Article 8 in an occasional series on the causes of bad breath
Dental Caries is the process of stripping and destruction of enamel and dentine, along with the declacification of the teeth. It is an incredibly nasty destructive and contagious desease causing tooth cavities and decay. It may lead to death if left unchecked. Caries can be caused by a deficiency in calcium levels.
Caries starts by lesions and cavaties appearing in the teeth which can trap food. The food begins to smell and this, in turn causes bad breath. More seriously the putrified food affects the teeth and makes the situation worse. Proper brushing and mouth hygiene can help to prevent caries in the first place, and can help to minimise the effect of trapped food if it is already progressing. It is important to see a dental professional if caries is identified, however, and no amount of brushing can make up for the advice of a professional.
Article 7 in an occasional series on the causes of bad breath
Generally, sufferers of diabetes (diabetes mellitus, to give it its proper name) can, along with all the other symptoms they must deal with expect to have cope with bad breath. With diabetes comes a biofilm on the tongue, ulcers, and increased sugar levels in tissues - all potentially causes of bad breath. Bacteria, too, grow much quicker in diabetic people than in non-sufferers. Bad breath in diabetes sufferers is often characterised by the smell of acetone on the breath.
Naturally this doesn’t mean that any bad breath means an individual has diabetes!
Article 6 in an occasional series on the causes of bad breath
The tonsils are two lumps of lymphoid tissue, positioned in the lateral wall of oropharnyx to the rear of the mouth. When people refer to tonsils, they are referring to the palatine tonsils that can be seen dangling in the back of the throat. Tonsils are part of the human body’s immune system, and help to fight off infections.
Tonsils occasionally become inflammed, red and often have ulcers on them. This is unpleasant affliction is called tonsillitis. Bad breath is commonly a cause of bad breathe, since the bacteria that live on the diseased tonsils cause the smell. Quinsy or peritonsillar abscesses - both similar afflications can also produce bad breath.
Removal of the tonsils is possible, though this operation is usually only performed in extreme cases of recurring tonsilitis.
Article 5 in an occasional series on the causes of bad breath
Biofilm is the formation of thin, sticky coating on the tongue. This is most noticable on awakening from a good night’s sleep. This tongue coating almost always causes bad breath (another reason breath smells in the morning). This biofilm protects anerobic bacteria living under it allowing them to prosper and breed at an alarming rate. More bacteria mean more smells. Millions of bacteria can live on the rear of the tongue in these conditions.
The film can be seen as a white film over the tongue and appears most commonly when during sleep but sometimes when a person is ill.
Article 4 in an occasional series on the causes of bad breath
Tartar and plaques (pronounced ‘Plack’) provides shelter for food debris and the bacteria that feeds off it. When bacteria feed off food - breaking down the proteins in it - they produce gases which cause the breath to smell.
Plaques and tartar are often the result of poor mouth hygiene and can be prevent and combatted with simple mouth hygiene. Brushing, flossing, mouthwash and tongue cleaning can all help to prevent the onset of Tartar and Dental Plaque and, from here, the onset of bad breath.
Article 3 in an occasional series on the causes of bad breath
Poor gum health can lead to a retraction of the gums from the teeth. Gum retraction manifests itself with red, sore gums rather than the healthy pink normally displayed. Not only is gum retraction uncomfortable and definitely a sign of gum disease, it can also trap food between the gums and the teeth leading to further discomfort and bad breath as the food decays. Decaying food, as we have mentioned in previous articles, causes bad breath as the bacteria help to decay proteins.
Article 2 in an occasional series on the causes of bad breath.
Smokers have to be careful on no less than 4 fronts when considering the effects of their habit on their breath smell.
Smoking is generally accepted as leaving a bad smell. Whether it is ingrained in furniture in a home, in a car, or in your clothes, the unpleasant stench lingers. Naturally smokers themselves do not notice this smell as much as non-smokers. This smokey smell causes the smoker’s breath to smell. Mouth maintenance can prevent the potency of the smell, and special smokers’ toothpaste which is slightly more abrasive than standard kinds may often help.
Smoking may also produce lesions in the mouth and lungs; these lesions cause further bad breath problems.
The process of smoking reduces oxygen in the mouth and increases carbon dioxide. This carbon dioxide is very beneficial to anerobic bacteria that live in the oral cavity, anbling them to prosper and multiply quicker. More bacteria usually means more smell. Regulary brushing and mouth maintenance can prevent the effect of the bacteria on breath.
Finally, smoking reduces the appetite and thirst. Reduced appetite and thirst mean that acid peptic disease - causing further smells - is prevalent in heavy smokers.
Article 1 in an occasional series on the causes of bad breath
Dentures - false teeth - can be a major cause of bad breath if not maintained properly. Even where they are maintained properly wearers may still be affected by bad breath. Dentures are either fixed or non-fixed. Non-fixed dentures can be removed regularly and cleaned, whereas non-fixed dentures cannot. Just as with ‘real’ teeth dentures need to be kept clean and sanitised. Bacteria still form on the dentures and food can still get trapped betwween the teeth or, most uncomfortably, trapped between the dentures and the mouth.
Trapped food can be a cause of bad breath problems: the food decays and emits unpleasant smells. This is especially prevalent in protein-based foods.
Bad breath is no fun. That’s official. People who are unfortunate enough to suffer from bad breath can find it very distressing: the social stigma attached to bad breath means that sufferers are isolated and often shunned. Bad breath is treated as a joke, but it is far from one, effective the everyday activities of many people.
Bad breath is not necessarily a sign of bad hygiene, nor is it always related to dental problems. It is the bacteria ocupying the mouth’s oral cavity that cause many of these smells; bacteria like fusbacterium and actinomyces purify protein molecules contained in most meaty foods. The process of decaying these proteins releases smelly gases which emit themselves from their human host as a bad odour. Smells generated by this process can be controlled by teeth brushing, tongue cleaning and use of an antisceptic mouthwash.
Sometimes maintenance isn’t enough, and other times it can have no effect - in these extreme cases a doctor may be the only person that can help.
Our series of articles on bad breath first explores some common causes of bad breath. Remember: if in doubt, see a health professional.
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