BAD BREATH – how to deal with it.

Introduction

I went to the Registrar General’s Office in Accra the capital of Ghana to register my business name in October 2015. A neatly dressed gentleman approached me to ask a question. Immediately he opened his mouth to speak, I stopped breathing, took some steps backward and turned my face to a different direction. I could not stand the bad odour from his mouth. He is not the only person I believe who has this medical problem. Many people are discriminated, ignored and even sacked from their work place because of their bad breath. Bad breath does not only affect the sufferer, but also those around them. Some go through their daily life completely unaware of this problem, unless they are told directly by people in their social circles. This is a source of discomfort and can be very embarrassing.

Bad breath – What is it?

Bad breath, medically called Halitosis is an unpleasant odour of the mouth. It can occur on occasion, or it can be a chronic condition. There are lots of small signs that can show that you have bad breath. Have you noticed people stepping away from you when you start to talk? Do people turn their cheek when you kiss them goodbye?

If you think you might have bad breath, there is a simple test that you can do. Just lick the inside of your wrist and sniff. If the smell is bad, you can be fairly sure that your breath is too. You can ask a very good friend to be absolutely honest with you and confirm or deny it. But do make sure they are your true friends.

Bad breath – What causes it?

Bad breath can be the result of numerous things, but it's usually caused by poor oral hygiene. Some of the causes of bad breath include the following.

1. Food: The primary source of bad breath is the food we eat. Some foods, such as garlic, onions, spicy foods, fish, and acidic beverages such as coffee can leave a lingering smell in your mouth which most of the time remain for a short time. Some foods like “pie” may not leave a smell but may get stuck to the teeth thereby promoting the growth of bacteria, which causes bad breath. Low carbohydrate diets may also cause "ketone breath." These diets cause the body to burn fat as its energy source. The end-product of making this energy is ketones, which cause a fruity acetone-like odour on the breath when exhaled.

2. Tobacco use: Smoking causes its own unpleasant mouth odour. Smokers and oral tobacco users are also more likely to have gum disease which is another source of bad breath.

3. Poor dental hygiene: When a person does not brush the teeth or floss the mouth regularly, food particles remaining in the mouth can rot and cause bad odours. Poor dental care can lead to the formation of plaque in the mouth which can cause an odour. The Plaque formation can lead to gum disease which contributes to bad breath

4. Some medical conditions: Some medical conditions such as pneumonia, sore throat (pharyngitis), tonsil stones, oral thrush, bronchitis, postnasal drip, diabetes, acid reflux, and lactose intolerance may cause bad breath. Other stomach problems, and some liver diseases or kidney diseases may also be associated with bad breath.

5. Dry mouth: Dry mouth also called “xerostomia”, can also cause bad breath. This is because saliva helps to moisten and cleanse the mouth and so when the body does not produce enough saliva, bad breath may result.

6. Mouth infections: Infections that occur in the mouth such as cavities, gum disease, and impacted teeth may cause bad breath.

7. Medications: Some medications can indirectly produce bad breath by contributing to dry mouth. Others can be broken down in the body to release chemicals that can be carried in your breath. Some of the medications include antihistamines and diuretics.

8. Morning breath: Bad breath is very common in the morning. This is because saliva production nearly stops during sleep, which allows bacteria to grow, causing bad breath.

9. Pregnancy: Being pregnant in itself does not cause bad breath, but the nausea and morning sickness which is common during pregnancy may cause bad breath. In addition, hormonal changes, dehydration, and eating different foods due to cravings may also contribute to bad breath during pregnancy.

10. Other causes of bad breath: Some other causes of bad breath include alcoholism and large doses of vitamin supplements. In young children bad breath may be caused by a foreign body, such as a small toy or piece of food, lodged in a nostril.

Bad breath – How do you treat/prevent it?

There is no difference between the treatment and prevention of bad breath. The following steps can either be a treatment or prevention depending on the person in question (whether he has bad breath or not).

1. Brush your teeth twice daily. Brushing the teeth using fluoride-containing toothpaste at least twice a day, especially after meals is very important in the treatment and prevention of bad breath. Toothpastes that contain antibacterial properties have been shown to reduce bad breath odours.

2. Brush your tongue. Carefully brushing the tongue helps to reduce or prevent bad odour because the tongue harbours bacteria which needs to be removed. People who have a coated tongue from a significant overgrowth of bacteria (from smoking or dry mouth, for example) may benefit from using a tongue scraper. They can also use a toothbrush that has a built-in tongue cleaner.

3. Clean your dentures or dental appliances. If you wear a bridge, a partial or complete denture, clean it thoroughly at least once a day or as directed by your dentist. If you have a dental retainer or mouth guard, clean it each time before you put it in your mouth.

4. Keep your mouth moist. To keep your mouth moist, avoid tobacco and drink plenty of water and not coffee, soft drinks or alcohol, which can lead to a dry mouth. You can chew gum or suck on candy (preferably sugarless) to stimulate saliva. If you have chronic dry mouth, your dentist or physician may prescribe an artificial saliva preparation or an oral medication that stimulates the flow of saliva.

5. Adjust your diet. Avoid food and beverages that can cause bad breath. Avoid spicy, sticky and sugary foods since these foods have been noted to cause bad breath.

6. Change your tooth brush regularly. Change your toothbrush regularly. It is better to change your brush every three to four months. You should choose a soft-bristled toothbrush to a strong smoker’s toothbrush that may cause you to bleed or creat cuts on your tongue.

7. Visit the dentist at least once a year. See your dentist on a regular basis (generally once or twice a year) to have your teeth or dentures examined and cleaned.

Bad breath – how can I tell someone he/she has bad breath?

We all probably know someone who has bad breath, but very few people feel brave enough to tell them. As it is said in my local language (Twi), “who are you to tell the priest that has a brown teeth”. It is indeed one of the difficult things to do looking at the obviously delicate nature of it. There is always the risk that they may be offended or embarrassed and may never speak to you again! However, it is always important to draw a person’s attention to it. It is worth remembering that the bad breath may be caused by a number of problems. And once the person knows they have bad breath, they can deal with whatever is causing it. You could try talking to their partner or a family member if you don’t have the courage to do so.

Bad breath can be prevented and for that matter, it is important to prevent it than to wait until you get it before you look for treatment.