Many Causes of Bad Breath
Poor oral hygiene:
If oral hygiene is not maintained properly the mouth becomes the seat for millions of bacteria which produce offensive gases by degrading the food debris. Bad breath is severe in those who do not brush their teeth regularly and clean their mouth after meals.
Bad breath is common in almost all people in the morning on waking. During sleep there is less production of saliva .Saliva has got some antibacterial properties which help to keep the mouth clean. Saliva contains oxygen molecules which is needed to make oral cavity aerobic. So the reduction in it’s quantity during sleep creates a favorable condition for anaerobic bacteria.
Food habits:
The main cause of bad smelling breath is due to degradation of protein by the bacteria and hence all food products rich in protein will cause bad breath. Meat,fish, milk products, eggs, cakes, nuts, etc. can cause bad breath.
Additional foods can also produce particular types of smell which may be unpleasant. For example eating onions or garlic can cause bad breath. Eating groundnuts can also produce bad smell. However if proper cleaning is done smell can be reduced irrespective of the nature of food.
Gingivitis: Gum is a mucus membrane with supporting connective tissue covering the tooth bearing borders of the jaw .The main function of gum is protection .Gingivitis is the inflammation of the gum. Due to various causes gum tissue gets infected, resulting in swelling, pain and discharge. If the condition becomes worse the infection spreads towards the periodontal area leading to continuous discharge called pyorrhea.Sometimes the infection goes deep producing alveolar abscess with discharge of pus. All these conditions can produce offensive smelling breath. Biofilm: There is formation of a thin sticky coating called bio film on the tongue. This coating is thick on the posterior the tongue where millions of negative bacteria can grow.The thick coating on the tongue is almost always associated with bad breath. Gum retraction:
When the gums retract from the teeth, a gap is created which will lodge food particles and cause bad breath.
Plaque and tartar deposits:
Plaque and tartar is deposited in the gaps between the teeth and gum. This will provide hiding places for food debris and bacteria causing bad breath.
Tobacco: Tobacco chewing is associated with bad breath. The smell of tobacco itself is unpleasant for others. Tobacco can irritate the mucus membrane and cause ulcers and coatings. Gingivitis and pyorrhea are common in tobacco chewers. Smoking: Smokers always have a bad smell. It can also produce lesions in the mouth& lungs causing bad breath. Smoking increases carbon dioxide in the oral cavity & reduces oxygen level, which causes a favorable condition for bacteria. Smoking reduces appetite & thirst therefore acid peptic disease is common in chain smokers. Dentures: Denture users may complain about bad smell due to lodgment of small food debris in between. Proper brushing may not be possible in denture users especially fixed dentures. Lesions in the nose & ear: Bad breath is seen in sinusitis (infection of para nasal sinuses). In case of post nasal dripping bad breath is common due to the presence of protein in the discharges. These proteins are degraded by the bacteria.Infection in the middle ear with a discharge of pus into the throat through the tube that provides passage from middle ear to the throat can also cause offensive odor. Chronic rhinitis (infection of mucus membrane of nose) and foreign bodies in the nose can also produce bad smelling breath. Fevers: An acute fever can produce bad breath. Severe bad breath is seen in typhoid .Other infectious diseases like Tuberculosis , AIDS, etc., also produce bad smelling breath. Dry mouth favors bacterial activity. So any condition which produces dryness in the mouth makes the breath offensive. Even the food particles are known to produce bad breath; fasting (or the lack of food particles) can also produce the same. Chewing and swallowing also helps to keep the mouth clean. Production of saliva is reduced during fasting which can cause bad breath.
Tonsillitis: Tonsils are a pair of lymphoid tissue situated in the lateral wall of throat.Inflammation of the tonsil is called tonsillitis. Bad breath is seen in both acute and chronic tonsillitis.
Fasting & dehydration:
Mostly all diabetic patients suffer from bad breath. Coated tongue, ulcers&coatings in the mouth ,increased sugar level in tissues, and more are responsible for bad breath. Bacterial growth in diabetic patient is faster than non diabetic individuals.
Bad breath is common in patients suffering from ulcerative lesions of intestine like ulcerative collitis..Other diseases known to be common for bad breath are ma-absorption syndrome intestinal tuberculosis, and peritonitis.
Diseases of lungs:
Lung diseases like pneumonia, lung abscess,chronic bronchitis, bronchiectasis, tuberculosis, lung cancer, etc, can produce bad odor during expiration.
Liver disorders:
Liver diseases like hepatitis, cirrhosis,can cause bad breath.Gall bladder diseases with vomiting also causes unpleasant odor.
Other Causes Could be:
- Ulcerative lesions& coatings:
- Diseases of the salivary glands:
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Diseases of stomach & esophagus:
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