as garlic, onions or cabbage can also cause bad breath. All these manifestations relate to physiological odor from the mouth (halitosis (bad breath)). Eat less of these smelly foods.
However, more than a quarter of the entire world's population suffers from pathological halitosis (bad breath) (bad breath). In this case, neither tons of chewing gum, nor mountains of mint candies, nor newfangled mouth sprays help - the smell still remains unpleasant.

Bad breath can also be caused by advanced caries. A large number of anaerobic bacteria and food debris accumulate in carious cavities. These cavities are difficult to clean using conventional hygiene products, which makes the disease highly resistant. The same applies to periodontitis - microbes actively multiply under the gums, causing a sulfurous odor. In this case, even the blood and purulent inflammatory exudate located in the gum pockets smell unpleasant.

Wearing dentures can also lead to halitosis - firstly, the smell will be absorbed by the polymer base of the denture, and secondly, pieces of food can remain under the dentures and decompose there, emitting “odors”.

Another cause of halitosis is decreased saliva secretion and dry mouth syndrome. When saliva is not released quickly enough and in small quantities, the natural cleaning of the oral cavity from food debris is disrupted, favorable conditions are created for the proliferation of microorganisms, and local immunity is reduced.

Common causes of halitosis include mainly chronic diseases associated with the gastrointestinal tract, ENT diseases, metabolic disorders, hormonal disorders etc. For example, in women, bad breath may appear against the background of the onset of the menstrual cycle, which is associated with increased level estrogens. These hormones promote increased desquamation of the epithelium, including on the oral mucosa, and this is a favorite nutrient medium for anaerobic microorganisms.

In many cases, halitosis should make the patient check his health - the smell also signals a more serious illness. Thus, in approximately 8% of cases, the cause of halitosis is pathology of the ENT organs. Chronic sinusitis, rhinitis, tonsillitis, nasal polyps often make themselves felt with an unpleasant odor.

Many people know that a consequence of diabetes mellitus is often the smell of acetone released when breathing. Dysfunctions of the liver and gall bladder are also accompanied by a “pungent” heavy odor, and renal failure- putrid “fishy”. So, before you run to the pharmacy for a new toothbrush and advertised toothpaste that kills germs outright, go to the doctor.

Great importance food also has. For example, garlic and raw onions contain substances that belong to the group of sulfur compounds. They are able to be absorbed into the blood and then released through the lungs during breathing.

Alcohol, nicotine, coffee and some medications (antibiotics and sulfonamides, antidepressants, antihistamines and anti-inflammatory drugs) cause dry mouth and, as a result, lead to an unpleasant odor.

Stress also leads to halitosis, nervous tension or overindulgence diets and fasting. During fasting, a deficiency in the intake of proteins and fats is created in the body, and the utilization of endogenous reserves begins, which can also cause an unpleasant odor. It appears at the moment of transfer stressful situation and disappears after the cessation of emotional stress. Among the causes are impaired salivation and dry mouth.

Now used in medicine effective methods diagnosis of halitosis. You can evaluate the intensity of an unpleasant odor using a special device - a halimeter. It is not only useful for diagnosis, but also allows you to evaluate how well the treatment is progressing.

To identify bacteria that cause halitosis, some dentists use microbiological tests, for example, analyzing the composition of dental plaque. Using a mirror, the back of the tongue is examined - it should be the same color as the oral mucosa. White, cream or Brown color indicates glossitis. The condition of the patient’s teeth is also assessed for the quality of hygiene.

A consultation with an ENT doctor (for the presence of sinusitis and polyps) and a gastroenterologist is also necessary - he must exclude systemic diseases such as diabetes, liver and kidney failure.

Treatment for halitosis will depend on what caused the disease. If these are advanced ENT diseases, then you will have to undergo treatment from an otolaryngologist. Other chronic diseases require consultation and treatment from appropriate specialists.

If the cause of the unpleasant odor lies in the oral cavity, then it is necessary to eliminate foci of infection, remove decayed teeth that cannot be restored, and take a course professional hygiene oral cavity with the removal of supragingival and subgingival dental plaque.

Any odor is a volatile compound. This problem is being solved different ways. People often try to mask the odor with mouthwash or chewing gum. But few people know that the effect of chewing gum is temporary and they have a detrimental effect on the gastrointestinal tract. As for rinses, they kill the natural flora of the oral cavity, and this can only increase the unpleasant odor. Today, CB12 anti-bad breath is the only product that completely neutralizes volatile compounds rather than masking them. With daily use of the product, fresh breath will become your constant companion. Unlike other rinses, it retains its effect for 12 hours, acts directly on the cause of the odor, without disturbing normal flora in the mouth.

Compliance with hygiene rules is of great importance: teeth should be brushed using a toothbrush and floss (dental floss) to remove plaque and food debris from the teeth. And cleaning your tongue should become a mandatory daily procedure. This not only helps eliminate odor, but also reduces total bacteria in the oral cavity, which has a beneficial effect on the health of periodontal tissues. If periodontitis has already been diagnosed, you should start using special oral irrigators to more effectively remove infected masses and food debris from the periodontal pockets. In addition, these irrigators will help get rid of dry mouth.

Don't forget about proper nutrition: Excess of fast carbohydrates (sugar and processed foods) increases the amount of plaque on teeth and leads to caries. Eat more fiber. Fresh greens, vegetables and fruits will help normalize intestinal function and reduce bad breath.

Checking your breathing

In order to determine the freshness of your breath, just bring your palm to your face in such a way as to simultaneously cover your mouth and nose. After this, exhale deeply through your mouth. Did you smell it? If you can’t clearly determine what and how much it smells, buy a disposable mask at the pharmacy and breathe into it for a minute. The smell under the mask will exactly match the smell that others smell from you during communication.

Today, specialized breath indicators are produced that can determine the level of freshness on a five-point scale. The manufacturers of this device claim that its use is a sign of good manners. In fact, it is easier to talk about the smell with your loved ones, ideally with your child, because children are less diplomatic in these matters and will tell the whole truth.

IN medical institutions They use a more complex device - a gas analyzer. With its help you can determine chemical composition air that is exhaled, and based on the analysis, determine the causes of the bad odor.

Why is my breath bad?

The main causes of halitosis (bad breath) are:
- insufficient level of hygiene;
- diseases of teeth and gums;
- xerostomia - insufficient level of hydration of the oral mucosa;
- inflammatory processes in the oral cavity.

In these cases, the cause of the foul odor is bacteria accumulated in the mouth and residual food fragments. It is almost impossible to combat these phenomena at home. Such halitosis (bad breath) can only be cured in dental clinics.

But it is necessary to take into account that halitosis (bad breath) can be caused not only by diseases of the oral cavity.

In one case out of ten, the causes of odor are:
- ENT diseases: sore throats, sinusitis, runny nose;
- diseases of the intestines and stomach;
- lung diseases;
- endocrine system disorders;
- all kinds of diets;
- some medicines;
- smoking.

What does illness smell like?

The hydrogen sulfide smell is the smell of rotten eggs. The cause of the smell is the process of rotting protein substances. If the smell is accompanied pain symptoms in the abdominal area after eating, belching and nausea, it can be caused by gastritis with low acidity, peptic ulcer, diverticulosis of the stomach or esophagus, etc.

Very often, such an unpleasant odor can occur after a banal “holiday” overeating. In such cases, you can get rid of it using absorbent substances ( Activated carbon, “Smecta”), as well as enzyme-based drugs (“Festal”, “Pancreatin”, “Mezim”, etc.).

A sour smell and taste in the mouth can be caused by: gastritis with high acidity, gastrointestinal ulcers, esophageal diseases.

The smell and taste of bitterness is a manifestation of diseases of the gallbladder and liver, this may also indicate yellow plaque on the tongue.

The smell of feces from the mouth can occur with dysbacteriosis, intestinal motor neuroses (dyskinesia) and intestinal obstruction.

The acetone smell with a sweet aftertaste can cause pancreatic diseases and diabetes.

The smell of urine from the mouth indicates kidney disease.

Treatment of bad breath (halitosis - bad breath)

First of all, try adding a tongue cleansing procedure to your daily twice-daily brushing of your teeth. It is better to do this in the evening using an ordinary teaspoon. Using light, gentle movements from root to tip, clean your tongue of daytime plaque. The procedure is not very pleasant, but effective.

Cleaning your tongue will rid you of bacteria, the population of which could increase significantly overnight in a favorable oral environment. Believe me, thanks to this evening procedure, your breath will be much fresher the next morning.

Clean the spaces between your teeth using a special floss. If you don’t have this tool at hand, use the old-fashioned method: tear off a strip of pure polyethylene, stretch it into a thread and remove food debris and plaque from the interdental space.
- After eating, be sure to rinse your mouth. You should not use tea for this purpose; it darkens tooth enamel.

Making your own mouth rinses

1. A tablespoon of mint, chamomile, sage or strawberry is poured into a glass of boiling water. After cooling, the broth is filtered. Use for rinsing after meals 3-4 times a day.
2. A tablespoon of oak bark is poured into 200 ml of boiling water and heated in a water bath for up to 30 minutes. Strain after cooling and rinse your mouth and throat. Oak bark has a strengthening effect on the gums and clears plaque from the tonsils, which can serve as sources of bad breath due to a large accumulation of infectious components.

More effective cleaning oral hygiene at home is provided by an irrigator. This is a toothbrush-type tool that cleans the spaces between teeth using a strong jet of water, which massages the surface of the gums and activates blood circulation.

Choosing a toothpaste for bad breath
If you have halitosis (bad breath), you should choose a toothpaste that does not contain alcohol. Alcohol dries out the oral mucosa, which intensifies the odor.

In addition, pay attention to pastes that contain antibacterial agents based on chlorine compounds.

When choosing a rinse aid, the same principles are used as when choosing a toothpaste. In addition, modern mouthwashes may contain components (zinc- and choloro-containing) that reduce the activity of halitosis (bad breath) due to chemical reactions.

Quick effect of fresh breath
There is a large number modern means quick relief from bad breath: aerosol fresheners, chewing gum, lollipops, etc. They are characterized by both rapid efficiency and low stability due to their short duration of action.

What to do when they are not at hand at the right time?

First of all, try drinking a cup of strong tea, then rinse your mouth and throat with clean water.

Apples and carrots will help get rid of the smell. The aroma of onions or garlic can be neutralized with parsley or celery root.

Chewing coffee beans can reduce the unpleasant smell and taste in your mouth.

People who have to talk a lot during the day often have bad breath. This is due to drying of the oral mucosa due to a decrease in the amount of saliva.

Saliva is a natural means of cleaning the oral cavity. Saliva contains the antibacterial enzyme lysozyme, which ensures the destruction of bacterial cells. In addition, saliva ensures the dissolution of food debris and toxins released by bacteria. Lack of saliva is one of the main reasons for increased bad breath.

In such situations, you should simply drink more often. A small amount of liquid will protect the oral cavity from drying out, remove the unpleasant taste and freshen your breath.

Include oatmeal porridge in your morning diet; this product significantly activates saliva production.

If there is no toothbrush nearby, you can wipe your teeth, gums and tongue with your finger. Thus, you will not only get rid of the unpleasant odor, but also massage your gums.

Use walnut pulp to rub your gums. In this way, you can provide the oral cavity with the necessary vitamins and freshen your breath with a pleasant nutty taste.

You need to understand that bad breath is a problem that interferes with your normal life. Halitosis (bad breath) is a direct threat not only to personal self-esteem, but also to a person’s social status. Communication, attractiveness and sexuality can be ruined in an instant by repulsive bad breath.

Halitosis (bad breath) is a problem that requires mandatory solutions. However, one should not go to extremes, traditional methods hygiene procedures have been familiar to us since childhood, and they should not be neglected.

If the odor remains, even after daily oral hygiene, you need to contact your dentist. Nine times out of ten, your problem will be resolved within a few visits. If your mouth and teeth turn out to be healthy, and the smell continues to bother you, then you will have to look for the reasons inside the body.

Start visiting doctors with an ENT specialist. Diseases of the nose, throat and ear most often provoke problems with fresh breath. If no complaints are found from these bodies, then it’s time to visit a therapist. It is possible that the cause of the unpleasant odor is an exacerbation of a disease that has become chronic and to which you have long been accustomed.

Bad breath (the medical term is halitosis) is not just a problem that interferes with communication with people, This is often how it manifests itself from within. serious illnesses that require timely diagnosis and elimination.

Bad breath periodically causes discomfort to all people, but if it is persistent and does not go away even after daily hygiene procedures, you should definitely identify the causes of bad breath and begin adequate treatment.

How to tell if you have bad breath

Many people don't even realize they have bad breath, so they don't look for the cause. You shouldn’t wait for someone you know to point out this shortcoming. Many relatives are afraid of offending loved one, while colleagues and strangers will simply reduce such communication to a minimum. Therefore, it is advisable for everyone to periodically check themselves for the presence of bad breath.

There are several ways to help identify bad breath:

1. Using your wrist. You need to lick your wrist, wait a few seconds and smell it. This is the smell from the mouth, or rather, from the tip of the tongue. The front of the tongue smells much better than the back, as it is well cleaned by saliva, which contains various antibacterial components.
2. Using your palm. You need to exhale sharply into your palm and quickly sniff its contents. This is approximately the same odor from the oral cavity that people around you smell.
3. Using a spoon. If you run an inverted spoon over the surface of your tongue, you can collect some white plaque, by the smell of which you can determine whether there is bad breath.
4. Using a jar. You need to exhale sharply into a small, clean plastic or glass jar and tightly close the container with a lid. After about five minutes, you can open the jar and smell the contents.

Also, the condition of the mucous membrane may indicate appearance oral cavity. You can do the inspection yourself at home in front of a mirror. The back of the tongue should have the same pinkish tint as the rest of the mouth. The presence of a white, brown or creamy coating, the presence of an unpleasant taste in the mouth indicates disorders and possible halitosis.

IN modern medicine There are quite effective methods for diagnosing bad breath. One of the most accessible and convenient is the use of a halimeter device. Using a halimeter, you can determine the strength of the unpleasant odor, as well as monitor progress during treatment.

In laboratory conditions they carry out microbiological studies, which help to identify the presence of pathogenic bacteria, which are a prerequisite for halitosis.

Doctors divide halitosis into the following types:

• True. People around you feel bad breath when communicating. Probable reasons such a terrible smell is due to insufficient hygiene, violations metabolic processes in the body, the physiological features of a particular person. Very often, bad breath is just a symptom of some internal disease.
• Pseudogalithosis. It smells bad, but not very strong, and only close people can smell it through direct contact. In such cases, it often turns out that the cause of bad breath is insufficient oral hygiene.
• Halitophobia. Physically healthy man I am convinced that he has bad breath, but neither the people around him nor the doctor confirm this. This mental disorder The patient is treated exclusively by a psychotherapist; no other specialists can help.

Bad breath: causes

The main source of bad breath is the vital activity of anaerobic bacteria located there. They emit volatile sulfur compounds, which are smelly gases.

There are a number of factors that contribute to the proliferation of these anaerobic bacteria:

Also, the causes of bad breath may be hidden in lifestyle and diet:

1. Poor hygiene. If a completely healthy person does not use dental floss and does not remove food debris from between the teeth, over time these accumulations will rot and begin to emit an unpleasant odor from the mouth.

   A large number of bacteria accumulate on the back of the tongue, so when brushing your teeth you should not leave this place without attention - it must be cleaned using a special brush located with reverse side toothbrush.

2. Wearing dentures. Food debris may accumulate in dentures. The polymer base of the prosthesis tends to absorb unpleasant odors, so even after eliminating the cause of halitosis, you may experience discomfort when communicating. When installing dentures, the dentist should give advice regarding their ongoing care; these recommendations should definitely be followed. After each regular cleaning, to get rid of the terrible aroma, dentures must be placed in a special antiseptic liquid.
3. Taking some medicines . Very often, antihistamines, diuretics and antidiabetic drugs cause dry mucous membranes and, as a result, bad breath.
4. Eating foods with strong aroma. Onions, garlic, and too fatty meat foods can cause an unpleasant odor, which should go away on its own fairly soon.
5. Smoking. If you constantly smoke and are wondering why bad breath occurs and how to get rid of it, it is worth considering that this feature is often associated with smoking and chewing tobacco. Tobacco products dehydrate mucous membranes and release harmful chemical substances, which linger in the mouth, causing bad breath. If you can't quit smoking, you need to be more careful about keeping your mouth clean.
6. Alcohol intake. Alcohols cause xerostomia (chronic dry mouth), so foul-smelling bacteria multiply quickly and begin to release hydrogen sulfide substances. A stink also appears after drinking various alcoholic beverages and fatty snacks, which travels from the stomach through the esophagus into the oral cavity. Over the years, the salivary glands begin to function worse, so the smell after a holiday in the mouth of an elderly person is much stronger than that of a student.
7. Dried mucous membranes. Saliva effectively moisturizes, cleanses, and washes away dead cells and plaque. If there is not enough saliva, the cells on the gums, tongue, and inner cheeks decompose and cause halitosis. Dryness is a consequence of certain pathologies, taking medications or alcoholic beverages. People in some professions, due to the nature of their work, are more prone to dryness of the oral mucosa, these are lawyers, teachers, doctors who are forced to talk a lot throughout the day. All diseases that cause nasal congestion (allergies, rhinitis, etc.) lead to drying out of the mucous membrane.
8. Stress, nervous tension . The manifestation of a terrible odor will disappear immediately after normalization of the mental state.
9. Diet, fasting, overeating fatty, difficult-to-digest foods. Hunger leads to the fact that with a lack of fats and proteins, the human body begins to utilize endogenous reserves, which leads to bad breath, so you need to eat fully and on time.

Whatever the causes of bad breath, the source is still pathological bacteria. They are always present in the mouth and are activated only under certain circumstances.

How to determine a problem in the body by breathing

How to treat a terrible smell

Treatment for bad breath depends on what exactly caused it and what stage the disease is at. Sometimes it is enough to improve the quality of hygiene procedures, but often it is necessary to get rid of diseases of the oral cavity and internal organs.

You can neutralize unpleasant taste and stench after eating or on an empty stomach as follows:

• drink a cup of strong tea;
• chew a coffee bean;
• eat an apple or carrot;
• chew a parsley leaf, celery root, and a slice of lemon.

At home, you can make your own natural mouthwashes to freshen your breath:

How to prevent halitosis

An unpleasant odor is much easier to prevent than to treat later. Oral hygiene is of great importance. It is very important after each meal to clean your teeth from small particles of food, which can subsequently rot and create favorable conditions for the proliferation of pathogenic organisms.

To prevent causes of bad breath such as tartar and plaque, you must constantly:

• brush your teeth with a brush with medium-hard bristles after each meal, that is, several times a day;
• clean the spaces between teeth with dental floss;
• clean the surface of the tongue with a brush located on the back of the toothbrush, in the direction from root to tip;
• if it is not possible to brush your teeth after eating (at work, at a party), you can rinse your mouth with warm water or chew sugar-free gum;

  You should not abuse chewing gum, as they negatively affect the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract.

• adhere to a proper lifestyle, diet, and include a sufficient amount of vegetables and fruits in your diet. This helps normalize salivation;
• visit the dentist in a timely manner to preventive examination and for dental treatment.

If proper attention is constantly paid to oral hygiene and diseases of the oral cavity and internal organs are excluded, the unpleasant odor of saliva can be weakened with the help of special liquid cleaners in the form of liquid rinses or sprays.

The cleaners have antibacterial properties, which helps reduce the number of anaerobic bacteria that produce volatile sulfur compounds. These formulations contain special substances that neutralize the nasty aroma that these bacteria managed to release, making your breath cleaner and more pleasant.

You should be careful with so-called antiseptic neutralizers: they contain alcohol, which dries out the mucous membrane, which is why the smell appears.

How to choose oral care products

When purchasing personal care products, you need to carefully study their composition. Only natural ingredients will not only help to mask bad breath with another smell, but will directly affect the causes of the problem.

If you choose a toothpaste that contains alcohol, you may not be surprised why your breath smells bad. Alcohol dries the mucous membrane, thereby promoting the development of anaerobic microorganisms, that is, the very cause of bad breath.

It is good if the care product contains antibacterial components that, through chemical reactions, reduce the manifestation of halitosis.

Which doctor should I go to to cure bad breath?

If halitosis occurs, you should first contact your dentist. The doctor will examine your mouth for sores and inflammatory processes, will carry out professional cleaning of plaque and tartar, cure caries, periodontitis and other diseases of the teeth and gums.

If treatment at the dentist does not give results, doctors of another profile should look for the source of the unpleasant odor: ENT doctor (must exclude rhinitis and sinusitis), pulmonologist (bronchiectasis), endocrinologist (diabetes mellitus), gastroenterologist (stomach problems).

Halitosis is a problem that interferes with normal life; it lowers self-esteem, makes a person less sociable, and unattractive to others. Therefore, bad breath must be eliminated in time; traditional measures should not be neglected. hygiene procedures, you need to go to the dentist on time and visit other specialized specialists for a health check.