About 80-90% of the adult population suffers from bad breath. If in most cases this is a physiological phenomenon that can be eliminated with a toothbrush, then in 25% of patients halitosis is persistent and indicates the development of diseases of the teeth, mucous membranes or internal organs. The problem is not insoluble, but requires examination by specialists. Why does an unpleasant “aroma” appear?

Causes of bad breath

There are two types of halitosis: physiological and pathological. The first type is caused by poor diet and poor hygiene, and the second type by dental problems and diseases of the internal organs.

The main causes of putrid odor:

The appearance of a persistent odor in a man or woman should force the patient to undergo diagnostic testing of the body. In 8% of cases, the cause of the unpleasant taste of rot is diseases of the bronchi, lungs, nasal mucosa and polyps.

Why does it smell rotten?

The occurrence of an unpleasant taste is often associated with personal hygiene. Improper brushing of teeth, insufficient time allocated for morning and evening care, leads to the proliferation of bacteria, the waste products of which are deposited on the teeth, tongue and mucous membrane.

Sometimes a person can identify a problem in the body by the type of smell. So in case of diabetes it smells like acetone, in case of liver failure it smells like fish, and kidney dysfunction is accompanied by a pungent and heavy smell (we recommend reading:). In this case, complex treatment may be required.

Dental reasons

Bacteria that cause an unpleasant odor live on the tongue, between the teeth, and on the gums:

1. The cause of the discomfort-causing “aroma” may be dental caries. Microbes and food debris accumulate in the cavities of tooth enamel, which decompose over time. It is almost impossible to clean holes in teeth using hygiene products.
2. With periodontitis, microorganisms actively develop under the gums, which is accompanied by the release of a sulfurous odor.
3. Other diseases can also be the cause: stomatitis, periodontal disease, dysbacteriosis, dysfunction of the salivary glands.
4. A common problem is improper care of structures - mouthguards, dentures. The accumulation of saliva and food particles leads to intensive growth of bacteria during their use.

Problems with the gastrointestinal tract

Based on the nature of the smell, you can independently determine the problem:

1. Sour smell (we recommend reading:). Appears when the acidity of gastric juice increases. May be a consequence of pancreatitis, stomach ulcers, gastritis.
2. Smell of feces. Appears with intestinal obstruction, dysbiosis, poor absorption of nutrients. “Aroma” can be a concern when the digestive process is disrupted, when foods are slowly absorbed, causing fermentation to begin.
3. Smell of hydrogen sulfide. Occurs with gastritis or decreased acidity in the stomach. It may also be a consequence of food poisoning.

Protein foods contribute to the development of bad breath: meat and dairy products. The substances break down and form alkaline compounds, which change the acid balance in the mouth. Microorganisms begin to actively multiply, causing an unpleasant odor.

Other reasons

The smell of rot can be caused by other factors:

The smell of rot in the breath of a child or teenager

A child or teenager may experience bad breath for a number of reasons. The main factor is the development of pathogenic microorganisms on the tongue or in the tonsils due to an imbalance in the microflora. This occurs due to the appearance of dry mouth, the causes of which may be:

Less common are other factors that cause a putrid taste - the appearance of caries or diseases of the stomach and intestines. The child will need to undergo a comprehensive examination.

Diagnostic methods

To identify the presence of plaque in the mouth that causes bad breath, you can carry out the procedure yourself using a sanitary napkin or dental floss. If there is a yellow coating on the material and an odor appears after 30-45 seconds, you should contact a specialist.

In medicine, various methods are used to identify halitosis and the causes of its occurrence:

If your breath smells like rot, the doctor can analyze your medical history (when did the smell appear, are there any diseases of the internal organs, is the problem related to food intake). An important part of the study is to perform a detailed blood test on a person to determine the level of sugar, kidney and liver enzymes.

The patient undergoes examinations by an otolaryngologist, gastroenterologist and pulmonologist. This will identify diseases of the nasopharynx, as well as exclude or confirm systemic diseases of the liver, kidneys, diabetes, and problems with the respiratory system.

Treatment options

Patients wonder what to do if there is an unpleasant taste in the mouth? Treatment depends on the cause of the problem.

• ENT diseases require a visit to an otolaryngologist; chronic diseases require consultation with individual specialists.
• If the cause of bad breath is diseases of the oral cavity, it is necessary to remove decayed teeth and fill the areas damaged by caries. It wouldn’t hurt to undergo professional cleaning of deposits (tartar, plaque), which can only be done in a dental clinic.

Preventive measures

Improper oral hygiene, poor quality food, use of medications, bad habits, hunger - these are the reasons why bad breath occurs. If bad breath cannot be eliminated by brushing your teeth or chewing gum, pharmaceuticals and traditional medicine will help.

There are many reasons for halitosis - hunger, gastrointestinal problems, unhealthy teeth and more.

Causes of bad breath

Bad breath has a medical name - halitosis. The reason for its appearance is poor hydration of the oral mucosa and teeth.

Favorable factors:

1. Incorrect care or lack thereof. If you don't brush your teeth, food debris accumulates between them and begins to rot.
2. Eating foods with a specific odor(onion, garlic) – has a short-term manifestation.
3. Exhausting diets. When a person is hungry for a long time, this leads to dehydration. The oral mucosa and teeth are not sufficiently moistened.
4. Taking strong drugs. This is especially true for diuretics and antihistamines.
5. Smoking.
6. Alcohol. Drinking alcohol causes a smell of fumes in both men and women. It occurs due to the metabolism of ethyl alcohol in the liver.

Bad breath always has an individual specific foul odor of a different nature:

1. If your breath stinks of rotten eggs with rot, this indicates the activation of the process of protein decomposition. In addition to the terrible smell, a person experiences pain in the stomach and intestines. After eating, belching and nausea are disturbing - symptoms of gastrointestinal disease.
2. A sour smell is a sign of the development of gastritis with increased acidity of gastric juice. This may include dysfunction of the esophagus, intestines, and ulcers.
3. Bitter breath type typical for people with liver and gallbladder diseases.
4. Putrid smell of feces characteristic of people who have serious intestinal dysfunction: dyskinesia, poor permeability, dysbacteriosis.
5. The smell of acetone is often observed in adults. Chemical stench– a sign of diabetes mellitus, pancreatic pathologies. If a child’s breath smells like acetone, this is the main symptom of rotavirus infection.
6. Bad breath with ammonia may be caused by kidney problems, dehydration, poisoning. It also gives off ammonia after prolonged use of medications with amino acids and nitrogen. The acrid smell of ammonia occurs during hepatic coma.
7. Sweetish or fruity strong odor, which seems harmless at first glance, is a consequence of serious liver problems; it also occurs with diabetes mellitus (in the initial stages).

Bad breath may indicate serious problems, first of all pay attention to the teeth and gastrointestinal tract

Do not ignore sudden halitosis - it may be one of the first signs of the development of serious pathologies that require immediate treatment.

Bad breath test

Halitosis can be diagnosed at home. What to do for this:

1. Wrist test. Lick a small area of ​​skin on your wrist. Wait until the saliva has completely dried. The smell that appears after a few seconds is identical to what the tongue smells like. But he is much weaker.
2. Dental floss. Brush your teeth with dental floss. If no reinforcement comes from it after drying, this means that everything is in order.
3. Tea spoon. Run the side of the spoon along your tongue. Then evaluate the smell of the plaque and saliva remaining on it.

If bad breath persists for a long time, this is a serious reason to undergo an examination.

Which doctor should I contact?

Before the examination, make sure that halitosis is not caused by dental diseases - make an appointment with. If everything is in order in this area, and the bad smell does not leave, contact.

To confirm the diagnosis, he will refer you to one of the highly specialized specialists:

• phthisiatrician;
• infectious disease specialist.

Most likely, a gastroenterologist will have to perform an endoscopy of the stomach. In 90% of cases, an unpleasant odor is associated with gastrointestinal problems

Diagnostics

Diagnostic measures depend on which doctor the patient consulted:

1. Dentist. Using a halimeter, it examines plaque in the oral cavity for the presence of pathogenic microorganisms.
2. ENT He examines the ENT organs and conducts a bacteriological analysis of sputum.
3. In most cases, halitosis develops from the stomach. This specialist will give a referral for a biochemical blood test, a coprogram. Based on the results, the condition of the gastrointestinal tract is assessed.
4. Endocrinologist. The help of this doctor is needed if you suspect diabetes mellitus or thyroid disease. The doctor will order you to take a blood sugar test.

The patient is not necessarily referred to several doctors - it all depends on the clinical manifestations.

What to do if your breath smells terrible?

You can get rid of a specific odor using medications and folk remedies.

Medicines

Cholisal gel is used for problems with gums and teeth.

Treatment methods after determining the cause of halitosis:

1. Dental problems. Use medications designed to strengthen gums - Chlorhexidine, Cholisal.
2. Diseases of the ENT organs. Several groups of drugs are used: vasoconstrictors (Rinazolin, Galazolin, Naphthyzin), antivirals (Lavomax, Rimantadine, Kagocel), antiseptics in tablets or in solution (Miramistin, Lizobakt, Strepsils).
3. Diabetes. Patients are prescribed insulin, glucose-lowering drugs, and diet.

For infectious lesions of the oral cavity, topical preparations are used: Triclosan, Cetylpyridine, Camphomen, Remodent - they prevent the activity of pathogenic microorganisms and give freshness to breath for a long period.

Folk remedies for bad breath

You can prepare folk remedies to combat this problem yourself at home. The prepared medicines will eliminate the stench, which causes a lot of discomfort.

A popular method of getting rid of odor is mint - chew a couple of leaves.

1. Anise seeds. To remove the foul odor, take 2 tsp. seeds, pour 1 liter of boiling water, wait until it cools completely. Rinse your mouth with the prepared infusion after eating.
2. Oak bark. 2 tbsp. l. pour 2 cups of water over the bark. Place on low heat, and after boiling, cook for 1 hour. Filter and use to rinse the mouth 5-6 times a day.
3. Strawberries. 6 tbsp. l. Infuse strawberries in 0.5 liters of boiling water for 2-3 hours. The medicine is intended for oral use in small portions throughout the day.
4. Sagebrush. Add 2 tbsp to 0.5 liters of water. l. wormwood, bring to a boil over low heat (about 15 minutes). After cooling completely, use the decoction for rinsing 5-6 times a day.
5. . 1 tbsp. l. Brew dry mint leaves with a glass of boiling water. Allow the infusion to cool, then strain it and rinse your mouth after each meal.
6. Coffee beans. One of the simplest recipes. To quickly get rid of bad breath, just chew 2-3 coffee beans.
7. Hydrogen peroxide. Rinse your mouth with hydrogen peroxide 2-3 times a day. This remedy helps strengthen gums.
8. Air. You can simply chew the aromatic calamus root or make a solution for rinsing (20 g of crushed root, pour 200 ml of boiling water and leave for 2-3 hours, after the time has elapsed, filter the infusion).

It is advisable to use non-traditional remedies for halitosis only after examination, when there is confidence in the absence of pathologies of internal organs and systems.

Prevention

You can prevent a terrible smell by following preventive measures:

• do not eat foods with a strong smell before interacting with people;
• visit the dentist at least once every 6 months;
• quit the bad habit of smoking;
• do not abuse alcoholic beverages;
• adhere to the rules of oral hygiene;
• promptly cure diseases of the teeth, ENT organs, lungs, kidneys, and liver;
• If you are constantly bothered by bad breath, visit a doctor and get examined.

Don't let bad breath pass you by, as it could be a symptom of a serious illness.

– not an independent disease, but a sign of a certain pathology that cannot be ignored. After finding out the true cause of the foul odor, begin treatment with medications with vasoconstrictor, antiviral and antiseptic effects. For the best effect, include recipes for decoctions and infusions in complex therapy, provided that you are not allergic to the components.

A problem that a huge number of people face is bad breath.

When a person notices it in himself, he begins to worry, feel awkward, and when communicating with people he keeps his distance from his interlocutors.

For some, this phenomenon is constant, for others it occurs periodically.

A person can know about such a circumstance in his body and try to hide it using various methods. Constantly thinking about why a person’s breath stinks makes them communicate less with others and not think about organizing their personal life.

Possible reasons

Most likely, the formation of a foul odor is associated with poor oral hygiene. The main reason is poorly cleaned teeth and tongue. Food stuck between the teeth and at the base of the gums, plaque on the tongue, gives an undesirable odor.

This symptom is also characteristic of dental caries and gum diseases - periodontal disease and gingivitis.

The freshness of breath is negatively affected by the presence of dentures.

Microorganisms accumulate on dentures and create an unbearable odor.

Dentures must be cleaned after meals and treated with an antiseptic solution daily.

Unhealthy salivary glands favor the development of bacteria in the mouth. Saliva is produced in a small volume, which causes rotting of food debris in the oral cavity.

Bad breath in the morning is due to decreased saliva production during sleep. After hygiene procedures, the smell disappears.

Daily diet and lifestyle. Onions, garlic, cabbage, some types of cheeses, alcohol and smoking contribute to the formation of a specific odor. Frequent consumption of coffee and carbonated drinks changes the acidity of the oral cavity and can be one of the causes of unpleasant breath.

And if the teeth, gums, salivary glands, and tongue are in perfect condition, then bad breath can be a manifestation of certain diseases:

• chronic tonsillitis and sinusitis;
• diseases of the lungs and bronchi;
• stomach diseases - gastritis or ulcers;
• inflammation of the intestines - colitis and enteritis;
• unhealthy kidneys or liver;
• diabetes;
• nervous tension or stress;
• hormonal changes in women during the monthly cycle;
• metabolic disease;
• starvation.

In 80% of cases, the formation of an unpleasant odor is associated with the condition of the oral cavity.

How to assess the presence of odor

You can feel these symptoms using several tests:

• Lick the wrist, dry and smell. If you can't smell the smell, then everything is fine.
• Lick the spoon, sniff it after a minute - this will be the smell of the breath being tested.
• Wash your hands, cover your mouth and breathe. Then sniff.

If it’s difficult to determine for yourself, ask a loved one for help and don’t hesitate to tell the truth. This must be done so as not to worry in vain.

Bad breath: what to do

Try to establish the cause and eliminate it. Mouth rinses, lozenges, chewing gums are only a temporary disguise. If you notice persistent bad breath, it is advisable to visit your dentist. Get an oral examination and any necessary treatment.

See new technologies for caries treatment.

Treatment options

What to do yourself, in addition to the usual brushing of teeth with toothpaste 2 times a day:

• clean the interdental spaces with dental floss 2 times a day;
• do not snack between main meals;
• after eating, rinse your mouth with mouthwash or water, if you use chewing gum, then for 3 – 5 minutes;
• Be sure to clean your tongue of bacterial plaque, clean thoroughly but gently.

Drug treatment

• cleans teeth from stones;
• remove damaged teeth;
• will cure teeth with caries and replace old fillings;
• will teach individual oral care.

If after the measures taken the bad smell from the mouth persists, you should consult a therapist.

Drug treatment is carried out taking into account the disease that caused the formation of unwanted odor from the mouth. Specialists will carry out the necessary diagnostics and prescribe treatment.

Folk remedies

Traditional medicine is rich in time-tested recipes for combating bad breath:

1. Chew a pinch of fresh pine needles. The oral cavity is disinfected, gum inflammation is relieved.
2. Prepare a solution - add 4 tsp to a glass of water. hydrogen peroxide. Rinse your mouth morning and evening.
3. St. John's wort infusion. For 0.5 liters of water take 1.5 tbsp. spoons of grass. Boil for 1 minute, leave for 1 hour and filter. Rinse your mouth after every meal.
4. Peppermint infusion. Take 1 tsp per glass of boiling water. herbs, leave for an hour and filter. Rinse when you need to freshen your breath.
5. An infusion to get rid of plaque on teeth and eliminate bad breath. Prepare from equal parts of oak bark, nettle, St. John's wort, chamomile, birch leaves. Take 2 tbsp. l. dry mixture, pour 4 tbsp. boiling water, let it brew. Strain and rinse your mouth five times a day. The course of treatment is one week.
6. Take 0.5 tsp in the morning on an empty stomach. buckwheat flour. Treat for 10 days, break for three days, repeat several courses until the unpleasant odor goes away.
7. Infusion of wormwood. They cook simply. Place 1 tbsp in any container. spoon of wormwood, pour 2 cups of hot water, leave for 3 hours. Strain and rinse your mouth 3-4 times a day. The bad smell goes away after a week.
8. Activated carbon will help overcome the problem. You need to take 4 tablets in the evening, and 5 tablets in the morning before meals. The bad breath goes away on the third day. Treatment can last a week.
9. A decoction of oak bark treats stomatitis, tonsillitis, pharyngitis and relieves bad breath. Rinse your mouth with the broth three times a day.

Traditional methods help to cope well with the disease without harming the body.

Breath freshening products

• Products containing vitamin C. Ascorbic acid destroys harmful bacteria in the oral cavity. Citrus fruits and juices from them freshen your breath.
• Green tea is beneficial. Prevents the proliferation of microbes.
• Roasting the seeds will remove the smell for a while.
• Cloves will freshen your breath. Place by the cheek and hold, 1-3 times a day.
• Nuts, fennel, anise seed will freshen your breath.
• Fresh apples, carrots, and celery will cleanse plaque from tooth enamel.
• Parsley leaves will get rid of the smell of onions and garlic. You just need to chew parsley leaves.
• Lemon increases salivation, thereby cleansing the oral cavity. A slice of lemon will get rid of the repulsive odor for two hours.
• Natural yogurt, dairy and fermented milk products prevent the growth of microbes in the oral cavity.
• Rinse your mouth with infusions of cranberries, rose hips, sea buckthorn and strawberries.
• Oil removes unpleasant odor. Rinse your mouth with any vegetable oil for 10 minutes.

To prevent the proliferation of microorganisms in the oral cavity, you need to include natural fruits and vegetables in your diet. Limit the consumption of meat dishes. Drink more water.

Eliminating unpleasant odors is a complex process and can take a long time. Known methods are quite effective, but they will cope with the problem for a short period of time. Therefore, it is necessary to eliminate the underlying disease that leads to the appearance of such an unpleasant phenomenon.

Video on the topic

Bad breath - causes and treatment

Bad breath can destroy any image, even a well-formed one. With the help of advice from professional doctors, we will help you, at a minimum, not attract the attention of others with your breathing.
Halitosis- a medical term for unpleasant odor from the mouth.
Morning bad breath is a purely physiological phenomenon and can be eliminated with an ordinary toothbrush. Additionally, certain foods such as garlic, onions or cabbage can also cause bad breath. All these manifestations relate to physiological odor from the mouth (halitosis (bad breath)). Eat less of these smelly foods.
However, more than a quarter of the entire world's population suffers from pathological halitosis (bad breath) (bad breath). In this case, neither tons of chewing gum, nor mountains of mint candies, nor newfangled mouth sprays help - the smell still remains unpleasant.

Bad breath can also be caused by advanced caries. A large number of anaerobic bacteria and food debris accumulate in carious cavities. These cavities are difficult to clean using conventional hygiene products, which makes the disease highly resistant. The same applies to periodontitis - microbes actively multiply under the gums, causing a sulfurous odor. In this case, even the blood and purulent inflammatory exudate located in the gum pockets smell unpleasant.

Wearing dentures can also lead to halitosis - firstly, the smell will be absorbed by the polymer base of the denture, and secondly, pieces of food can remain under the dentures and decompose there, emitting “odors”.

Another cause of halitosis is decreased saliva secretion and dry mouth syndrome. When saliva is not released quickly enough and in small quantities, the natural cleaning of the oral cavity from food debris is disrupted, favorable conditions are created for the proliferation of microorganisms, and local immunity is reduced.

Common causes of halitosis include mainly chronic diseases associated with the gastrointestinal tract, ENT diseases, metabolic disorders, hormonal disorders, etc. For example, in women, bad breath may appear during the onset of the menstrual cycle, which associated with increased estrogen levels. These hormones promote increased desquamation of the epithelium, including on the oral mucosa, and this is a favorite breeding ground for anaerobic microorganisms.

In many cases, halitosis should make the patient check his health - the smell also signals a more serious illness. Thus, in approximately 8% of cases, the cause of halitosis is pathology of the ENT organs. Chronic sinusitis, rhinitis, tonsillitis, nasal polyps often make themselves felt with an unpleasant odor.

Many people know that a consequence of diabetes mellitus is often the smell of acetone released when breathing. Dysfunction of the liver and gall bladder is also accompanied by a “pungent” heavy odor, and kidney failure is accompanied by a putrid “fishy” odor. So, before you run to the pharmacy for a new toothbrush and advertised toothpaste that kills germs outright, go to the doctor.

Food is also of great importance. For example, garlic and raw onions contain substances that belong to the group of sulfur compounds. They are able to be absorbed into the blood and then released through the lungs during breathing.

Alcohol, nicotine, coffee and some medications (antibiotics and sulfonamides, antidepressants, antihistamines and anti-inflammatory drugs) cause dry mouth and, as a result, lead to an unpleasant odor.

Stress, nervous tension, or excessive dieting and fasting also lead to halitosis. During fasting, a deficiency in the intake of proteins and fats is created in the body, and the utilization of endogenous reserves begins, which can also cause an unpleasant odor. It appears during a stressful situation and disappears after the cessation of emotional stress. Among the causes are impaired salivation and dry mouth.

Nowadays medicine uses effective methods for diagnosing halitosis. You can evaluate the intensity of an unpleasant odor using a special device - a halimeter. It is not only useful for diagnosis, but also allows you to evaluate how well the treatment is progressing.

To identify bacteria that cause halitosis, some dentists use microbiological tests, for example, analyzing the composition of dental plaque. Using a mirror, the back of the tongue is examined - it should be the same color as the oral mucosa. White, cream or brown color indicates glossitis. The condition of the patient’s teeth is also assessed for the quality of hygiene.

A consultation with an ENT doctor (for the presence of sinusitis and polyps) and a gastroenterologist is also necessary - he must exclude systemic diseases such as diabetes, liver and kidney failure.

Treatment for halitosis will depend on what caused the disease. If these are advanced ENT diseases, then you will have to undergo treatment from an otolaryngologist. Other chronic diseases require consultation and treatment from appropriate specialists.

If the cause of the unpleasant odor lies in the oral cavity, then it is necessary to eliminate foci of infection, remove decayed teeth that cannot be restored, and undergo a course of professional oral hygiene with the removal of supragingival and subgingival dental plaque.

Any odor is a volatile compound. This problem is solved in different ways. People often try to mask the odor with mouthwash or chewing gum. But few people know that the effect of chewing gum is temporary and they have a detrimental effect on the gastrointestinal tract. As for rinses, they kill the natural flora of the oral cavity, and this can only increase the unpleasant odor. Today, CB12 anti-bad breath is the only product that completely neutralizes volatile compounds rather than masking them. With daily use of the product, fresh breath will become your constant companion. Unlike other rinses, it retains its effect for 12 hours, acts directly on the cause of the odor, without disturbing the normal flora in the mouth.

Compliance with hygiene rules is of great importance: teeth should be brushed using a toothbrush and floss (dental floss) to remove plaque and food debris from the teeth. And cleaning your tongue should become a mandatory daily procedure. This not only helps eliminate odor, but also reduces the total number of bacteria in the oral cavity, which has a beneficial effect on the health of periodontal tissue. If periodontitis has already been diagnosed, it is worth starting to use special oral irrigators to more effectively remove infected masses and food debris from the periodontal pockets. In addition, these irrigators will help get rid of dry mouth.

Don’t forget about proper nutrition: an excess of fast carbohydrates (sugar and processed foods) increases the amount of plaque on the teeth and leads to caries. Eat more fiber. Fresh greens, vegetables and fruits will help normalize intestinal function and reduce bad breath.

Checking your breathing

In order to determine the freshness of your breath, just bring your palm to your face in such a way as to simultaneously cover your mouth and nose. After this, exhale deeply through your mouth. Did you smell it? If you can’t clearly determine what and how much it smells, buy a disposable mask at the pharmacy and breathe into it for a minute. The smell under the mask will exactly match the smell that others smell from you during communication.

Today, specialized breath indicators are produced that can determine the level of freshness on a five-point scale. The manufacturers of this device claim that its use is a sign of good manners. In fact, it is easier to talk about the smell with your loved ones, ideally with your child, because children are less diplomatic in these matters and will tell the whole truth.

In medical institutions they use a more complex device - a gas analyzer. With its help, you can determine the chemical composition of the air that is exhaled and, based on the analysis, determine the causes of the bad odor.

Why is my breath bad?

The main causes of halitosis (bad breath) are:
- insufficient level of hygiene;
- diseases of teeth and gums;
- xerostomia - insufficient level of hydration of the oral mucosa;
- inflammatory processes in the oral cavity.

In these cases, the cause of the foul odor is bacteria accumulated in the mouth and residual food fragments. It is almost impossible to combat these phenomena at home. Such halitosis (bad breath) can only be cured in dental clinics.

But it is necessary to take into account that halitosis (bad breath) can be caused not only by diseases of the oral cavity.

In one case out of ten, the causes of odor are:
- ENT diseases: sore throats, sinusitis, runny nose;
- diseases of the intestines and stomach;
- lung diseases;
- endocrine system disorders;
- all kinds of diets;
- some medicines;
- smoking.

What does illness smell like?

The hydrogen sulfide smell is the smell of rotten eggs. The cause of the smell is the process of rotting protein substances. If the smell is accompanied by pain in the abdominal area after eating, belching and nausea, then it can be caused by gastritis with low acidity, peptic ulcer, diverticulosis of the stomach or esophagus, etc.

Very often, such an unpleasant odor can occur after a banal “holiday” overeating. In such cases, you can get rid of it with the help of absorbent substances (activated carbon, Smecta), as well as enzyme-based drugs (Festal, Pancreatin, Mezim, etc.).

A sour smell and taste in the mouth can be caused by: gastritis with high acidity, gastrointestinal ulcers, esophageal diseases.

The smell and taste of bitterness is a manifestation of diseases of the gallbladder and liver; this can also be indicated by a yellow coating on the tongue.

The smell of feces from the mouth can occur with dysbacteriosis, intestinal motor neuroses (dyskinesia) and intestinal obstruction.

The acetone smell with a sweet aftertaste can cause pancreatic diseases and diabetes.

The smell of urine from the mouth indicates kidney disease.

Treatment of bad breath (halitosis - bad breath)

First of all, try adding a tongue cleansing procedure to your daily twice-daily brushing of your teeth. It is better to do this in the evening using an ordinary teaspoon. Using light, gentle movements from root to tip, clean your tongue of daytime plaque. The procedure is not very pleasant, but effective.

Cleaning your tongue will rid you of bacteria, the population of which could increase significantly overnight in a favorable oral environment. Believe me, thanks to this evening procedure, your breath will be much fresher the next morning.

Clean the spaces between your teeth using a special floss. If you don’t have this tool at hand, use the old-fashioned method: tear off a strip of clean polyethylene, stretch it into a thread and remove food debris and plaque from the interdental space.
- After eating, be sure to rinse your mouth. You should not use tea for this purpose; it darkens tooth enamel.

Making your own mouth rinses

1. A tablespoon of mint, chamomile, sage or strawberry is poured into a glass of boiling water. After cooling, the broth is filtered. Use for rinsing after meals 3-4 times a day.
2. A tablespoon of oak bark is poured into 200 ml of boiling water and heated in a water bath for up to 30 minutes. Strain after cooling and rinse your mouth and throat. Oak bark has a strengthening effect on the gums and clears plaque from the tonsils, which can serve as sources of bad breath due to a large accumulation of infectious components.

An irrigator provides more effective cleaning of the oral cavity at home. This is a toothbrush-type tool that cleans the spaces between teeth using a strong jet of water, which massages the surface of the gums and activates blood circulation.

Choosing a toothpaste for bad breath
If you have halitosis (bad breath), you should choose a toothpaste that does not contain alcohol. Alcohol dries out the oral mucosa, which intensifies the odor.

In addition, pay attention to pastes that contain antibacterial agents based on chlorine compounds.

When choosing a rinse aid, the same principles are used as when choosing a toothpaste. In addition, modern mouthwashes may contain components (zinc- and choloro-containing) that reduce the activity of halitosis (bad breath) due to chemical reactions.

Quick effect of fresh breath
There are a large number of modern means of quickly getting rid of bad breath: aerosol fresheners, chewing gum, lollipops, etc. They are characterized by both rapid efficiency and low stability due to their short duration of action.

What to do when they are not at hand at the right time?

First of all, try drinking a cup of strong tea, then rinse your mouth and throat with clean water.

Apples and carrots will help get rid of the smell. The aroma of onions or garlic can be neutralized with parsley or celery root.

Chewing coffee beans can reduce the unpleasant smell and taste in your mouth.

People who have to talk a lot during the day often have bad breath. This is due to drying of the oral mucosa due to a decrease in the amount of saliva.

Saliva is a natural means of cleaning the oral cavity. Saliva contains the antibacterial enzyme lysozyme, which ensures the destruction of bacterial cells. In addition, saliva ensures the dissolution of food debris and toxins released by bacteria. Lack of saliva is one of the main reasons for increased bad breath.

In such situations, you should simply drink more often. A small amount of liquid will protect the oral cavity from drying out, remove the unpleasant taste and freshen your breath.

Include oatmeal porridge in your morning diet; this product significantly activates saliva production.

If there is no toothbrush nearby, you can wipe your teeth, gums and tongue with your finger. Thus, you will not only get rid of the unpleasant odor, but also massage your gums.

Use walnut pulp to rub your gums. In this way, you can provide the oral cavity with the necessary vitamins and freshen your breath with a pleasant nutty taste.

You need to understand that bad breath is a problem that interferes with your normal life. Halitosis (bad breath) is a direct threat not only to personal self-esteem, but also to a person’s social status. Communication, attractiveness and sexuality can be ruined in an instant by repulsive bad breath.

Halitosis (bad breath) is a problem that requires mandatory solutions. At the same time, we should not go to extremes; traditional methods of hygiene procedures are familiar to us from childhood, and they should not be neglected.

If the odor remains, even after daily oral hygiene, you need to contact your dentist. Nine times out of ten, your problem will be resolved within a few visits. If your mouth and teeth turn out to be healthy, and the smell continues to bother you, then you will have to look for the reasons inside the body.

Start visiting doctors with an ENT specialist. Diseases of the nose, throat and ear most often provoke problems with fresh breath. If no complaints are found from these bodies, then it’s time to visit a therapist. It is possible that the cause of the unpleasant odor is an exacerbation of a disease that has become chronic and to which you have long been accustomed.

Anna Mironova

Reading time: 9 minutes

A A

Many people are familiar with the situation when, when communicating with a person, you want to cover your mouth with your palm. It’s especially offensive when bad breath causes an interrupted kiss, problems in communication, or even problems at work. This phenomenon is called halitosis, and it is not as harmless as it seems.

9 Causes of Bad Breath – So Why Is Your Breath Bad?

Sooner or later, everyone experiences halitosis. It pretty much ruins our lives and sometimes makes us give up our desires and intentions. Where do the legs of halitosis “grow” from?

Let's list the main reasons:

• Insufficient hygiene.
• Advanced caries and other dental diseases.
• Taking medications.
• Microbial plaque on the teeth and tongue.
• Wearing dentures.
• Decreased saliva secretion.
• Smoking.
• The smell remaining after eating certain foods (alcohol, fish, seasonings, onions and garlic, coffee, etc.).
• Consequences of diets.

Halitosis as a symptom of serious diseases - be attentive to yourself!

In addition to the above, there are more serious reasons for the appearance of halitosis. In some cases he may be unkind a sign of any disease.

For example…

1. Gastritis, ulcers, pancreatitis and other gastrointestinal diseases (note: hydrogen sulfide smell).
2. Chronic tonsillitis, tonsillitis or sinusitis.
3. Pneumonia and bronchitis.
4. Kidney diseases (note - the smell of acetone).
5. Diabetes mellitus (note - the smell of acetone).
6. Gallbladder disease (bitter, unpleasant odor).
7. Liver diseases (in this case, a specific fecal or fishy odor is noted).
8. Tumor of the esophagus (note - smell of rot/decomposition).
9. Active tuberculosis (note: smell of pus).
10. Kidney failure (note: “fishy” smell).
11. Xerostomia caused by taking medications or prolonged mouth breathing (putrid odor).

It is also worth noting pseudohalitosis. This term is used when talking about a condition when a person with fresh breath “imagines” an unpleasant odor in his mouth.

How to detect bad breath - 8 ways

In most cases, we ourselves know that we have bad breath.

But if you want to know for sure (maybe you just think), there are several ways to check:

1. Observe the behavior of your interlocutors. If they move to the side, turn away when communicating, or persistently offer you candy and chewing gum, there is a smell. You can also just ask them about it.
2. Bring your palms to your mouth in a “boat” manner and exhale sharply. If an unpleasant odor is present, you will notice it immediately.
3. Pass regular cotton floss between your teeth and smell it.
4. Lick your wrist and, after waiting a little, smell the skin.
5. Scrape the back of your tongue with a spoon and smell it too.
6. Wipe your tongue with a cotton pad and sniff.
7. Buy a special tester device at a pharmacy. With its help, you can determine the freshness of your breath on a 5-point scale.
8. Undergo a special examination by a dentist.

Remember to test In a few hours after using odor masking products (rubber bands, pastes, sprays) and at the end of the day.

Modern medicine in the treatment of halitosis

Nowadays, there are very effective methods for diagnosing this disease.

• The use of a halimeter which, in addition to diagnosis, also helps in assessing the success of treatment for halitosis.
• The composition of dental plaque is also examined.
• And the back of the patient's tongue is examined. It should match the color of the oral mucosa. But with a brown, white or cream tint, we can talk about glossitis.

Considering that in most cases true halitosis is one of the symptoms of a certain disease, It’s worth seeing other doctors:

1. ENT consultation will help exclude polyps and sinusitis.
2. On a visit to a gastroenterologist We find out if there is diabetes, problems with the kidneys/liver or gastrointestinal tract.
3. At the dentist We eliminate foci of infection and remove bad teeth. A course of professional oral hygiene at the same time as removing dental plaque will not hurt. When diagnosing periodontitis, the use of special irrigators is usually recommended.

9 effective ways to get rid of bad breath at home

You have a meeting soon, you are expecting guests or going on a date...

How can you quickly eliminate bad breath?

• The most basic way is to brush your teeth. Cheap and cheerful.
• Freshener spray. For example, with mint flavor. Today such a device can be found in any pharmacy. Just throw it in your bag and keep it handy at all times. It is enough to spray 1-2 times into the oral cavity, and you don’t have to worry that they will run away from you after a minute of communication. Choose a spray with preventive properties (protection against the formation of tartar, plaque, caries).
• Rinse aid. Also useful for teeth and mouth. In addition to the fact that it freshens breath, it also has an additional function - protection against plaque, strengthening teeth, etc. But do not rush to spit it out right away - hold the liquid in your mouth for at least 30 seconds, then its effect will be more pronounced.
• Refreshing sweets. For example, mint candies. They will not bring much benefit, given the sugar content, but it is easy to mask the smell.
• Chewing gum. Not the most useful method, especially if you have stomach problems, but perhaps the simplest. Chewing gum outside the home is even easier to find than candy. The optimal flavor is mint. It is most effective at masking odor. To avoid harming yourself, chew it for a maximum of 10 minutes, only after meals and without dyes (pure white).
• Mint, greens. Sometimes it is enough to chew a leaf of mint, parsley or green salad.
• Fruits, vegetables and berries. The most effective are citrus fruits, apples, and bell peppers.
• Other "camouflage" products: yoghurts, green tea, chocolate
• Spices: cloves, nutmeg, fennel, anise, etc. You just need to hold the spice in your mouth or chew one clove (a piece of nut, etc.).

And, of course, do not forget about the prevention of halitosis:

1. An electric toothbrush. It cleans your teeth much more effectively than usual.
2. Dental floss. This “instrument of torture” helps remove “remnants of feasts” from the interdental spaces.
3. Brush to remove plaque on the tongue. Also a very useful invention.
4. Moisturizing the oral cavity. Constant dry mouth can also cause halitosis. Saliva has antibacterial properties, and a decrease in its amount, accordingly, leads to an increase in the number of bacteria. Keep your mouth sufficiently moist.
5. Decoctions for rinsing the mouth/throat. You can use chamomile, mint, sage and eucalyptus, oak or magnolia bark. The latter is best for eliminating this problem.
6. Nutrition. Avoid eating garlic, coffee, meat and red wine. These foods lead to halitosis. Excess of fast carbohydrates is the path to caries and plaque on teeth, give preference to fiber.
7. We brush our teeth twice a day for one and a half to two minutes, choosing brushes of medium hardness. We change the brush at least once every 3 months. It is also recommended to purchase an ionizer-sterilizer for your brush - it will disinfect your “tool.”
8. After eating, be sure to remember to rinse your mouth. Preferably, a decoction of herbs, a special rinse or tooth elixir.
9. We visit the dentist once every six months and solve dental problems in a timely manner. Don’t forget to get examined by a therapist for chronic diseases.
10. Toothpaste choose one that contains natural antiseptic components that can reduce bacterial activity.
11. Drink more water.
12. Treat bleeding gums promptly- It also causes an unpleasant odor.
13. If you have dentures remember to clean them thoroughly every day.

If, despite all your efforts, the smell continues to haunt you - ask specialists for help!

The site website provides background information. Adequate diagnosis and treatment of the disease is possible only under the supervision of a conscientious doctor. If alarming symptoms occur, consult a specialist!