Causes of Halitosis – Understanding What Can Cause Halitosis
There are many causes of halitosis but not knowing what is causing your bad breath can be a very embarrassing and uncomfortable situation to be in. It often makes us very self conscious about speaking to people, especially closely and face to face, and can therefore have a negative impact on our social lives, relationships and performance at work.
It is no surprise then that most of us who find ourselves with a breath problem at some point will be looking for the fastest and easiest ways to get rid of it. However, in order to do that we need to have a clear understanding the causes of breath problems in general and more importantly, what the likely cause of our own bad breath is. This article aims to examine the many possible causes of bad breath so that you can better identify what may be causing your breath problem therefore putting you in a better position to treat the underlying cause.
Anaerobic Bacteria – One Of The Primary Causes of Halitosis?
The underlying cause of halitosis for most people is the presence of anaerobic bacteria which live and breed on the gums, cheek and tongue in the mouth. These bacteria like all living organisms feed and excrete waste. The food that this bacteria eats are proteins that can be found in the food we eat, dead skin cells, enzymes in saliva and blood cells. These enzymes digest these proteins and emit waste products in the form of Volatile Sulpher Compounds or VSL’s for short.
The excreted VSL’s are what cause the malodor of the mouth that we associate with halitosis. An example of a VSL is hydrogen sulfide. This VSL is what gives rotten eggs their foul stench and is just one of the many VSL’s secreted by the bacteria of the mouth.
The reason that it is so easy to notice these sulpher compounds is due to the fact that they are ‘volatile’ sulpher compounds. Volatile in this sense does not mean that they are easily flammable but rather they evaporate readily at room temperatures and diffuse quickly through the air and can subsequently noticed on the breath very easily by others.
These bacteria occur naturally and we all possess them to some degree but obviously those with bad breath are more greatly affected by them. In the following section we will attempted to examine what factors may contribute to the excessive growth of these bacteria and subsequently help cause halitosis.
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What Factors Influence the Development of Halitosis Causing Bacteria?
When it comes to identifying the cause of excessive bacteria in the mouth there are usually a number of common factors that are to blame the most common of which is simply poor dental hygiene. As we mentioned earlier, bacteria in the mouth can feed on particles of food left after a meal therefore is important to floss and brush properly so that these food particles can be removed.
Flossing is important because it helps to remove the particles of food from between the teeth that brushing would normally miss and would other wise be used as a source of food for the bacteria allowing them to feed, breed and excrete their VSL waste products. Brushing helps to ensure any particles of food on the chewing surfaces are swept away and can not be used by the bacteria.
Having a dry mouth can contribute to the development of halitosis as the bacteria that cause it are suited to a dry mouth and will thrive in such an environment. The dryness of the mouth can be influenced by a number of factors with a common one being age. Saliva production and excretion decreases naturally with age therefore it is important that we do not exacerbate the problem if we suffer from and want to get rid of halitosis.
Thinks like alcohol and even tea or coffee in the morning can all contribute as they are diuretics which means they cause dehydration. It would therefore be wise to drink water in the morning and throughout the day instead of your regular tea and coffee to keep breath problems to a minimum. Alcoholic drinks like beer, wine and spirits should be avoided to minimize the chances of morning breath ruining your day. Similarly, many mouthwashes are alcohol based but you should avoid using these and instead opt for a non-alcoholic, antibacterial mouthwash.
Other Causes of Halitosis – Avoiding Dreading Onion Breath!
Not all bad breath is truly halitosis as some breath problems are caused not by bacteria that live in the mouth but from other sources. Some foods contain volatile oils that when eaten can be smelt on the breath for a few days later. Two examples are onions and garlic, two foods that contain volatile oils. When we digest these foods the volatile oils enter the blood stream and circulate to the lungs where they diffuse into the air and can then be smelt on the breath.
To avoid this type of breath problem it is simply best to avoid these foods or you could try removing the germ of the garlic.
More Miscellaneous Causes of Halitosis
Other factors that can cause halitosis are sinus problems, throat infections and even diabetes. If you feel that your bad breath may be related to a more serious cause like this it is imperative you make arrangements to speak to a healthcare professional (dentist or doctor) as soon as possible as they are well trained in spotting the causes of halitosis and will be able to advise you, and your unique situation on your best course of action.
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