How to treat bad breath. Bad breath - treatment

Almost everyone has experienced halitosis - bad breath. Bad breath can cause discomfort when communicating with the opposite sex or colleagues. Moreover, chronic halitosis indicates the presence of problems in the body, and sometimes very serious ones. Despite these reasons, many do not consider the presence of bad breath, which, by the way, they may simply not notice, as a serious reason to contact a specialist.

What is the reason?

No one is immune from bad breath. For example, bad breath in the morning is common even for a healthy person and is considered normal. And morning halitosis is explained, by the way, by ordinary physiology. At night, salivation is minimal, and bacteria accumulate in the oral cavity, whose vital activity is the cause of the odor. The easiest way to eliminate this cause is to just go to the bathroom and brush your teeth.

Another cause of unpleasant odor is also not directly related to human health - food. It's no secret that after eating garlic or onions, a repulsive aroma lingers for a long time. Moreover, neither chewing gum nor a toothbrush will help eliminate it.

Why is this happening? A number of products, such as the above onions and garlic, contain sulfur components, which, when entering the body, are absorbed into the blood and distributed throughout the body.

During the day, bad breath may also increase, which is associated with drying of the oral mucosa. Saliva is a natural moisturizer and cleanser for the mouth, and a lack of it can cause discomfort. However, you can eliminate it by drinking plain water more often. It will freshen your breath and remove the unpleasant aftertaste.

Things are different if you are accompanied by chronic halitosis. In this case, it will no longer be possible to cope with the problem with just a toothbrush. A timely contact with a specialized specialist, such as a gastroenterologist or otolaryngologist, will help to establish the real causes of the problem and eliminate them. Bad breath can be caused by gastrointestinal diseases: chronic inflammation of the stomach or inflammatory bowel diseases, cholelithiasis. Inflammation of the tonsils, pharyngitis, adenoiditis or sinusitis, even a common runny nose can also lead to halitosis.

But most often the cause of bad breath is much more prosaic. Insufficient oral hygiene, according to dentists, is the first and most common cause of halitosis. Unfortunately, despite the high development of civilization and medical technology, people forget to brush their teeth regularly or brush them for 30-40 seconds instead of the required 3 minutes, and do not use devices such as a tongue scraper and dental floss. As a result, a huge number of bacteria can accumulate in the oral cavity, especially on the tongue (many people never clean it), which emit a foul odor with impurities, most often hydrogen sulfide.

Failure to comply with basic rules of oral hygiene often leads to caries or inflammatory diseases such as stomatitis, gingivitis, and periodontitis. These ailments may also be accompanied by an unpleasant odor.

Really get rid of the smell

Considering that in most cases, bad breath is caused by poor oral hygiene, you need to take better care of your teeth and gums and start using dental floss and a tongue scraper regularly. Unfortunately, it is almost impossible to clean out all the plaque and tartar on your own with a toothbrush: for this it is better to contact a specialist.

In general, one of the main rules for healthy teeth and gums is regular visits to the dentist, which many people neglect. A doctor can make a correct diagnosis in the early stages and prevent the development of inflammatory diseases, a common symptom of which is bad breath.

If the dentist nevertheless reveals the presence of inflammatory processes in the oral cavity and prescribes treatment with a potent chemical, then it is advisable to use a rinse in combination. Preparations with natural ingredients such as oak bark, chamomile flowers, sage leaves, arnica herbs, and peppermint herbs may be useful. Together they have a wide spectrum of action and have an antiseptic and anti-inflammatory effect. When the course of treatment with a chemical drug prescribed by your dentist (in combination with which you use a natural rinse) is completed, it is recommended that you do not stop rinsing immediately in order to consolidate the results obtained.

In any case, whatever the real reason for the appearance of bad breath, you must be attentive to your health, promptly contact specialists, including for a preventive examination, and carefully follow the basic rules of oral hygiene.

Often, stench is a symptom of some disease that requires serious treatment. Therefore, you should not carefully hide the smell from your mouth (for example, rotten eggs or acetone), you need to identify the causes and eliminate them.

In this article, we described the most popular types of bad breath and ways to get rid of them.

Rotten egg smell from breath

The stench of rotten eggs can come from food that has not been digested by the stomach.

The unpleasant smell of hydrogen sulfide (rotten eggs) from the mouth usually accompanies excessive consumption of protein foods (meat, fish, poultry). In addition, the causes of stench are:

1. Lack of normal hygiene - the remains of protein food rot in the interdental space.
2. Gastritis with low acidity.
3. Putrefactive dyspepsia is a disease characterized by impaired breakdown and digestion of protein compounds.

How to fix it?

You can get rid of the smell of rotten eggs, which has no pathological basis, by changing your diet and strengthening your oral care. To do this, in addition to regular teeth cleaning, you can use devices such as floss and irrigator.

If you suspect you have internal diseases, consult a gastroenterologist. He will prescribe medication and dietary nutrition.

Smell of vinegar

The appearance of a sour, vinegary smell from the mouth of an adult may indicate the following problems:

To eliminate the causes of vinegar smell from the mouth, you need to undergo drug therapy under the supervision of a doctor.

As a rule, specialists prescribe:

• drugs that reduce acidity - Gaviscon, Maalox, Almagel, Ranitidine;
• antibiotics – “Ciprofloxacin”, “Azithromycin”, “Ofloxacin”;
• antimicrobial agents - “Biseptol”, “Furadonin”;
• dietary food.

It would be a good idea to normalize your water balance (drink at least 1.5-2 liters of water per day) and avoid foods that increase acidity: tomatoes, fruits, vegetables, unripe wine.

Metallic smell

Metal utensils can cause a stench.

If you smell iron, it may be due to:

• rusty water - old communications saturate the liquid with metal particles;
• low-quality metal utensils;
• vitamins and medications with high iron content;

If the smell of blood appears in the mouth for no objective reason, diabetes can be suspected.

The smell of metal is associated with oral problems - stomatitis, gingivitis, glossitis.

How to delete?

To get rid of metallic breath, take care of your health and pay attention to your lifestyle.

1. Install coarse and fine water filters at home.
2. Throw away old pots, pans and bowls.
3. If you are taking medications, the stench can be masked with sprays or chewing gum.
4. Take advantage of professional oral hygiene.

Smell of iodine on the breath

In an adult, the smell of iodine on the breath may indicate an excess amount of this element in the body. An overdose can be obtained by consuming iodine-containing vitamins, medications, products, or at work.

In addition, the reason may be hidden in problems with the thyroid gland. Hyperthyroidism - excessive production of hormones - is treated by taking antithyroid drugs (Propicil, Metizol), surgery or radioactive iodine.

How to remove?

Also, to get rid of iodine fumes, it is often enough to change your diet, treatment, and type of work activity.

Purulent smell

Inflammation of internal organs in adults, accompanied by the decomposition of organic compounds, is signaled by a purulent odor.

Most often its causes are:

• sinusitis;
• abscesses;
• adenoids;
• tuberculosis;
• pneumonia;
• tonsillitis;
• inflammation in the oral cavity.

How to get rid of it?

Start getting rid of bad breath by visiting a medical facility and complaining that your breath smells like pus.

Typically, conservative therapy includes the use of broad-spectrum antibiotics - Amoxicillin, Ciprofloxacin, Vilprafen.

Sweet breath

The sweet aroma is a consequence of lower glucose levels.

Sometimes people experience a sweet odor coming from their mouth. Possible causes in an adult:

• onset of diabetes mellitus – characterized by insufficient insulin production;
• liver diseases - accompanied by the accumulation of dimethyl sulfide in the blood;
• oral candidiasis.

The sweetish aroma does not cause disgust, but requires immediate medical attention.

How to get rid of it?

After a complete diagnosis in a medical hospital, depending on the cause, patients are prescribed:

• hypoglycemic drugs - “Siofor”, “Glucophage”, “Ongliza”, “Formetin”;
• insulin injections;
• antifungal tablets - “Diflucan”, “Lysozyme”;
• local treatment of the affected mucosa - “Amphotericin”, “Decamin”.

When the sweetish smell from the mouth is not associated with any pathology, the achievements of traditional medicine can be successfully applied. The best option would be to prepare herbal infusions for regular rinsing.

Can be used:

• chamomile;
• St. John's wort;
• calendula;
• sage;
• eucalyptus.

The broth should have a comfortable temperature, the number of rinses per day should be individual (from 3 to 7).

Smell of fish

The appearance of a smell from the mouth similar to the stench of rotten fish indicates serious metabolic disorders.

Changes in metabolism cause diseases:

• bulimia, anorexia;
• liver diseases;
• renal failure.

The stench causes a lot of inconvenience to a person, but allows you to identify a serious illness in time and begin its treatment.

How to fight?

Elimination of pathologies, and with them fishy breath, requires constant maintenance therapy. Antidepressants are prescribed and consultations with a psychologist are scheduled.

The functioning of internal organs is restored by taking Furosemide, Losartan, and Trometamol as prescribed by a specialist.

Liver odor

Liver dysfunction is a sign of poor nutrition.

It is difficult to confuse the smell of raw bloody liver with something, which sometimes resembles bad breath. The cause of liver odor is dysfunction of the organ of the same name.

It is worth getting diagnosed if there are additional symptoms:

• pale skin;
• sweating;
• strong coating on the tongue;
• yellowness of the eye sclera.

Treatment of liver diseases involves taking well-proven drugs: Phosphonciale, Phosphogliv, Ovesol, etc.

Medicines and dosage are prescribed only by the attending physician based on the severity of the patient’s condition, test results, and examinations.

When infected with helminths, broad-spectrum or selective-spectrum antihelminthic drugs are successfully used - Vermox, Pirantel, Dekaris, Nemozol.

Coated tongue odor

Grayish, dense deposits on the base of the tongue are a sign of a developing ulcer.

A white coating on the tongue, accompanied by the smell of fish or acidic breath, is caused by lack of hygiene and gastritis.

How to fix

To get rid of the problem, you will need diagnosis of dental problems and treatment by a gastroenterologist.

At home, the following will help eliminate plaque and stench:

• regular sanitation (professional dental treatment);
• daily oral cleaning;
• use of additional accessories (floss, rinses);
• reducing the amount of sugar in food.

After every snack, you should chew gum or eat an apple.

Video: Why there is an unpleasant odor and how to eliminate it. 1.14

Prevention measures

Taking care of your health is the main measure to ensure fresh breath.

1. Take good care of your oral cavity in a timely manner.
2. Visit your dentist regularly.
3. Stop drinking alcohol and smoking.
4. Pay attention to any abnormalities in the body's functioning (sweating, pallor, nausea, heaviness in the stomach).

Bad breath is a problem that is familiar to most of the population. To effectively combat this phenomenon, you need to determine what causes it. This is not always poor hygiene or a product eaten with a characteristic taste and aroma. A quarter of all sufferers have problems with the digestive system, diseases kidney or liver.

In contact with

How to determine if there is a problem

Most often, we learn about bad breath from people around us, loved ones, friends, and relatives.

If a person is not sure about the freshness of his breath, then he can ask family members about it. They will tell you about the character, it could be a sour smell from the mouth of an adult, rotten or rotten.

If you are shy about adults, ask your children, they will not deceive you.

You can detect the presence of “aroma” without the participation of strangers.

Eat several ways:

1. Using a spoon, collect the plaque on the back of your tongue and smell it after a minute. You can use a cotton pad instead of a spoon.
2. Dental equipment that provides accurate readings of hydrogen sulfide in breath.
3. Smell the toothpick a couple of minutes after use.
4. Lick your wrist and smell the skin once dry.

If a problem is discovered and simple hygiene does not help, then you need to go to the doctor, find out the cause, and begin treating the problem. The closest scent to your breath that others can smell is: back of the tongue.

Causes

Chronic bad breath will not go away without treatment and care. Don't believe the advertising and try to overpower it with the scent of chewing gum or buy an expensive spray.

The reasons can be very different:

• soft and hard plaque is one of the most common causes;
• inflammation of the gums;
• advanced caries;
• stomach ulcer, duodenal ulcer, increased acidity;
• cystitis, pyelonephritis, renal failure;
• pathologies of the respiratory system, for example, nasal polyps, adenoids or tonsillitis.

An unpleasant smell from the mouth can be periodic and temporary, or it can be permanent, it all depends on root cause of the problem.

When identifying the cause, it is important not only the presence of staleness, but also the characteristics.

For example, the smell of ammonia from the mouth of an adult indicates problems with the kidneys; a putrid smell from the mouth indicates either problems with teeth and gums, or the presence of a tumor in the esophagus.

Then the food gets stuck in a separate pouch and creates a stale feeling.

Rotten breath indicates problems with the lungs, tuberculosis, advanced disease. Bad breath worse in the morning, because the mucous membrane dries out and bacteria multiply more intensely. In a healthy person, morning staleness disappears after brushing your teeth.

A sour smell in the mouth of an adult occurs with pathologies such as gastritis and stomach ulcers, which are accompanied by increased acidity. If you have problems with the liver, a person may smell like rotten eggs, there will also be a bitterness in the mouth, and a yellow tint will appear on the skin. Your breath smells like acetone - you need to check the amount of glucose in your blood, this is a sign of diabetes.

All of the above reasons relate to diseases of internal organs and affect the occurrence of constant bad breath. There are factors, which cause oral odor in adults for a short time. These include certain types of food, poor hygiene, as well as alcohol and smoking.

When drinking alcohol, the mucous membranes dry out, which promotes the growth of bacteria.

Then the problem is corrected with the help of a healthy lifestyle and giving up bad habits. Tar and nicotine provoke a characteristic smoker's aroma, which cannot be eliminated without quitting smoking.

Bacteria that contribute to the emergence unpleasant breath, eat protein foods.

What kind of food is this: protein that we eat in the form of meat, eggs, fish, and dairy products. With poor quality dental care, the remains of such food provoke a massive proliferation of microorganisms.

Important! The less often you brush your teeth, the more microorganisms accumulate on the tongue, between the teeth, and on the mucous membrane.

In the oral cavity of every person there are microorganisms that can emit a cadaverous, rotten odor, as well as "aroma" of feces. Whether people around you feel it depends on the number of such bacteria.

Diagnostics

Halitosis is the official name of the pathology, regardless of the cause. To diagnose the cause and further treatment, you must consult a dentist. He will use the machine to assess the intensity of halitosis and also check for dental causes. The dentist will measure the level of plaque on your teeth and tongue.

The specialist conducts an examination and interviews the patient. It is necessary to remember when the bad breath appeared, the reasons for the patients, for what diseases, its intensity, whether there are problems with the gastrointestinal tract or excretory organs. Specialists have instruments to measure the amount of sulfur secretions in the exhalation. General tests and examinations of the digestive organs, examination of the larynx, nasopharynx are carried out, and the level of kidney and liver enzymes is detected. As a result, you may need to consult not only a dentist, but also a gastroenterologist, ENT specialist and urologist.

Important! Before undergoing diagnostics, it is prohibited to use sprays or cosmetics for breathing.

Two days before the examination, you must stop eating spicy food and do not use mouthwashes or breath fresheners for 12 hours.

The entire diagnostic process comes down to identifying the cause of this phenomenon. Treatment directly depends on this.

In chronic diseases, bad breath may indicate an exacerbation. In this case, you should adjust treatment.

Often a person focuses too much on bad breath. There is halitophobia, which in adults is characterized by a fear of staleness. The disease causes panic and provokes a person to constantly use refreshing products. In this case, the diagnosis does not reveal the cause of the pathology; in very advanced cases, treatment by a psychologist is necessary.

Treatment

Halitosis should be treated by a doctor whose specialty is the symptoms of poor breathing. The dentist will remove periodontitis, tell you how to use dental floss, and teach you how to care for dentures, which can be another factor in the problem. The dentist will remove plaque from the tongue and gums and recommend an antibacterial paste to destroy odors from the mouth of adults.

How to treat unpleasant breathing from a person if it is a symptom of more complex diseases, a highly specialized specialist will tell you. For example, the smell of ammonia from the breath of an adult prompts you to consult a urologist and have your kidneys checked. As soon as the functioning of the internal organs is normalized, the aroma of the oral cavity will also return to normal.

Traditional methods

You can try to solve the problem using traditional methods:

1. Chew natural coffee beans, eat ½ spoon of instant coffee granules.
2. Always use natural mouthwashes.
3. Rinse your mouth daily with decoctions of chamomile, oak, dill and propolis.
4. Essential oils of clove, tea tree and sage will help a lot for a couple of hours.

TO unconventional methods The fight also includes the use of refreshing chewing gum. It is recommended to use them no more than 15 minutes. In the presence of complex pathologies, it will not have an effect.

Important! If the main cause of the disease is not eliminated, then folk and cosmetic methods will give a temporary effect, and the problem will periodically return.

Prevention

Preventive measures to prevent bad breath during illness or in everyday life include, first of all, hygiene and dental care.

To prevent the growth of bacteria that cause putrid breath, be sure to use dental floss, brush your teeth regularly, and also get rid of plaque on your tongue.

Be sure to visit the dentist for preventive care. You should brush your teeth for at least 3 minutes, be sure to floss and carry out the brushing procedure at least 2 times a day.

After every meal, especially protein, you need to rinse and cleanse the mouth.

It is better to give up bad habits, balance your diet so that you have enough vitamins and microelements. Use mouth rinses regularly. Consult your dentist about how to moisturize the mucous membrane if dryness occurs.

If you have chronic gastrointestinal diseases, respiratory organs, kidneys and liver, it is important to monitor the normal state of health and prevent exacerbations. A sour odor from the mouth of an adult may indicate increased acidity. At the first manifestations of the acute form, you need to contact a specialist. If an adult smells of ammonia from the mouth, immediately contact a urologist, especially if you have recently become hypothermic and have problems with urination.

It is useful to lead a healthy lifestyle, monitor your blood sugar levels so that the acetone aroma does not appear. It is imperative to treat all inflammatory and infectious diseases in a timely manner so as not to trigger pathology. In contact with

It is very common to encounter people who cover their mouth with their palm during a conversation. Such gestures are caused by the presence of an unpleasant odor. We will try to understand the main causes and methods of treating bad breath in adults.

Types of bad breath

Halitosis (the medical name for the problem) affects the vast majority of the population. It can appear immediately after sleep, throughout the day, after eating, etc.

There is a certain classification:

• true halitosis (felt both by the carrier and by people around him);
• pseudohalitosis (felt only during direct communication with other people);
• halitophobia (the patient inspires the disease into himself).

There are also physiological and pathological types. The first appears after the absorption of certain products, nicotine, etc. It is divided into oral (caused by problems in the oral cavity) and extraoral (develops due to internal disorders).

Chronic bad breath causes psychological discomfort to its wearer. A person becomes withdrawn, avoids close communication and group events, and his personal life collapses. Therefore, it is imperative to identify and effectively eliminate the problem.

Causes of bad breath

Halitosis often occurs after eating fatty and protein foods.

The main reason that explains the occurrence of bad breath in an adult is insufficient cleaning of the oral cavity. As a result, microbes begin to multiply, and as a result of their vital activity, a heavy putrefactive aroma is felt.

People who wear dentures are more likely to have bad breath than others. This means poor-quality cleaning of the prosthesis, which is why pathogenic organisms also accumulate on its walls.

Physiological reasons

1. Taking a specific group of medications.
2. Plaque on the teeth or tongue.
3. Severe dry mouth.
4. Smoking.
5. Eating foods that cause an unpleasant aroma (onions, garlic, etc.).
6. Poor nutrition.

If a person often snores in his sleep, then he is likely to smell from his mouth in the morning. This is due to severe drying of the mucous membrane, as a result of which bacteria actively multiply.

Physiological causes also include stress and nervous tension, hormonal imbalance, and weak immunity.

Pathological causes

1. Dental caries, stomatitis, periodontal disease, etc.
2. Ulcers in the mouth or throat (strong rotten smell).
3. Pathologies of the digestive system (smells of hydrogen sulfide).
4. Diseases of the pancreas, diabetes (acetone amber).
5. Pathologies of the liver and kidneys.
6. The presence of malignant tumors, tuberculosis, pneumonia (putrid or purulent odor).

Very often, patients are diagnosed with halitophobia (fear of bad breath). This condition is absent when the main symptoms appear.

Diagnostic features

Treatment for bad breath occurs after diagnosis.

To understand that a disease has led to bad breath, pay attention to the accompanying symptoms:

• bleeding from the gums;
• pain;
• bowel dysfunction (frequent constipation or diarrhea);
• white coating on the tongue;
• dry or wet cough;
• nasal congestion;
• nausea, vomiting, loss of consciousness;
• blood pressure surges.

To determine the presence of halitosis yourself, simply breathe into a closed palm or a paper napkin. If you notice a stench, then you need to visit a medical professional. You may need to consult a dentist, gastroenterologist, surgeon, or urologist.

The patient will be required to undergo laboratory tests of blood, urine, and stool. If necessary, the problem will be identified using ultrasound, X-ray diagnostics and other types of instrumental studies.

Ways to treat bad breath

As a rule, if there are physiological reasons, relief is quick and effective. Let's consider the main points of treatment in adults.

Oral hygiene

If your bad breath is a result of poor teeth cleaning, remember that this procedure must be done at least twice a day. In this case, certain rules are observed:

1. Dentists recommend using special rinses daily. They remove food debris and eliminate pathogenic bacteria.
2. After eating or smoking, use oral hygiene products such as mouth spray, lozenges, or chewing gum.
3. During cleaning, it is imperative to carefully remove plaque from the tongue, which over time causes halitosis.
4. To clean the interdental spaces, you can use special dental floss.
5. Properly selected toothbrushes and toothpastes will also help get rid of halitosis.

If the cause of the stench is caries, stomatitis or other dental diseases, then it is imperative to treat them.

Pharmacy products

Such drugs eliminate the primary sources of the disease.

To treat halitosis, rinses are used that have antiseptic, anti-inflammatory and antibacterial effects.

The following will help in the fight against bad odor:

• "Listerine";
• "Chlorhexidine";
• "Remodent";
• "Camphomen".

The attending physician will select the appropriate drug based on the cause of the problem.

Traditional methods

What to do when you urgently need to eliminate the smell, but there is no way to contact a pharmacist? Use traditional medicine.

Masking of bad breath is done by:

• carnation;
• propolis;
• mint;
• chamomile.

Teas and decoctions based on them provide a short-term effect. To quickly get rid of the stench, you can chew a few grains of cloves.

Drug therapy

A specialized specialist can cure terrible bad breath associated with pathological causes. For example, a dentist treats caries and periodontal disease.

The following drugs are used to treat pathologies of the gastrointestinal tract and other organs:

• "Almagel" (for gastritis or ulcers);
• “Festal”, “Creon” (to restore the functioning of the pancreas and improve intestinal motility);
• antibiotics (in the presence of pathogenic bacterial microflora).

Independent decisions in this case will aggravate the situation. Only a specialist can cure the disease. Based on the results of a comprehensive examination, he will select the drug, its dosage and course duration.

Apples, carrots, and spinach help get rid of terrible breath. It is recommended to exclude from the diet dishes that may lead to the appearance of stench, which we listed above. Doctors may also prescribe certain dietary foods if necessary.

Video: Five reasons for bad breath and how to eliminate them.

Preventing bad breath

Basic measures to prevent stench:

• compliance with all hygiene requirements, including regular cleaning of dentures;
• timely treatment of pathologies;
• moisturizing the oral cavity;
• examinations by a dentist and other specialists;
• diet correction;
• Regular rinsing after meals.

By following these simple rules, you can prevent the occurrence of halitosis.

Almost every adult faces the problem of bad breath (halitosis) sooner or later. People experiencing such problems begin to feel some discomfort when communicating, which, in turn, leads to isolation, decreased self-esteem, loss of self-confidence and, ultimately, to loneliness.

All this can provoke the occurrence of psychoneurological diseases that develop due to a lack of communication.

Causes of bad breath in adults. Types of halitosis

Sometimes the person himself does not notice or does not want to notice the unpleasant odor emanating from the oral cavity. However, this may be a symptom of quite serious illnesses, therefore, you should not ignore the problem and contact the clinic as soon as possible to find out the cause and make the correct diagnosis.

Types of halitosis

There are two types of halitosis:

• Physiological. The appearance of bad breath is caused by dietary errors or poor oral hygiene. This type of halitosis can occur with smoking, fasting, and excessive consumption of alcohol and medications.
• Pathological. Caused by dental diseases (oral halitosis) or pathologies of internal organs (extrooral).

In addition, in the scientific world there are such concepts as pseudohalitosis and halitophobia. Both of these conditions are psychological in nature.

Pseudogalithosis is one of the obsessive states in which the patient constantly feels that his breath smells bad. In such cases, the help of a psychotherapist is required.

Overly suspicious people often suffer halitophobia- constant fear of the appearance of a bad odor after an illness.

So, before taking any measures to eliminate bad breath, you should find out the reason his emergence. Perhaps it’s a matter of an incorrect and unbalanced diet, or is everything explained by the poor state of the environment? What if halitosis is caused by pathological changes in internal organs or is it contagious?

Physiological type

There are many reasons that cause bad breath, the main ones being the following.

General oral health. In an adult, as well as in a child, odor can appear due to insufficient oral care. In this case, you should check your teeth and gums.

Dry mouth. In medical circles, this phenomenon is called xerostomia. It usually arises as a result of lengthy conversations. Often, xerostomia affects people whose profession involves constant communication (for example, TV presenters, announcers, etc.).

Wrong diet. Experts have identified a number of products, the consumption of which can provoke halitosis. These are mainly fatty foods that have a negative effect on the walls of the stomach and esophagus.

Bad habits. Habits such as smoking and alcohol can cause bad breath. But if with the second option everything is more or less clear (those who have encountered the problem of hangover syndrome understand well what we are talking about), then with smoking the situation is somewhat different. This is explained by the fact that smokers use cigarettes almost every day, and tobacco smoke has a negative effect on the oral mucosa. The result of this effect is the drying out of the mouth and the creation of favorable conditions for the emergence and development of various types of harmful microorganisms, which will be very problematic to get rid of in the future.

Poor oral hygiene. Bad breath can occur as a result of plaque on the tongue, gums, inside of the cheeks and even teeth. The appearance of such plaque is usually explained by non-compliance with the rules of oral hygiene, which results in the active development of bacteria that feed on food debris remaining in the mouth.

Microbes. In some cases, bad breath appears in the morning, seemingly for no apparent reason. In fact, it’s all about microbes that actively grow and multiply almost constantly, especially at night. During sleep, the amount of saliva in a person's mouth decreases, which creates favorable conditions for the growth and development of harmful bacteria. You can get rid of bad breath in a simple way: just brush your teeth and additionally use a mouth rinse to maintain the effect.

Pathological type

This form of halitosis is characterized by the appearance of the following odors from the mouth:

• acetone;
• ammonia;
• feces;
• putrefactive;
• sour;
• rotten eggs.

Smell of rotten breath. Most often, the cause of this odor is pathological changes in the respiratory system and dental diseases. In addition, it may appear due to the accumulation of food debris under the denture or in a diseased tooth. Under the influence of harmful microorganisms, amino acids decompose, which determines the nature of this form of halitosis.

The main causes of putrid odor from the mouth may be the following:

In addition, the smell of rot can be caused by the following factors:

• disruption of the functioning of the digestive tract, with a particularly pronounced odor;
• alcohol abuse and smoking;
• poor oral hygiene, resulting in the appearance of tartar or plaque.

Ammonia smell. The causes of its appearance are kidney diseases and renal failure, in which the level of urea in the blood is greatly exceeded. The body, not being able to fully remove this substance naturally, begins to look for an alternative exit, that is, through the skin and mucous membranes. This explains the appearance of the ammonia smell.

Smell of feces from the mouth. There may be several reasons for its occurrence: intestinal obstruction, poor absorption of food, decreased peristalsis and dysbiosis.

People with bulimia or anorexia may also experience a fecal odor in their mouth. This is also associated with a disruption of the digestive process: food is poorly digested (or not digested at all), and rotting and fermentation begins.

In some cases, such an aroma may be caused by infectious lesions of the respiratory system.

Smell of acid. An increased level of gastric acidity caused by diseases such as pancreatitis, gastric or duodenal ulcers, esophageal diverticulitis or gastritis provokes the appearance of a sour odor from the mouth. The acidic smell may be accompanied by nausea or heartburn.

Rotten egg smell. The main reason for the appearance of such a smell is also disturbances in the functioning of the stomach associated with decreased acidity and gastritis. In this case, a person may experience a feeling of discomfort in the stomach area, and belching appears. Another cause of rotten egg breath is food poisoning.

Smell of acetone from the mouth. The most harmless cause of the smell of acetone is ordinary indigestion, but there are several quite serious diseases accompanied by this form of halitosis.

The smell of acetone may indicate diseases of the pancreas (pancreatitis, diabetes), and also indicate the development of other pathologies, as will be discussed below.

• Liver diseases. The course of some liver diseases is accompanied by the appearance of acetone in human urine and blood. If the functioning of an organ is disrupted, the task of which is precisely to cleanse the body of all sorts of unnecessary substances, including toxic ones, leads to the accumulation of acetone and, as a result, the appearance of odor from the oral cavity.
• Diabetes. High blood sugar, characteristic of an advanced form of diabetes, coupled with the release of large amounts of acetone (ketone bodies) into the human blood forces the kidneys to work harder and remove toxic substances from the body. The lungs also take an active part in the process, which explains the appearance of an acetone odor from the patient’s mouth.

When this symptom appears, the patient must be urgently hospitalized for a thorough examination and immediate medical care. Otherwise, a diabetic coma is possible.

• Kidney diseases. The smell of acetone from the mouth can appear with uric acid diathesis, as well as with diseases such as kidney dystrophy, renal failure, nephrosis. These pathologies cause disruption of protein metabolism and its breakdown products begin to accumulate in the blood.

Diagnosis of bad breath

Halitosis is detected in the following ways:

• Organoleptic method (assessment of the intensity of halitosis by a specialist). In this case, the degree of manifestation of bad breath is assessed on a five-point scale (from 0 to 5). Before the examination, it is recommended to refrain from using odorous cosmetics one day before the procedure, and eating spicy food approximately 48 hours before visiting the doctor. In addition, 12 hours before the start of the assessment, it is advisable to stop using breath fresheners and mouth rinses, and stop brushing your teeth, smoking, eating and drinking.
• Analysis of the medical history: when exactly does bad breath appear, how long ago has it started, are there any chronic diseases of the oral cavity, gums, liver, gastrointestinal tract, paranasal sinuses and nose itself, is there a connection with food intake, etc.
• Pharyngoscopy (examination of the larynx).
• Sulfide monitoring is the use of a special device (halimeter) to measure the degree of sulfur concentration in the air exhaled by the patient.
• Examination of the nose and nasopharynx using an endoscope.
• Examination of the oral cavity by a dentist (to identify white or yellowish plaque on the patient’s tongue and teeth).
• Laryngoscopy.
• Consultation with a gastroenterologist and pulmonologist (in order to exclude diseases of the lungs and bronchi).
• Biochemical blood test (sugar levels, liver and kidney enzymes are examined).

Prevention of unpleasant odors

In order to avoid the appearance of bad breath and subsequent problems associated with it, you should follow a few simple rules:

• First of all, you must carefully adhere to the rules of oral hygiene and regularly visit the dentist for preventive examinations.
• Nutrition should be balanced, rich in vitamins and microelements.
• In addition to daily brushing of teeth, it is necessary to use special mouth rinses that help destroy harmful microorganisms and freshen breath. Do not overuse alcohol rinses, as they greatly dry out the mucous membranes.
• Timely prevention and treatment of pathologies of internal organs, as well as infectious diseases.
• Regular consumption of fresh vegetables and fruits.
• Whenever you brush your teeth, do not forget about your tongue and be sure to clean it of any plaque that has appeared.
• Refusal to drink alcohol, cigarettes, and lead a healthy lifestyle.
• Using special moisturizers for dry mouth.

The appearance of bad odor from the oral cavity should not be ignored and you should not try to get rid of it with the help of hygiene products. This can only drown out the problem for a while, but will not destroy it completely. Sometimes even a simple consultation with a specialist gives a good result, and timely treatment will save you from such troubles for a long time.