R.J. Ignelzi, Contributor
IT'S A social stigma in a league with body odour, dandruff and indiscreet
flatulence. Bad breath can break a business deal, distance a friendship and sour a sweet kiss.
Yet most of us have it at least once a day, particularly upon
rising. And for about a quarter
of the population, halitosis is a chronic condition.
According to dental experts, the array of quick-fix breath aids are nothing but temporary Band-Aids. The real problem, about 80 per cent to 90 per cent of the time, is dental hygiene. Or,
the lack of it.
"A person with bad breath who just sucks on mints or lozenges is like someone covering up a mole with makeup without checking it out," says Dr. Irving Silverstein, a periodontist and president of the San Diego County Periodontal Association. "When a person has chronic bad breath, it can signal an oral or medical problem. They need to find out what the problem is. That's the only way to get rid of it."
Most often, halitosis is caused by a build-up of bacterial plaque in the mouth, especially on the tongue at the very back. That thick coating of white goo in the mouth - the residue left by
bacteria combined with dry mouth - is the culprit for
'morning mouth'. Such
bacteria thrive on the sulfur-rich proteins in saliva, oral debris
and food residue and multiply dramatically in cases of tooth decay and gum disease.
While many of the factors
that contribute to bad breath are easily rectified, others aren't. Before you can effectively freshen your breath, you must determine what's making it smell so foul. The following are possible
causes of halitosis:
POOR ORAL HYGIENE
Ineffective daily brushing
and flossing leaves behind
particles of food in the mouth, which collect bacteria and can cause bad breath.
PERIODONTAL (GUM) DISEASE
Gum disease can cause
persistent bad breath as well
as a bad taste in the mouth.
POOR DENTURE HYGIENE
Dentures that don't fit correctly and aren't cleaned properly can also harbour door-causing
bacteria and food particles.
DRY MOUTH
Adequate saliva is necessary to cleanse the mouth and remove particles that may cause odour.
ALCOHOL
Alcohol, no matter if it's in
a cocktail or a mouthwash,
creates a dry environment in
the mouth that anaerobic (bad-breath causing) bacteria love.
CERTAIN FOODS, SUCH AS GARLIC AND ONIONS
When foods are digested, their molecules are absorbed by our bodies and carried off in the bloodstream. Some of these
molecules are released into the lungs as blood flows through them. As we exhale, our breath carries these offending molecules out of our bodies and often into the faces of others.
SUGAR
"You can't get rid of bad breath by sucking on sugary candy. Sugar simply feeds
the bacteria and makes the
situation worse," Katz says. "And, of course, it also
causes tooth decay."
COFFEE
Coffee contains high levels
of acids that may cause bacteria in the mouth to reproduce
more rapidly and also leaves unpleasant 'coffee breath'.
SMOKING
Much of smoker's breath is due to the tar, nicotine and other foul-smelling substances derived from tobacco smoke, which accumulates on teeth and soft
tissues of the mouth. It's exacerbated by other problems inherent in a smoker's mouth.
SINUS CONDITIONS
Respiratory infections and allergies can promote the flow
of post-nasal drip onto the back portion of the tongue. This discharge has a foul taste and smell.
TONSILS
Adults with large tonsils are more prone to bad breath. Tonsils can develop little
nooks and crannies that collect bacteria known as tonsil stones, which can reek.
MEDICAL PROBLEMS
Bad breath sometimes can
be a sign of a medical disorder. The breath will smell sour
with respiratory tract infection,
diabetes, gastrointestinal
disturbances, and liver or
kidney ailments. If your dentist determines that your mouth is healthy, talk to your doctor about the cause of bad breath.
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