Halitosis
|
|
|
Halitosis
Halitosis is the medical condition where an affected individual suffers from continuous bad breath. Often times, an affected individual may be completely unaware of his/her condition due to the fact that the olfactory senses (the sense of smell) gets acclimated to the breath. On the other hand, the smell may be noticeable and might be offensive. Halitosis can become a significant problem socially, and may lead to lowered self-confidence.
There are a plethora of causes of halitosis. Improper oral hygiene, use of medications, diseases of the teeth and supporting structures, periodontal disease, infections in the respiratory system, infected tonsils, diabetes mellitus, liver disease, consumption of tobacco, and alcohol, and gastroenterological disease are some other causes of halitosis.
There are numerous treatments for curing halitosis. The long term treatment from halitosis is the proper management of oral health. Adopting a few simple practices can significantly reduce the incidence of chronic halitosis. If the incidence of halitosis is due to the infected tonsils, gastroenterology diseases, or infected lungs, the cure for these problems can bring an end to the halitosis.
The following steps can be taken to control and minimize chronic halitosis.
1. Teeth and gums should be brushed regularly, twice a day – once at night and once in the morning. The brushing should be thorough and comprehensive. The mouth should be cleaned of trapped food particles. In particular, the tongue should also be thoroughly brushed every day. A clean tongue will not have a thin layer of white film visible. This plaque on the tongue causes halitosis.
2. Using bicarbonate baking soda with your toothpaste can help to cut the acidity and prevent halitosis.
3. The consumption of sugar-based foods should be minimized and the mouth should be thoroughly cleaned whenever sweet foods are consumed. Sugary foods are highly acidic and promote an environment conducive to bacterial production. Additionally, flossing should be done twice a day.
4. Dry mouth is often a side-effect of many medications, and often leads to halitosis. By staying hydrated constantly and chewing gum may keep the mouth moist.
5. Gargling with a warm salt water daily, and/or a fluoride-based mouthwash can help alleviate bad breath. The basic idea is to keep the mouth clean of all bacteria and food particles. If oral cleanliness can be improved then in the long run, halitosis can be controlled to a great extent.
6. If the problem continues to persist after a strict oral-hygiene regimen has been implemented, visit your medical doctor or a gastro-enterologist.
References
Halitosis is the medical condition where an affected individual suffers from continuous bad breath. Often times, an affected individual may be completely unaware of his/her condition due to the fact that the olfactory senses (the sense of smell) gets acclimated to the breath. On the other hand, the smell may be noticeable and might be offensive. Halitosis can become a significant problem socially, and may lead to lowered self-confidence.
There are a plethora of causes of halitosis. Improper oral hygiene, use of medications, diseases of the teeth and supporting structures, periodontal disease, infections in the respiratory system, infected tonsils, diabetes mellitus, liver disease, consumption of tobacco, and alcohol, and gastroenterological disease are some other causes of halitosis.
There are numerous treatments for curing halitosis. The long term treatment from halitosis is the proper management of oral health. Adopting a few simple practices can significantly reduce the incidence of chronic halitosis. If the incidence of halitosis is due to the infected tonsils, gastroenterology diseases, or infected lungs, the cure for these problems can bring an end to the halitosis.
The following steps can be taken to control and minimize chronic halitosis.
1. Teeth and gums should be brushed regularly, twice a day – once at night and once in the morning. The brushing should be thorough and comprehensive. The mouth should be cleaned of trapped food particles. In particular, the tongue should also be thoroughly brushed every day. A clean tongue will not have a thin layer of white film visible. This plaque on the tongue causes halitosis.
2. Using bicarbonate baking soda with your toothpaste can help to cut the acidity and prevent halitosis.
3. The consumption of sugar-based foods should be minimized and the mouth should be thoroughly cleaned whenever sweet foods are consumed. Sugary foods are highly acidic and promote an environment conducive to bacterial production. Additionally, flossing should be done twice a day.
4. Dry mouth is often a side-effect of many medications, and often leads to halitosis. By staying hydrated constantly and chewing gum may keep the mouth moist.
5. Gargling with a warm salt water daily, and/or a fluoride-based mouthwash can help alleviate bad breath. The basic idea is to keep the mouth clean of all bacteria and food particles. If oral cleanliness can be improved then in the long run, halitosis can be controlled to a great extent.
6. If the problem continues to persist after a strict oral-hygiene regimen has been implemented, visit your medical doctor or a gastro-enterologist.
References
