Bad Breath: How to Combat It?
Halitosis, or bad breath, is an abnormal and unpleasant alteration of the breath and is one of the oldest and most problematic conditions in our society.
It is estimated that between 22% and 50% of the global population suffer or have suffered from bad breath regularly, regardless of gender, age, or social class.
Since this condition has a high prevalence and negative social impact, and being a common complaint in medical-dental offices, it is considered the third most frequent reason for visiting a dentist, after dental caries and periodontal disease (Ren W. et al., 2016; Guedes C. et al., 2019).
According to a study conducted by Gameiro A., 2016, there are several psychosocial variables that mutually influence health and quality of life, as well as the well-being of society in general. Halitosis is pointed out as a real or imaginary change that manifests as a sign and/or symptom due to changes – physiological, adaptive, and pathological, which can be sensory, taste, and/or olfactory – occurring in the body.
However, despite the growing importance given to this issue on a social level, especially due to its significant impact on the quality of life of affected individuals, there is still widespread misinformation on the subject. Furthermore, halitosis continues to be a topic of misunderstanding and mockery in society, causing social, personal, and professional disruption.
The perception of this anomaly has significant psychological consequences, such as visible altered behavior manifestations – covering the mouth while speaking, maintaining greater interpersonal distance, or avoiding social relationships – and on the self-esteem of individuals.
Halitosis has a multifactorial etiology; more than 80 possible causes are identified. However, it is estimated that 90% of halitosis cases in adults and children are directly associated with oral conditions, such as the formation and accumulation of bacterial plaque – coated tongue, poor oral hygiene – salivary changes, dental caries, or periodontal disease; with the main phenomenon being the decomposition of organic matter by anaerobic bacteria present in the oral cavity.
Bad breath can also be associated with respiratory and otolaryngological disorders, such as tonsillitis and sinusitis, metabolic syndromes, as well as gastrointestinal, endocrine, hepatic, or renal pathologies, or even some habits, such as smoking and alcohol consumption, prolonged fasting, or the use of certain medications.
Halitosis has characteristics that make its treatment quite challenging due to its multifactorial etiology. One of the biggest obstacles in treatment approaches is the multiplicity and complexity of the causes, as they can originate from different parts of the body and, consequently, require the involvement of various medical specialties, thus requiring a multidisciplinary approach for effective treatment.
To prevent and/or combat bad breath, here are 10 tips you can follow:
- Drink water – dry mouth is the ideal environment for the bacteria that cause bad breath; this is because they need low or no oxygen environments to multiply.
- Reduce the consumption of certain foods – foods such as garlic, onions, and fried foods, for example, have high sulfur content.
- Avoid acidic foods and sugar – besides dehydrating the body, anaerobic bacteria feed on these substrates.
- Avoid prolonged fasting – the absence of food for an extended period causes accumulation of epithelial and food remnants on the back of the tongue.
- Avoid smoking and alcohol – besides causing bad breath, they reduce saliva flow, xerostomia, and may trigger and/or worsen periodontal disease.
- Chewing gum is not a solution – although it contributes to increased saliva production, it only temporarily freshens the breath and does not address the cause.
- Brush your teeth and tongue well – inadequate oral hygiene leads to plaque formation, which can cause gingivitis or periodontitis. This, combined with bacteria that promote bad breath, is the recipe for unpleasant odor.
- Avoid stress – stress increases the release of adrenaline into the bloodstream, which temporarily inhibits the salivary glands, resulting in reduced saliva flow.
- Visit your general practitioner and have a general check-up – systemic diseases, such as Diabetes Mellitus, or taking certain medications can affect saliva production, causing dry mouth.
- Consult your dentist periodically.
Schedule your evaluation appointment and find out how we can help!
