Bad breath is usually caused by poor oral hygiene habits (bad breath mostly occurs in the mouth itself), infections that occur in the mouth and/or unhealthy habits.
It is sometimes referred as halitosis,
Role of Saliva
Saliva plays a big role in halitosis elimination.
The degree of halitosis during the day is inversely related to saliva flow (meaning less saliva more bad breath and vice versa).
When saliva flow is lowest during the night, after fasting and owing to insufficient water intake, halitosis becomes more intense.
Conversely, the act or process of chewing increases saliva flow, with concomitant cleansing of the oral cavity and reduction in malodor.
One of the most common bacteria found among people with fresh breath is Streptococcus salivarius; this bacterium is often absent in individuals with halitosis or is found at extremely low levels.
Tonsil stones, also called tonsilloliths, are small lumps that form in your tonsils.
Causes: Ones tonsils are filled with nooks and crannies where bacteria, dead cells and mucus, can get trapped. When this happens, the debris can bond together.
Tonsil stones form when this debris hardens, or calcifies.
Bacterial action in the intestine on choline (found in foods such as soy, liver, kidneys, wheat germ, brewer’s yeast and egg yolk) or on trimethylamine N-oxide (found in saltwater fish).
Complications /Information to beware of/General tips:
Herbal medication:
Consider to rinse and wash mouth with sesame oil (oil pulling, for short term use only) and then spit out (do not use if allergic to this product).
Mechanical methods:
Mechanical reduction of halitosis can also be achieved by reducing the intraoral bacterial count by disrupting the tongue biofilm, thus decreasing the production of volatile sulfur compounds or volatile organic compounds. Common methods include tongue brushing, tongue scraping, and chewing gum.
Gentle but effective deep tongue cleaning should be an important daily routine.
Medscape
Please talk to your healthcare professional (i.e. Medical Doctor/Pharmacist) for further advice
Detailed Information
Please copy and paste any key words from the title: Bad Breath (Halitosis) in the following respective 'Medtick References and/or Sources' to find out more about the disease (this also may include diagnosis tests and generic medical treatments).
The Pharmaceutical Journal covers analysis, features, opinion, learning and careers articles, providing insight and knowledge about drugs, pharmacy practice, medicines use and healthcare policy in the context of the pharmacy profession and pharmaceutical science.
Healthy changes start with little changes. Whether you want to lose weight, drink less alcohol, get active or quit smoking, you have access to lots of free tools and support through Better Health. You can also find simple ways to lift your mood with Every Mind Matters.
There has never been a better time to kickstart your health. Let’s do this!
Diet, Exercise and Body Manipulations
Foods to help with bad breath:
Yoghurt- it this by lowering the levels of sulphide components in your body that produce odour.
Fruits- help with the production of saliva, which is essential to nourishing and re-balancing the natural oral ecology of the mouth, but not to much as fruits have sugars and cause tooth decay.
Spices and herbs -mint and parsley (contain chlorophyll) , Yardbarker. Cinnamon, basil, rosemary or cardamom and others contain chlorophyll which help to deodorise your mouth.
Nuts -Chewing almond and other nuts is a sure way to the crunchiness of nuts and vegetables when eaten raw, helps to loosen trapped food particle in the teeth as well as Dr Curatola explained:
‘The fiber-rich content of fruits, vegetables, and nuts also acts like ‘tiny toothbrushes’ on teeth and has been shown to keep odor-causing bacteria from staining teeth’.
Chewing sugar – free gum to stimulate saliva production.
Water- drink the recommended 2 litres a day to wash away bacteria and loose food and drink in the mouth.
