Causes of sulfur odor from mouth. Bad breath (halitosis) - causes and treatment
Bad breath is a fairly common problem that affects up to 85% of the population.
But it is worth considering that in about 30% of cases, the pathology manifests itself regularly and indicates that a person has some kind of chronic disease.
Bad breath is most often caused by digestive problems.
To be more precise, in people who go to the hospital with the phenomenon in question, doctors diagnose problems in the functioning of the stomach, liver, intestines or oral cavity.
Halitosis, as the unpleasant odor is commonly called, may be a consequence of the accumulation of peculiar substances in the oral cavity of a person. harmful bacteria.
Their accumulation is usually observed on the tongue, between the teeth and around the jaw.
The pathology in question is not considered incurable. Modern medicine works wonders, so the most important thing is to identify it in a timely manner. the real reason the appearance of halitosis.
How to feel for yourself whether your breath is fresh or not
As already mentioned, halitosis has various causes and does not always indicate problems with oral health. The reason may lie in elementary microorganisms.
But due to the fact that there is a risk of developing diseases internal organs, you should not ignore the regularly occurring bad breath.
Before you panic, you should determine exactly how stale the air a person exhales is.
It is quite difficult to do this without outside help, because the internal organs have such a structure that a person is not able to simultaneously exhale air through the mouth and inhale it through the nose.
What to do if you don’t want to bother others with your requests?
There are several effective ways to determine the freshness of your breath on your own. They are:
- The person should pick up the spoon and touch it with the smooth surface of his tongue a couple of times. You need to try to move the spoon to the very base of the tongue, because that’s where the bad breath “hides.” The aroma will be indicated by the coating and smell of saliva.
- A person can place their tongue against the wrist of their hand and smell the remaining mark. When the saliva dries completely, the smell that people around you hear will remain on your hand.
It is worth considering that the result obtained is somewhat weaker than the real aroma, because the true smell is concentrated in the depths of the mouth.
Based on all of the above, it will be easier and faster to simply ask a relative or close friend what smell comes from your breath.
IN as a last resort, you can get an opinion from your dentist during a routine examination.
Symptoms of pathology
If it was not possible to detect the smell from the mouth, then its presence can be judged by the accompanying symptoms that cannot go unnoticed.
These include the following signs:
- Availability white plaque in the oral cavity.
- Dry tongue with a yellow coating.
- Burning sensation in the mouth area.
- Small balls on or near the tonsils.
- Unpleasant taste in the mouth when rinsing teeth, drinking coffee or tea.
- Having a metallic, bitter or sour taste in the mouth that occurs daily.
- Unusual behavior of the interlocutor, who turns away or moves away during a conversation.
All these symptoms cannot be ignored, because they may indicate dental problems. Or, what is even more unpleasant, diseases of internal organs.
Causes of bad breath
Every person should know that most often bad breath occurs as a result of the formation of a white substance in the oral cavity, located on the back of the tongue.
If we talk about factors that contribute to the appearance or enhancement of aroma, there are several of them:
- Presence of bacteria in the mouth.
- Favorable conditions for the spread of such harmful microorganisms.
- Irregular brushing of teeth, tongue and the entire oral cavity - places where bacteria accumulate.
Doctors identify several main reasons that provoke the occurrence of unpleasant odor from the mouth. It is worth familiarizing yourself with them in more detail.
Non-physiological reasons
Food
Large amounts of food that a person regularly consumes are considered to be the culprits of the pathology in question. For example, garlic and onions.
During the digestion of food, the molecules included in its composition must be absorbed by the human body and removed from it through the bloodstream.
The fact is that many molecules have an unpleasant aroma, which penetrates the human lungs through the blood. And they leave the respiratory organs during exhalation, causing strong smell from the mouth.
The unpleasant odor caused by food intake should go away on its own after a few days as the body gets rid of the bad-smelling microorganisms.
It’s easy to deal with such a problem – you just need to remove such food from your daily diet.
Tobacco smoking
All people, from time to time, communicate with people who smoke, who have a specific smell.
A similar phenomenon is observed in connection with the harmful effects of nicotine, tar and other harmful substances that are part of cigarette smoke on the smoker’s body.
Such substances settle on the teeth, oral mucosa and soft tissues: gums, cheeks, tongue. In order to prevent the appearance of bad breath from a smoker, it is recommended to forget about cigarettes and brush your teeth more often.
Presence of dentures
Dentures can be full, partial or removable. What they have in common is the fact that they can all have a significant impact on your breath.
People who wear dentures can conduct an experiment to help determine whether their dentures affect their breathing. To do this, a person must remove false teeth, put them in a closed container and leave for a few minutes.
After this, the container should be quickly opened and smelled. A similar smell can be heard by people around him from the breath of the owner of prostheses.
It is worth considering the fact that bacteria that settle on the teeth and tongue can also settle on the surface of a removable denture. Which, in turn, also provokes bad breath.
The doctor who installed removable teeth is obliged to tell his patient about the rules for caring for them. You should not think that dentures do not need to be cleaned - this is a mistake.
To prevent the build-up of bacteria, the denture should be cleaned in the same way as natural teeth- using a toothbrush. After such actions, the prosthesis is placed in a container with an antiseptic, which is recommended by the attending physician.
Diet and fasting
Various diets aimed at weight loss are very popular among women. But it is worth remembering that you cannot exclude any foods from your diet until a nutritionist allows you to do so.
Problems like this can be easily fixed. It is enough to give up bad habits and poor nutrition, maintain personal hygiene and periodically visit the dentist.
But the pathology in question is not always so simple and not dangerous.
Physiological reasons
Increased dryness in the mouth
People who don't think they have bad breath won't deny that even their breath isn't fresh in the morning.
This phenomenon can be explained by drying out of the oral mucosa at night. Xerostomia occurs due to the fact that the sleeping body practically does not produce saliva.
The same problem may occur in teachers or lawyers whose speech continues for a long time, so their mouth area is also susceptible to drying out.
But there are also people who suffer from a chronic type of xerostomia. In this case, the problem is much more difficult to solve, because the lack of saliva provokes bad breath.
Saliva cleanses the mouth of bacteria. When a person swallows saliva, millions of harmful microorganisms and the food that feeds these organisms leave his mouth.
The chronic type of xerostomia can occur after treatment with certain medications.
For example, antiallergic medications, antidepressants, tablets that maintain normal blood pressure, diuretics or strong painkillers.
The older a person gets, the drier the mucous membrane of his mouth becomes. This is explained by the fact that salivary glands work without the same intensity, and the constituent parts of saliva change significantly.
Periodontal diseases
Gum problems are the most commonly cited cause of bad breath. Any dentist can safely say that the aroma from the mouth, which is affected by gum disease, is always very specific.
But it is he who gives an experienced doctor the opportunity to diagnose periodontal disease even without an initial examination of the person who contacted him.
People over 35 years of age are prone to gum disease. To be more precise - than more to a person years, the more susceptible he is to developing problems with fresh breath.
Periodontal disease, which is a bacterial pathology that affects soft tissues and nearby teeth, should not be neglected.
An untimely diagnosed problem causes damage to the bone in which a person’s teeth are located.
If a patient notices that a crack has formed between his gums and teeth, he should immediately seek the help of a specialist, because such a gap indicates the rapid progression of periodontal disease.
If you do not get rid of the gap, then bacteria will constantly accumulate in it, causing halitosis.
Pathologies of the respiratory organs
Very often, bad breath is associated with diseases of the upper respiratory tract or allergic reactions.
Such pathologies provoke the flow of mucous secretions from the nose into the mouth, through an opening in the soft palate. The accumulation of precisely this mucus leads to halitosis.
People who have been diagnosed with sinus disease often experience nasal congestion. This phenomenon forces them to breathe through their mouths, which contributes to the drying out of the mucous membranes. And what this threatens is described above.
Problems in the field of dentistry
As already mentioned, strong breath odor is often associated with pathologies in the oral cavity. Such infectious processes, how a tooth abscess or elementary growth of a wisdom tooth can cause halitosis.
Untreated caries provokes the appearance of harmful bacteria on the teeth. Therefore, visits to the dentist should not be ignored.
Intestinal diseases
Lives in the human gastrointestinal tract large number putrefactive bacteria that release sulfur compounds during the digestion of food. Therefore, intestinal problems are often the causes of halitosis.
If there are no pathologies in the intestines, then beneficial bacteria They work in such a way that the gases produced are odorless.
When a person is diagnosed with dysbiosis, improper digestion is observed, during which foul-smelling fermentation appears.
Intestinal pathologies weaken the sphincters, so gases enter the mouth. In order to prevent this phenomenon, it is necessary to get rid of dysbacteriosis, because brushing your teeth in this case is not enough.
Diabetes mellitus
Dysfunction of the biliary tract, hormonal imbalance, sinusitis and nasal polyps - all these diseases can cause halitosis. Modern diagnostics will be able to identify the source of pathology and help combat it effectively.
Other advanced diseases
If a person’s actions aimed at combating bad breath do not lead to desired result, then you should make an appointment with a therapist.
The doctor may suspect a number of such pathologies: liver disease, kidney disease, or respiratory system.
Stressful situations
Depressive states also provoke the problem under consideration. As soon as emotional background returns to normal, the pathological phenomenon goes away on its own.
Whatever the cause of bad breath, the phenomenon cannot be ignored. To make an accurate diagnosis you will need additional diagnostics and examination of the body.
How is pathology diagnosed?
The diagnosis process should be taken very seriously. The patient is obliged to tell the doctor about what chronic diseases he has.
It has been proven that bad breath is often caused by dietary and hygiene factors. That is why a person is prohibited from eating, drinking, rinsing his mouth and smoking two hours before the examination.
Modern medicine has such methods diagnostic examination patient:
- The hedonic method should be carried out by a specialist who is able to study the nature and severity of halitosis, and then evaluate it on a special scale. In this case, the disadvantage of the method can be called the subjectivity of the doctor.
- The use of a device that makes it possible to measure how many sulfur compounds are in the air exhaled by the patient. IN in this case it is necessary to measure the amount of hydrogen sulfide, methyl mercaptan and dimethyl sulfide.
- Various microbiological studies.
The treatment regimen and, accordingly, its result depend on the accuracy of the diagnosis.
Ways to get rid of unpleasant odor
Due to the fact that bad breath is caused by bacteria, one of the most effective ways Getting rid of this symptom is proper cleaning of the oral cavity.
Such actions must be performed in order not to feed bacteria, to reduce their number in the mouth, to destroy the bacteria’s habitat and to prevent their proliferation.
You need to brush not only your teeth, but also your gums, because they also accumulate a specific plaque that contributes to the appearance of halitosis.
Regular visits to the dentist
If a person is bothered by a strong odor from the mouth, and cannot cope with it on his own, then it is better to consult a specialist.
There are many additional reasons for this. They are:
- Not every person knows how to use dental floss. The dentist will tell you how to do it correctly.
- Brushing your teeth can be hindered by tartar that has grown on them. The doctor will quickly and painlessly remove it.
- If a person exhibits signs of periodontal disease, then only a specialist can prescribe adequate treatment.
- The dentist will tell you what to do if he does not identify pathologies according to his profile.
Currently there are a large number dental clinics, so finding a suitable doctor will not be difficult.
Proper tongue cleaning
It just so happens that many people never clean their tongue. This is a big mistake, because it is where the bulk of harmful bacteria is concentrated.
It often happens that after several procedures a person notices that the aroma does not appear from the mouth.
The back of the tongue smells stronger than the front. This is explained by the fact that the tip of the tongue regularly cleans itself by rubbing against the hard palate, and there are few harmful microorganisms on it.
The base of the tongue touches soft palate, so cleaning is not as effective.
There are several effective methods for cleansing the base of the tongue. They are:
- You need to take a toothbrush and run it across your tongue as far as possible. After this, you should begin to carefully move towards its tip.
It is not recommended to press hard on the tongue to prevent irritation. - It is better to use a paste that contains substances that protect the mouth from harmful bacteria. It is these components that destroy the foul aroma.
- Using a spoon to scrape out plaque on the tongue. To many people this method seems to be the most effective, because it is not as unpleasant as using special tongue brushes. The spoon can be purchased at any pharmacy.
- Special rinses that are recommended to be used after each brushing of teeth. But it should be noted that rinses alone will not solve the problem.
- Chewing gum and candy has a temporary effect. Sprays for treating the oral cavity are also ineffective.
The ideal option is a combination of all of the above methods of brushing teeth and tongue. But if they do not lead to the desired result, then the problem is most likely in diseases of the internal organs.
How to treat bad odor
Initially, you should contact a dentist, who will confirm or rule out the presence of caries or periodontal disease in the patient, disinfect the mouth, and remove plaque.
If the specialist does not find any dental problems in the person, he will send him to the local doctor. The therapist will examine the patient, study his complaints and prescribe a full examination of the body, aimed at identifying the causes of unpleasant odor from the oral cavity.
Due to the fact that halitosis can become a sign of a single illness, you should make an appointment not only with a therapist, but also with an ENT specialist, who will check the person for the presence of polyps and sinusitis.
In addition, it is mandatory to consult other specialists (endocrinologist, urologist, gastroenterologist) who will confirm or refute diseases of the kidneys, liver, pancreas (in particular diabetes mellitus) or gastrointestinal tract.
The treatment regimen depends on why the aroma was formed. Therapy involves the use of various medications.
This may include antibiotics, which should not be taken until the type of bacteria has been identified.
Ways to get rid of bad breath at home
There are several actions that a person faced with the problem in question and trying to get rid of halitosis can do at home. They are:
- Regular fluid intake. If the body does not have enough fluid, this is manifested by a decrease in saliva secretion: dry tongue, thirst. And if there is less saliva, it will not be able to wash away all the bacteria from the oral cavity and eliminate the aroma.
It is especially important to drink plenty of water for people diagnosed with xerostomia. - Rinse your mouth with water. Such a solution will protect a person from the smell for a short period of time.
- Stimulates saliva secretion. This can be done by chewing food, chewing gum, cloves, mint or parsley.
- Careful oral hygiene. This is especially true when a person consumes large quantities food rich in protein. Bacteria lead to the appearance of sulfur compounds precisely after such a breakfast. It must be remembered that meat or fish can provoke halitosis, which causes significant discomfort to a person.
- Getting rid of helminths. Oddly enough, it is worms that can lead to halitosis, especially in children.
Parents, instead of panicking when a smell appears from the child’s mouth, should give him a medicine that will help remove helminths from the child’s body.
The most important thing is to detect the problem in a timely manner and seek help from qualified specialist(infectious disease specialist).
Only after a complete examination of the patient’s body, the doctor will be able to set final diagnosis and prescribe treatment, if necessary.
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Many people may have bad breath, the causes of which can be caused by various diseases. The terrible smell is medically called halitosis.
Halitosis occurs most often in the morning, and to eliminate it, you need to brush your teeth.
There are 2 forms of halitosis:
- physiological;
- pathological.
Physiological, can manifest itself due to various foods: garlic, cabbage, onions. But most people suffer from a pathological condition, from which no refreshing sweets, chewing gum, or spray can help.
An unpleasant odor prevents people from communicating freely and feeling comfortable. By its smell, you can even determine what kind of organ disease a person has.
To detect its presence, you can ask your children or friends. They will feel it and tell you if you have it. You can buy a mask, put it on, breathe and feel the accumulated air yourself.
Another common way to check for halitosis is to run a spoon over your tongue. If a white, unpleasant coating remains on it, the cause is bacteria.
The main symptoms of a foul odor are:
- poor hygiene;
- gum disease, periodontal disease;
- low mouth moisture.
The main sources are considered to be bacteria formed on the tongue and gums, and food debris remaining in the teeth. You can't handle this on your own. You should contact your dentist.
If there is scanty salivation and the mouth constantly becomes dry, this is a disease called xerostomia. It can be caused by taking various medications.
Some diseases can cause an unpleasant odor:
- diseases of the tonsils, nasopharynx;
- intestines, stomach;
- respiratory organs;
- fasting, diets;
- if you take medicine;
- cigarette consumption.
Diseases of various organs are also an excuse. You need to figure out what it smells like and find out the cause of the disease.
How to get rid of bad breath?
Nowadays, there are many methods to eliminate bad aroma in the mouth and freshen breath. To do this, you can follow the following instructions yourself.
- maintain oral hygiene;
- change established habits;
- change your diet;
- seek the help of a doctor.
Hygiene refers to the proper cleaning of teeth. You should brush your teeth on all sides twice a day, as food debris can get stuck in hard-to-reach places. To do this you should use dental floss or toothpicks.
It is also necessary to clean the gums and tongue. You should use a mouthwash to increase humidity and remove odor.
To change your habits, you need to chew gum after eating food; it helps fight odor and produces abundant salivation.
You should also quit bad habits: alcohol and cigarettes, which will kill the smell of fumes. Try to eat bulbous vegetables as little as possible; after them, even after brushing your teeth, odors remain.
If all of the above measures to remove odor do not help, you need to see a specialist. Symptoms of halitosis may include various diseases organs.
The smell of acetone from the mouth of a child and an adult
The appearance of bad breath is considered to be caused by various complex infections. These symptoms include the smell of acetone from the mouth of an adult, the causes of which are formed as a result of a malfunction in the body.
In a child, it may be present when teeth are cutting, when viral diseases. The symptoms of odor in a child and an adult are different.
It is formed in the following diseases:
- if the production of enzymes in the liver is impaired;
- diabetes mellitus;
- various infections;
- high hormone production thyroid gland;
- during diets, fasting.
In diabetes mellitus, due to an excess of sugar in the blood, insulin is not produced, which is why glucose does not enter the cells.
When fasting, or different diets, the body needs minerals and nutrients that a starving body cannot provide due to the lack of nutrients. As a result, the smell of acetone appears.
Worth noting! If you notice the slightest odor in a child, you should definitely see a specialist.
If an adult's acetone odor caused by diabetes is not treated, the person may fall into a coma.
The best remedy for bad odor
To quickly cure chronic odor, you must follow the following methods:
- It is necessary to monitor the position of the teeth so that inflammation or caries does not form. Brush at least in the morning and evening after meals.
- Use better quality toothbrushes and toothpastes.
- Reduce your intake of sugar, which causes bacteria to accumulate on your tongue.
- Drink as much clean drinking water as possible to prevent dry mouth.
- Chew spices with an antibacterial effect, chamomile, mint, lemon balm.
- Drink coffee and sweet tea less often, which in most cases cause a strong odor.
Today there are many effective remedies to cure halitosis, it is very difficult to choose the most the best remedy. Kamistad gel, which eliminates the cause of its appearance, is considered more famous. Sprays and mouth fresheners are also available.
You can treat bad breath yourself, using traditional methods to help:
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A person’s success in our world is determined not only by intelligence and quick thinking, determination, charisma and efficiency. Self-confidence, charm, and energy play a significant role in this. We are embarrassed by bad breath in the morning or at a dentist appointment. Bad breath disturbs us during important negotiations or romantic meetings, distracting us from work or preventing us from right moment express your thoughts. Halitosis is the medical definition of this problem. Bad breath is already a problem for some people. psychological problem and it is not only possible, but also necessary to solve it.
Are the reasons always the same?
Sometimes bad breath is heard by others only when in close contact with a person, and this, in turn, significantly exaggerates the scale of the problem.Bad breath can occur suddenly, appear periodically, or be a constant companion throughout the day. There are different types of halitosis:
- True halitosis (when people around you objectively notice unpleasant breathing in a person). The reasons for it can be both in the peculiarities of human physiology and metabolism, and can also act as a symptom of disease.
- Pseudohalitosis (there is a subtle bad breath that is felt upon close contact with a person, to a large extent the patient himself exaggerates the scale of the problem).
- Halitophobia (the patient is dominated by fear and the belief that his breath smells bad, and the dentist does not find obvious evidence of this).
Depending on whether the patient complains of “morning” breath (lack of freshness in the mouth upon waking) or “hungry” breath (unpleasant odor on an empty stomach), the doctor may suggest possible reasons his appearance.
The main culprits of physiological halitosis are plaque on the teeth and the back third of the tongue, tartar, food debris in the mouth, “odorous” foods that a person ate the day before, microorganisms, tobacco, and alcohol. Saliva normally cleans the surface of the teeth and tongue, constantly reducing microbial activity due to its composition.
At poor hygiene In the oral cavity and plaque accumulation, microorganisms (mainly anaerobic bacteria) as a result of active life activity produce hydrogen sulfide, which gives the exhaled air an unpleasant tint. During sleep, a person is at rest for a long time, the secretion of saliva and its movement in the mouth decreases, bacteria take advantage of this and, as a result, bad breath in the morning. After brushing your teeth and rinsing your mouth, all processes begin to move and the smell goes away.
Pathological halitosis can occur as a consequence of diseases of the teeth, gums, tonsils (oral), or be a symptom of diseases of other organs and systems (gastrointestinal tract, liver, respiratory system, etc.).
We are looking for the cause in the oral cavity
The main causes that are found in the human oral cavity and are associated with the appearance of bad breath are the following:
- carious cavities in teeth;
- accumulation of plaque in pathological gum pockets, formation of tartar (with periodontitis);
- the formation of a gingival “hood” over the erupting wisdom tooth and the ingress of food debris under it;
- stomatitis of various etiologies;
- diseases salivary glands, in which the viscosity of saliva and its cleansing abilities are sharply reduced;
- tongue diseases;
- the presence of orthopedic structures in the oral cavity (crowns, dentures, plates and braces in children);
- increased sensitivity and exposure of the necks of teeth with loss of bone tissue and gum atrophy, which makes it difficult to care for teeth and contributes to the accumulation of plaque.
Temporary effects on the composition and properties of saliva can be caused by both medications (antibiotics, hormonal drugs, antihistamines) and stress. Saliva becomes viscous, viscous, and much less is produced, which causes the development of xerostomia (dry mouth).
Halitosis as a symptom of diseases
Bad breath can be a symptom of various diseases. In ancient times, doctors could diagnose an incipient disease by assessing breath and smell.
There are extraoral causes of the development of halitosis, i.e. not directly related to the oral cavity.
These include:
- diseases of the gastrointestinal tract (gastritis, gastroduodenitis, stomach ulcers, pancreatitis, gastric sphincter insufficiency, in which food is thrown back into the esophagus, which is accompanied by belching and heartburn);
- diseases of the liver and biliary tract ( liver failure, hepatitis, ). They are characterized by a “fishy”, “fecal” odor from the mouth, the smell of rotten eggs;
- chronic infections of the nasopharynx and areas adjacent to the oral cavity (rhinitis, adenoiditis, tonsillitis, sinusitis);
- respiratory tract infections;
- (smell of ammonia in exhaled air);
- metabolic diseases (diabetes mellitus).
How to assess breathing?
Many people who have unpleasant, repulsive breath are not even aware of the existing problem. It’s good if a loved one or friend points it out. But this is not always possible, relatives are afraid of offending their loved one, and colleagues prefer to reduce communication with him to a minimum. But the problem remains.
There are several ways to test yourself:
- ask someone close to you to evaluate your breath odor;
- lick your wrist (spoon, napkin), let dry and smell;
- Use odorless dental floss to clean the spaces between the teeth, dry, and evaluate the smell;
- use a pocket device (galimeter) to measure the concentration of hydrogen sulfide in exhaled air. The assessment is made on a scale from 0 to 4 points;
- If you want to know exactly the degree of bad breath, you can undergo an examination using special ultra-sensitive equipment from a specialist.
How to treat bad breath?
To get rid of bad breath, you should first pay due attention to oral hygiene. First of all, take care of your oral hygiene. Regularly clean your teeth according to all the rules, using not only a brush and toothpaste, but additional means: dental floss, a tongue scraper, rinses that reduce the concentration of bacteria in saliva. Many people do not suspect that the main accumulation of plaque occurs at the root of the tongue, on the back third of its back.
You need to brush your tongue every day. You can use a toothbrush for this purpose, on the back of the head of which there is a rubber spiked pad specifically for these purposes. But for some people, such cleaning causes a strong gag reflex. Specialists have developed special scrapers for cleaning the tongue for such patients. As an option to reduce gagging during cleansing, use toothpaste with a strong mint taste or hold your breath while the scraper is in contact with the root of the tongue.
Even the familiar rinsing of the mouth with water after eating has a significant effect, removing food debris from the folds and preventing microbes from converting them into acids and hydrogen sulfide.
Mouthwashes and toothpastes
For people suffering from halitosis, it is recommended to use products containing antiseptics such as Triclosan, Chlorhexidine, and baking soda. It has been proven that a 0.12-0.2% solution of Chlorhexidine reduces the number of anaerobic bacteria by 81-95% over a period of 1.5-3 hours. A good effect is achieved by using rinses and toothpastes with Triclosan (0.03-0.05%). Toothpastes and gels containing 3-10% carbamide peroxide have an antihalitosis effect. But alcohol-containing mouthwashes, when used continuously, cause dry mucous membranes in the mouth and decreased saliva production.
Help from nature
To combat bad breath, our ancestors actively used preparations of plant and animal origin - propolis, alfalfa, chamomile, echinacea, myrtle, infusion of fresh dill, decoction of tansy with wormwood and yarrow (brewed for 15 minutes). Freshly brewed strong tea gives a good, but short-term deodorizing effect. Essential oils (essential) reduce bad breath for 90-120 minutes (mint oils, tea tree, cloves, sage, grapefruit seed extract). The use of chewing gum in this case gives an even shorter result, masking the smell itself, but not eliminating the cause of its appearance.
Removing stones and plaque
A person can clean soft plaque on his own, but denser plaque can only be removed by a doctor using special tools. This is done mechanically or using ultrasound. At the time of cleaning the above and subgingival stones, the pathological pockets formed along the roots of the teeth due to periodontitis are simultaneously washed out.
Treatment of common diseases
If bad breath is a symptom of any chronic disease of internal organs or systems, it is necessary to carry out complex treatment. The dentist eliminates all causative factors in the oral cavity (plaque, stones, chronic inflammation gums), selects hygiene products and items, and the treatment of the underlying disease is carried out by a therapist together with other specialists.
The problem of bad breath is a common phenomenon familiar to many. But more often we pay attention to the other person and are not at all aware of the presence of bad breath in ourselves. Do the smell tests yourself, it's not difficult at all. It's possible that attentive attitude Your health will return to you a hundredfold. Halitosis that suddenly appears in a person may be the first symptom serious illnesses and a person who notices it in time significantly increases the chances of early detection of the problem. Therefore, its timely decision. Love yourself and take care of your health!
One of the most common problems in today's medicine is bad breath. Such a person’s problem causes a number of unpleasant emotions in others, in particular, a persistent disgust towards this person. What causes bad breath, and how to deal with it?
Causes of bad breath.
It should be noted that bad breath is a pathology that occurs as the body grows and develops. IN modern medicine this state known as Halitosis. This problem is, in principle, solvable. Usually the treatment process is very simple and effective, you just need to accurately identify main source occurrence of bad breath. Basically, it is an accumulation in the human mouth (on the back of the tongue, around and between the teeth) of white matter, which contains a large number of anaerobic bacteria (gram-negative anaerobes that live and reproduce in an oxygen-free environment). These bacteria secrete chemical compounds(hydrogen sulfide, methyl mercaptan, cadavrine, putrescine, skatole), which are the source of halitosis. Basically, bacteria begin to secrete foul-smelling substances after a person consumes proteins - meat, fish, seafood, eggs, milk, cheese, yogurt, cheeseburgers, cereal products, nuts, legumes, as well as any desserts based on them. In addition, dead oral cells serve as food for bacteria.
In addition to the accumulation of bacteria in the oral cavity, the causes of bad breath can be:
- Diseases digestive system(gastritis, ulcers). In this case this problem caused by a pathology of non-closure of the esophageal sphincter, when odors from the stomach penetrate directly through the esophagus into the oral cavity.
- Intestinal pathology (enteritis and colitis). As a result of inflammatory processes in the intestines, they penetrate into the blood toxic substances, which the body removes, including through the lungs, as a result of which bad breath appears.
- Diseases of the liver and pancreas. The process of the appearance of bad breath is similar to the previous option.
- Diseases of the ear, nose and throat (sore throat, chronic tonsillitis, chronic sinusitis). A bad odor occurs against the background of inflammatory processes of a purulent nature.
- Lung diseases (tuberculosis, pneumonia, abscess). Inflammatory processes in the lungs proceed with decay lung tissue, namely purulent process, which leads to this problem.
- Oral diseases (caries). Carious lesions of teeth or tooth abscess occur with the release of purulent bad breath.
- Poor oral hygiene. Putrefactive microbes, their active reproduction and activity in food debris, poorly eliminated as a result of brushing the teeth and oral cavity, contribute to the production of foul-smelling gases.
Excessive smoking or drinking alcohol can also cause bad odor. Basically, the process of its formation is based on nicotine, tar and other substances contained in tobacco smoke. They accumulate on the teeth and soft tissues a heavy smoker. In this case, you can get rid of the problem only by giving up cigarettes. Perfect oral hygiene will help reduce the odor somewhat, but will not eliminate it completely. In addition, smoking leads to dehydration of oral tissues, as a result of which saliva somewhat loses its moisturizing and disinfecting effect. This results in dry mouth or xerostomia, which also leads to an unpleasant odor. Decreased saliva production leads to dry mouth. This is especially noticeable in the morning. As a result, our breath becomes less fresh. By constantly swallowing saliva, we cleanse our mouth of the waste products of the bacteria inhabiting it and of the bacteria themselves. Dry mouth significantly reduces positive action saliva, resulting in the appearance favorable conditions for bacterial growth. Chronic xerostomia may occur as a result of side effect while taking some medicines(antihistamines, drugs that normalize blood pressure, antidepressants, diuretics, tranquilizers, narcotic substances). Over the years, this problem can worsen as the effectiveness of the salivary glands decreases and the composition of saliva changes, causing the cleansing effect of saliva to weaken. Chronic dry mouth, or xerostomia, contributes to the development of periodontal disease (gum disease).
Periodontal disease can also lead to bad breath. Typically, this disease occurs in people over 35 years of age and consists of bacterial infection of the soft tissues that surround the teeth. IN neglected form the disease can cause complications in the form of serious damage to the bone on which the tooth is located. IN active form diseases, gaps are formed between the teeth and gums, the so-called “periodontal pockets”, where excessive amounts of bacteria are concentrated. These gaps are sometimes very deep, which makes hygienic cleaning difficult, resulting in accumulated bacteria and their waste products causing bad breath.
Diseases of the upper respiratory tract can cause bad breath. This is due to the fact that mucous secretions accompanying diseases enter the oral cavity from the nasal cavity, and their accumulation leads to the appearance of this problem.
People suffering from sinusitis are forced to breathe through the mouth due to nasal congestion, which in turn leads to dry mouth and, as a result, an unpleasant odor. During the treatment of sinusitis, they are usually prescribed antihistamines, which also contribute to dry mouth.
It should be noted that wearing dentures can also negatively affect the freshness of your breath. It is very easy to find out whether dentures have a bad odor or not. You just need to remove them and place them in a closed container for a day. After the specified time, open the container and immediately smell. This is roughly the aroma that comes from you when communicating with people. In addition, bacteria can also accumulate on the surface of the denture, resulting in a foul odor. Therefore, it is very important to clean them thoroughly and daily, both internally and externally. outside. Usually, when installing them, the dentist talks about the hygiene features of dentures. After cleaning, the dentures should be placed in a container with an antiseptic liquid (as recommended by the doctor).
How to get rid of an unpleasant odor?
When solving the problem of bad breath, most people mask it with chewing gum or mouth rinses, not realizing that it is represented by volatile compounds. They also don’t know that chewing gum has a negative effect on the gastrointestinal tract, and their effect is only short-lived. Mouth rinses often disrupt the natural flora in your mouth, which only makes the bad odor worse. There are many other remedies, but doctors most often prescribe CB12, since, unlike others, it does not mask, but neutralizes those same volatile compounds, eliminating the unpleasant odor for at least 12 hours. At the same time, it does not disturb the normal flora of the oral cavity and can be used even by pregnant and lactating women. CB12 is actively used by users of braces and prostheses. For lasting fresh breath, it is recommended to use the mouthwash every day.
To deprive bacteria of nutrients, you should include more fresh vegetables and fruits (especially apples and oranges) in your diet and limit your meat intake. It has been proven that vegetarians have virtually no problems with fresh breath. Proper and timely cleaning of the oral cavity is also of great importance, especially after eating protein foods. If you don't thoroughly clean the spaces between your teeth every day where food remains get stuck, you won't be able to cope with the unpleasant odor. Therefore, if you have a problem with fresh breath, it is recommended to brush your teeth, gums and tongue after each meal, rinse your mouth thoroughly and use dental floss. All this will help keep your mouth clean and prevent the appearance of plaque, which is home to bacteria that produce unpleasant “odors.”
If you keep your mouth perfectly clean, but the bad breath does not disappear, you should visit a dentist, who, if necessary, will teach you proper cleaning teeth with a toothbrush and will help with the use of dental floss. Unfortunately, even today, a large number of people do not use these hygiene attributes correctly. If you have tartar on your teeth, your doctor will remove it quickly and effectively. If periodontal disease is detected, the dentist will prescribe necessary treatment. Also, if any other untreated medical conditions are found that may be the source of bad breath. If after an examination your dentist finds nothing that could be causing the problem, he or she may refer you to a general practitioner for evaluation.
To get rid of this problem, it is important, in addition to the teeth and gums, to thoroughly clean the surface of the tongue every day. Unfortunately, most of us ignore this procedure, but in vain. After all, it is this procedure that often helps to get rid of this problem without using any additional methods. It should be noted that it is necessary to clean back tongue, since the front, in the process of constant movement of the tongue, touches hard palate and thus self-cleanses. Therefore, bacteria that produce unpleasant-smelling compounds mainly concentrate on the back of the tongue, which is where it needs thorough cleaning.
To eliminate unpleasant odor, it is best to use a toothpaste that contains: antibacterial substances(chlorine dioxide or cetylpyridone chloride). This paste not only cleans well, but also has a detrimental effect on anaerobic bacteria.
Additional use of liquid mouthwash will help combat the unpleasant odor. Its composition has antibacterial properties and the ability to neutralize volatile sulfur compounds.
Rinse aids can be of several types:
- containing chlorine dioxide or sodium chlorite (kills bacteria and neutralizes their secretions);
- with zinc content (neutralizes volatile sulfur compounds);
- antiseptic (kills bacteria, but does not eliminate odor);
- containing cetylpyridone chloride (reduces the number of anaerobic bacteria).
As additional means To get rid of an unpleasant odor, you can use various mint tablets, lozenges, drops, sprays, chewing gums, etc. It is good if these products contain substances such as chlorine dioxide, sodium chlorite and zinc, which neutralize volatile sulfur compounds. In addition, mints, lozenges and chewing gum stimulate the process of saliva production, which, thanks to its cleansing properties, removes bacteria and their waste products from the oral cavity, and therefore eliminates unpleasant odors.
Irrigators as a way to get rid of unpleasant odor
IN lately Dentists are increasingly advising patients to use irrigators. These are devices that deliver a pressurized stream of water that washes away food debris and accumulations of bacteria even from the most hard to reach places.
One of the new models on Russian market is a stationary irrigator German brand ACleon TF600, which has advanced functionality. Seven attachments included allow you to eliminate bacteria even from the most difficult to reach places and thoroughly clean the oral cavity (including attachments for the tongue, braces and implants). The presence of a built-in ultraviolet lamp and disinfection nozzle prevents the entry of new microorganisms.
An analogue of a stationary irrigator is a portable model of the same brand, ACleon TF200. It weighs only 250 grams, comes in a case and comes with a battery, so you can take it with you anywhere. Use irrigators, and the problem of bad breath will not affect you.
Video: Review of ACleon TF600 and TF200 irrigators
Additional measures to eliminate unpleasant odors.
Drink more fluids throughout the day. This will reduce the unpleasant odor. Not drinking enough water during the day will cause the body to retain it by reducing saliva production. And this will negatively affect the natural cleansing of the oral cavity from bacteria and their secretions. It is especially important to drink plenty of fluids for people who suffer from chronic dry mouth (xerostomia).
Rinse your mouth with water several times a day. This will somewhat reduce bad breath by dissolving and washing away bacterial waste products.
Constantly stimulate the process of salivation, which will reduce the unpleasant odor. The easiest way is to chew something (mint tablets, propolis, chewing gum, mint, cloves, dill, parsley, etc.). If you prefer chewing gum or mints, you should make sure that they do not contain sugar, as this stimulates the growth of bacteria that cause tooth decay.
Folk remedies for getting rid of unpleasant odor.
Add three to four teaspoons of three percent hydrogen peroxide to a glass of water. Rinse your mouth with the resulting liquid two to three times during the day. Under the influence of active oxygen formed due to hydrogen peroxide, putrefactive bacteria, which cause an unpleasant odor, die.
For the same purposes, you can use hydroperite (hydrogen peroxide in tablet form).
Fresh Siberian cedar needles will help get rid of diseases of the oral cavity and gums (you can use pine or fir henna). It is necessary to chew the needles until water forms. In the process of chewing, due to coniferous phytoncides, the oral cavity is disinfected and cleansed of food debris. Two weeks of daily procedure will eliminate the unpleasant odor forever.
For decreased salivation and severe dry mouth, it is recommended to chew a slice of lemon. This will eliminate the repulsive odor from your mouth for an hour and a half.
Rinsing your mouth with decoctions of bitter herbs (wormwood, yarrow, tansy) also eliminates unpleasant odor. This is due to the fact that herbs enhance the secretion of saliva, which suppresses pathological microflora, which is the source of the unpleasant odor. To prepare the infusion, you need to pour a glass of boiling water over the dried and crushed herb (a tablespoon) and leave for fifteen minutes. Rinse your mouth with this infusion two to three times a day.
An infusion of chamomile and calendula has an anti-inflammatory effect, reduces inflammation of the tonsils, back wall pharynx and root of the tongue, reducing the intensity of bad breath. Preparation of the infusion is similar to the previous recipe.
Lemon leaf tea peppermint, rose hips, caraway seeds, thyme herbs give freshness to the breath. Brew the herb instead of tea and drink with honey.
Eating nuts or fennel in the morning will also reduce the unpleasant odor.
Rinse your mouth with tincture of St. John's wort (twenty to thirty drops per half glass of water).
Use an infusion of strawberry leaves: pour two glasses of boiling water over a tablespoon of raw material and put on fire, cook for twenty minutes, then strain. Drink half a glass daily.
Infuse cranberries in water and consume daily.
Juice, water and alcohol infusion, alcohol tincture, syrup and sea buckthorn oil, consumed internally, will help get rid of the unpleasant odor.
Drinking an infusion of sorrel leaves also solves this problem. unpleasant problem. tablespoon fresh leaves pour two glasses of water, put on fire and cook from the moment of boiling for fifteen minutes. Then leave the broth for two hours and strain. Drink 50 ml four times a day fifteen minutes before meals.
A decoction of oak bark helps with chronic tonsillitis, stomatitis, pharyngitis, with bad breath. Rinse your mouth with it two to three times a day for ten minutes.
