Halitosis

Quick Facts:
•    Halitosis is caused by sulphur producing bacteria present in the tongue and throat.
•    Major causes are poor oral hygiene, smoking and dryness of the mouth
•    The treatment depends on the underlying cause of the halitosis.

What is it?
Halitosis also known as chronic bad breath results from the excess presence of bacteria that produces sulphur in our oral cavity. These bacteria normally inhabit the surface of our tongue and throat. At times however, they break down proteins at a very high rate thereby releasing odorous volatile sulphur compounds that contribute to bad breath. It is not infectious and is not a constant issue. About 2.4% of the adult population suffers from bad breath.

Causes of Halitosis:
There are other factors apart from sulphur producing bacteria that contribute to halitosis which are:
•    Dental factors: poor oral hygiene and periodontitis (infection of the gums)
•    Dry Mouth: It can be caused by various factors such as stress, consumption of alcohol, side effects of a medical condition or drugs
•    Smoking: smoking starves the oral tissues of oxygen and hence leads to halitosis
•    Post nasal discharge: this can happen in chronic sinusitis and many other underlying medical conditions
•    Acid and bile reflux from the stomach
•    Consumption of food stuff such as onion, garlic etc which induce certain unpleasant odors. The effects of this is however are short-lived than the other factors
•    Various other medical conditions such as metabolic dysfunctions, biochemical disorders, carcinomas, kidney failure etc.

Symptoms:
The features that accompany halitosis are:
•    Dry mouth
•    Plaque build up around teeth
•    Post nasal drip or mucous
•    A white coating on the tongue
•    Burning sensation on the tongue
•    Morning bad breath
•    Constant sour or bitter metallic taste
•    Thick saliva

Chronic halitosis can have a major psychological impact on a person, as friends may tend to avoid coming up close for conversations. It can affect self esteem and confidence.

Treatment:
The treatment varies from case to case and addresses the underlying issue that is the cause of the bad breath.  Avoiding dehydration and maintenance of good oral hygiene is particularly important. Some mouthwashes, toothpastes and lozenges aid in preventing halitosis.

Regular gentle but effective cleaning of the tongue is also advised. A variety of tongue brushes and scrapers are available fro this purpose. The tongue needs to gently and thoroughly brushed starting from the back towards the front. One must remember that the hardest to reach back portion of the tongue smells the worst.

People who suffer from chronic sinusitis may be advised to use a saline nasal spray. A course of antibiotic that targets anaerobic bacteria may help in reducing the population of sulphur producing bacteria.

Visit your dentist or doctor to identify the cause of your halitosis to find the most effective treatment plan for you. The visit will be worthwhile as it will save you from a lot of embarrassment.
A healthcare initiative by AsiaMed Connect in partnership with Apollo Hospitals Group- For free online medical consultation, send your queries to consultationamc@gmail.com