The Facts About Bad Breath
5661
Health & Fitness > Bad Breath
Mar 1, 2007
Dennis Conner
The Facts About Bad Breath
We have all had an experience where you have been required to speak to someone and you have been unable to concentrate on their response because of their bad breath. The medical term for this condition is known as halitosis and there can be a number of causes for it. However, the end result is always the same and it can be described as the presence of foul smelling gases in exhaled air.
So, what causes this to happen? Well, there are two main types of halitosis and one is easier to explain than the other. The first type is called transient bad breath and this can be caused as a result of a number of seemingly innocuous factors. Having a dry mouth, which can be due to thirst, stress or nerves, can cause bad breath as can certain food stuffs. Strong smelling food such as garlic, onion or other heavily spiced dishes can linger on the breath of the person who consumed it. Smoking is another factor which can cause bad breath and poor oral hygiene is a sure way to halitosis. Saliva is able to kill a certain degree of bacteria in the mouth but it does need to be helped by the use of toothbrushes, toothpaste and mouthwash. The most common form of transient bad breath is commonly known as morning breath. This occurs as a result of your mouth remaining relatively still for a long period of time and so your saliva production is slowed drastically and the bacteria build up overnight. Brushing your teeth in the morning removes the bacteria and so removes the odour.
Chronic bad breath is a more serious condition and it is persistent and difficult to treat. It can affect up to 25% of the population and is caused as a result of certain types of bacteria being produced in excessive amounts. Treatment is not readily available and the clinics which are starting to appear tend to just be outlets for a bad breath product which claims to remedy the problem but which does not treat the cause. As such, these products are only temporary relievers of the problem and not a cure.
A third type of halitosis is recognised but it is a side effect of the more serious condition of chronic liver failure. This type of bad breath is known as fetor hepaticus and is described as smelling as foul as a freshly opened corpse.
For many, bad breath is seen as something comical and people who suffer from it are ridiculed and avoided. However, for the sufferers themselves it can cause real psychological difficulties. Many find it difficult to form relationships and even to speak to people as they are conscious of the odour. They can become very depressed and withdrawn.
For those whose bad breath is of the transient type, many things can be done to rid yourself of it. It is known that the majority of smells come from bacteria produced by food debris which is trapped in the mouth. Following a good oral hygiene routine, including brushing and flossing, will remove these pieces of food and so prevent the bacteria from building up. Using mint flavoured mouth washes, chewing gums and lozenges can mask the problem briefly but do not rid the cause permanently. However, if you are on the go they can be beneficial until you are able to clean your teeth thoroughly
So, what causes this to happen? Well, there are two main types of halitosis and one is easier to explain than the other. The first type is called transient bad breath and this can be caused as a result of a number of seemingly innocuous factors. Having a dry mouth, which can be due to thirst, stress or nerves, can cause bad breath as can certain food stuffs. Strong smelling food such as garlic, onion or other heavily spiced dishes can linger on the breath of the person who consumed it. Smoking is another factor which can cause bad breath and poor oral hygiene is a sure way to halitosis. Saliva is able to kill a certain degree of bacteria in the mouth but it does need to be helped by the use of toothbrushes, toothpaste and mouthwash. The most common form of transient bad breath is commonly known as morning breath. This occurs as a result of your mouth remaining relatively still for a long period of time and so your saliva production is slowed drastically and the bacteria build up overnight. Brushing your teeth in the morning removes the bacteria and so removes the odour.
Chronic bad breath is a more serious condition and it is persistent and difficult to treat. It can affect up to 25% of the population and is caused as a result of certain types of bacteria being produced in excessive amounts. Treatment is not readily available and the clinics which are starting to appear tend to just be outlets for a bad breath product which claims to remedy the problem but which does not treat the cause. As such, these products are only temporary relievers of the problem and not a cure.
A third type of halitosis is recognised but it is a side effect of the more serious condition of chronic liver failure. This type of bad breath is known as fetor hepaticus and is described as smelling as foul as a freshly opened corpse.
For many, bad breath is seen as something comical and people who suffer from it are ridiculed and avoided. However, for the sufferers themselves it can cause real psychological difficulties. Many find it difficult to form relationships and even to speak to people as they are conscious of the odour. They can become very depressed and withdrawn.
For those whose bad breath is of the transient type, many things can be done to rid yourself of it. It is known that the majority of smells come from bacteria produced by food debris which is trapped in the mouth. Following a good oral hygiene routine, including brushing and flossing, will remove these pieces of food and so prevent the bacteria from building up. Using mint flavoured mouth washes, chewing gums and lozenges can mask the problem briefly but do not rid the cause permanently. However, if you are on the go they can be beneficial until you are able to clean your teeth thoroughly
Article Source: http://www.articlerich.com
The author regularly contributes to Bad Breath Advisor where more information about the cause and treatment of bad breath (halitosis) is freely available.
Write a Review
Add to My Favorite
Refer it to Friend
Report Article
Other links owned by this user
If you think your baby has constipation just because he has infrequent stools, then you better think again. Having infrequent stools does not really mean constipation although this malady is characterized by erratic bowel movement.
Category:
Hybrid plants like corn or rice are familiar to many but hybrid cars? Are these space-age cars that do not need fuel to run or even fly in the sky? To the uninitiated, hybrid cars may seem like an alien form or specie that requires a lot of
Category:
We have all had an experiene where you have been required to speak to someone and you have been unable to onentrate on their response beause of their bad breath. The medial term for this ondition is known as halitosis and there an be a number of
Category:
Other links at Health & Fitness > Bad Breath
Bad breath is a disease also known as halitosis, which can stem from various medical problems like dry mouth and even Atkins diet. It is an involuntary problem in ople that makes them embarrassed often in public place. Not only does it embarrass the
Category:
Have you ever sat down near an individual to conduct business or talk on issues but then discovered bad breath from the person? It is not uncommon to discover this as almost 25% people suffer from this problem. Transient bad breath is a very common
Category:
Copyright 2006 David Drinkall Most people suffer from bad eath at some time in their lives. For something so commonplace, bad eath (or halitosis) isn?t fully understood by the medical community. Though the reasons for bad
Category:
Halitosis, also called bad breath, is as an offensive odor that emanates from the oral cavity. Also known as foetor oris, oral malodour, or simply bad breath, halitosis is a serious problem. As a chronic problem, it affects people's lives, their
Category:
We have all had an experiene where you have been required to speak to someone and you have been unable to onentrate on their response beause of their bad breath. The medial term for this ondition is known as halitosis and there an be a number of
Category:
Site Sponsor
Directory Statistics
Articles: 68191
Categories: 501
Yahoo Entertainment
