Most of us have had the odd bad breath day. If we're lucky, our
loved ones have gently pointed this fact out before we come in contact with the
wider world. Yet persistent halitosis can lead to significant social
embarrassment. More than £2 million each year is spent on mouth cleansers and
breath fresheners in the UK alone.
What makes breath smell?
Breath
only smells when certain aromatic chemicals dissolve within it. Unfortunately
many of these chemicals are regularly produced when proteins from food are
broken down by bacteria in the mouth. Examples are:
- methyl mercaptan (colourless gas found in foods like nuts and
cheese, smells like rotten cabbage)
- putrescine (gas produced when the body breaks down amino acids
in food, smells of decaying meat)
- hydrogen sulphide (gas produced by bacteria in the colon and
when the body breaks down amino acids in food, smells like rotten
eggs).
These chemicals can be absorbed into your bloodstream from the
bowel and then circulated around the body until they are excreted via the lungs
in breath.
In this way, garlic rubbed into the soles of your feet can
later be detected in trace amounts in your breath.
Morning
breath
Practically everyone has a degree of halitosis first thing in the
morning.
When we sleep, saliva flow drastically reduces while your tongue
and cheeks move very little. This allows:
- food residues to stagnate in the mouth
- dead cells to accumulate that would normally be shed from the
surface of your tongue, gums and the inside of the cheeks.
As bacteria in your mouth start to work on and breakdown these
residues, they generate an unpleasant smell.
***hough normal, anyone with
nasal congestion who mouth-breathes at night is more likely to be
affected.
Morning breath usually disappears after breakfast and daily
brushing, because saliva starts to flow again and any leftover residues are
washed away and swallowed.
Occasional bad breath
The most common
causes of occasional halitosis include smoking cigarettes or cigars, drinking
alcohol or eating certain foods.
Culprits that are often to blame include
onions, garlic, curries, cured foods like salami and ****ed foods like
kippers.
Smoking also reduces the flow of saliva in its own right and so
worsens bad breath.
Crash dieting or fasting can also lead to halitosis.
When the body no longer has a supply of carbohydrates, it first breaks down
glucose stored in the muscles and liver.
After a few hours, the body
begins to break down its fat stores. The waste products of their metabolism,
known as ketones, give breath a distinctive sweet and sickly smell.
You
can smell this on the breath of anyone who has vigorously exercised but who
hasn't eaten enough carbohydrates before or after their workout.
People
on strict high-protein diets experience the same effect for similar
reasons.
What are the medical causes of bad breath?
Most reasons
for halitosis are sited in the mouth.
Gum disease is the most common
reason for bad breath and is caused by plaque.
Plaque is a mixture of
food residues, dead gum cells and bacteria that forms between the gum and the
tooth. The bacteria create an unpleasant odour and contribute to bleeding gums
and loosening of teeth.
The cause of gum disease is often bad
oral hygiene. If you do not
regularly brush your teeth you will experience bad breath.
A coated,
furry tongue is often a sign of indigestion, smoking or dehydration - all of
which can make breath smell.
Any infections around the mouth and throat
might be significant. Nasal congestion, sinus infections, tonsillitis and
swollen adenoids could all contribute. So could indigestion caused by acid
reflux from a hiatus hernia.
Even lung disorders such as
chronic bronchitis and
bronchiectasis (where infected sputum is present) may play a
part.
Consider too, any medications you might be taking. Anything that
dries up saliva as a side-effect, such as
amitriptyline (an
antidepressant), may add to the problem.
How do you know if you have bad
breath?
Here are some useful pointers, so you don't have to rely on
others telling you.
- Lick the inner surface of your wrist. Wait a few seconds and
sniff the licked area. Is there an odour?
- Do you smoke at times other than me***imes when the odour is
diluted by food, drink and saliva?
- Do your gums look swollen or puffy and do they bleed when you
brush them?
- Does your dentist or hygienist comment on your gum disease
(gingivitis) and suggest more efficient brushing and
flossing?
Remedies
Start with the dentist and hygienist, because
the root of the problem is usually dental.
Proper brushing techniques and
regular flossing can work wonders. Brushing a furry tongue with a tongue cleaner
is helpful.
- Avoid smoking, alcohol and spicy foods.
- Clean your mouth after eating milk products, fish and
meat.
- Chewing sugar-free gum helps because it encourages the flow of
saliva without contributing to tooth decay.
- Use a mouthwash to get rid of bacteria and bits of food that you
may have missed when brushing.
- Deodorising mouth sprays can mask halitosis in the short term,
but you need antibacterial and antiseptic preparations with a longer duration of
action to make any lasting difference. Your dentist can advise you on what will
be most appropriate.
اللغة الانجليزية
27/7/2008, 10:05
