What is Halitosis?

What is Halitosis?

Halitosis is the medical term used to describe the presence of an unpleasant odor in the breath, although it is commonly referred to as bad breath.

It is estimated that approximately 30% of the population suffers or has suffered from this problem frequently, regardless of gender, age, or social class.

Halitosis is a problematic condition that has a significant impact on social coexistence and repercussions on the self-esteem of those affected. While there is some concern from the population, there is still widespread misinformation on the subject.

Human breath is a gas of complex composition, which includes multiple volatile compounds.

The factors that determine the occurrence of these compounds are diverse, such as general health status, physical condition, presence of pathologies, eating habits, medication use, environmental factors, and lifestyle.

Thus, the presence of bad breath is an indicator of abnormal bacterial activity or altered physiological mechanisms.

It is estimated that more than 60% of halitosis cases originate from the mouth, while extra-oral causes (respiratory system, digestive tract, and systemic causes) are more complex to diagnose.

In some cases, there is no true halitosis but rather a condition that may induce an altered gustatory and/or olfactory sensation due to factors like reduced saliva secretion, digestive problems, stress, or anxiety, causing a person to believe they have halitosis.

Halitosis should be