Bad breath is a very common problem that may be caused by some type of health problem. It can be very mild or already present severely in the patient. Halitosis, as it is also known as bad breath, can have many causes, which we will discuss below, although we will focus more on the oral causes, which we at IMOI Dental Clinics can help you with.
Why does our mouth smell?
Generally, a patient with halitosis has bacteria in his mouth that decompose the remains of the food he consumes daily and that are not eliminated.
These, when mixed with blood, saliva, proteins and some cells present in the mouth, generate substances that, in addition to considerably damaging the gums, the bone, the tooth enamel and the teeth, can also cause damage to the gums. cause cavitiesare also producing volatile substances that make the mouth smell and not exactly in a very pleasant way.
If you have noticed that your mouth gives off certain odors either in the morning or perhaps throughout the day, chances are that you have a high concentration of bacteria that are associated with bad breath and oral diseases such as the strong>gingivitis.
Regarding the study of oral problems, some important points related to halitosis have been discovered:
- Patients with more episodes of bleeding gums tend to accumulate dental plaque, which leads to bad odor in the mouth.
- A patient who lacks proper dental hygiene is more likely to have inflammation of the periodontium or gums; this inflammation is nothing more than the accumulation of bacteria that in turn will enter into the process of reproduction and generation of bad breath.
Other causes of halitosis
If we have led a healthy dental life in which there do not seem to be periodontal problems, it is likely that the causes of bad breath are due to other factors among which stand out:
- Mouth ulcers due to diseases such as diabetes or oral herpes.
- Complications in mouth surgeries.
- Oral cancer
- Dental abscesses.
- High consumption of substances such as tobacco
- Consumption of important amounts of breath such as garlic, onion, coffee, etc.
- People with chronic dry mouth or xerostomia commonly present halitosis.
- Apart from oral health, there are other causes of halitosis such as: liver problems, gastric reflux, poor digestion, larynx or esophagus diseases, etc. But such diseases will be detected in a timely manner by your general practitioner after having ruled out any type of disease in your mouth, teeth, tongue or gums.
Diagnosis of halitosis.
Most people might think that for the diagnosis of halitosis it is enough to smell the mouth; and yes… but it is not a sign that can be easily detected; that is, there are people who due to some kind of condition may not perceive quickly or even never a bad odor in their mouth.
Or perhaps your constant consumption of lozenges to freshen your mouth disguises any bad breath so it may be some time before it can be detected. When you go to a IMOI dental clinic in Barcelona or in IbizaIn the case of halitosis, physicians use specialized tools to determine the levels of substances involved in the halitosis suffered, such as the use of gas chromatography, sulfur monitors, mass spectrometers and photometric flame detectors.
That way you can find out to what degree the problem has developed, its probable causes and the best way for you to carry out an effective treatment that will put an end to the bad odor once and for all.
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Treatments to eliminate bad breath
The most important thing is to keep in mind that if we have halitosis we should not be ashamed or to hide at home and get depressed. You must act and do it quickly so that there are no further repercussions on your health, your quality of life and your relationships with your family and friends.
In general, for the prevention and maintenance of a mouth that does not want to be sick with halitosis, the best solution is to brush your teeth properly:
- Firm and detailed for each of the pieces, not only on the front but also on the back and between them.
- Brushing should also cover part of the gum in a massaging manner that does not allow bacteria to accumulate.
- Wash the tongue, cheeks and palate; the colony of bacteria is not only lodged between the teeth but throughout your mouth.
- Floss properly to remove any tiny debris stored between your teeth.
A good brushing helps to control the oral microflora that causes halitosis; the use of oral probiotics photodynamic therapy is also recommended to restore the good bacteria in your mouth.
Your dentist may also prescribe the use of solutions or mouthwashes or toothpastes that have hydrogen peroxide as an active ingredient or mouthwashes that are ideal for the elimination of oral microbes.
If the problem of halitosis is more serious, within the dental clinic we can perform effective treatment procedures in the gum area; deep cleanings that help eliminate the accumulation of bacteria that are stored in the mouth.
When the situation becomes much more serious, there are cases where gum surgery is required to completely clean the jawbone of any bacteria. However, we should not go to such extremes; as always we recommend a check-up with your dentist at your imoi clinic for constant check-ups to identify a serious problem in your gums or teeth.
Above all, prevention and early detection of oral problems will spare the patient pain, discomfort, inconvenience and unnecessary expenses. We invite you to take full responsibility for the health of your mouth and to always have fresh, healthy breath.
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This article has been supervised by Dr. Ferran Novell Costa and Dra. Erjona Demiraj, specialists in Dental Health and Dental Aesthetics treatments. Responsible for the treatments provided at IMOI Barcelona and IMOI Ibiza and for the supervision and/or updating of the contents of this blog entry. (7/11/2023). The recommendations described are not generic and do not replace the diagnosis and evaluation of a professional in a dental office. If you want us to clarify any aspect or you want a personalized diagnosis and advice we recommend you to come to our dental clinics.
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