Due to genetic factors, diet, stress and diseases, various molecules are released from people’s mouths, causing bad breath. Many local or systemic diseases cause bad breath (halitosis).
Mouth odor caused by normal physiological reasons is usually temporary. Temporary or non-pathological halitosis may occur due to reasons such as hunger, low secretion of saliva, accumulated food residues, medications or smoking.
Intraoral causes include oral and tongue pathology, dry gingivitis, periodontitis, and the plaque layer on the tongue dorsum. Bacteria that can cause periodontal disease such as gingivitis cause the formation of bad odor. The bacteria and the sulfur gases contained in these bacteria from the oral environment fully transmits the bad breath.
Covering the taste buds may cause a decrease in the sense of taste in people or a metallic taste in the mouth.
When we clean the tongue, we see that we breathe more freshly and taste better when the taste buds are opened.. Things that can cause bad breath in extra-oral causes: nasal, nasopharyngeal, sinus and oropharyngeal infections, diabetic ketosis, uremia, conditions such as gastrointestinal, liver and kidney failure, irregular bowel movements and some types of cancer such as leukemia.
If intraoral causes and extraoral causes are observed at the same time, then it means the odor is severe. Bad breath caused by external causes can be eliminated by treating the disease that causes odor. In some diseases, bad breath is very severe and typical. An ammonia-like odor is released in liver failure, and an acetone-like odor is released in diabetes.
Bad breath can affect the psychology of the patient by leaving the person in a difficult situation in social environments. Loss of self-confidence may occur in the person with bad breath. Therefore, it should be treated.
Halitosis (Bad Breath) Treatment
Diagnosing halitosis is not a long and difficult process. However, it is very important to know the problem that causes the odor for the correct treatment. A detailed medical and dental examination is required to determine whether the patient’s complaint is due to intraoral or other causes.
The best method used in the treatment of bad breath is to ensure that the patient continues oral hygiene and dental care practices correctly and regularly. Procedures such as tartar cleansing can be an effective treatment for periodontitis-induced bad breath.
All patients should be told about the importance of brushing their teeth, doing tongue cleaning correctly, using mouthwashes and flossing.
Res. Asst. Nursuna Busra CETINKAYA
