TODAY, it is estimated that over 250 thousand Guyanese suffer from chronic bad breath (halitosis). Many of these people are unaware of their offending breath until somebody dares to tell them. But once they are aware that they have the problem, they will usually do anything to avoid the embarrassment that it causes. The best place to start is by visiting a dental professional for an examination.
It is accepted that disorders of the oral cavity cause up to 85–90% of all cases of halitosis. Some of the more common causes include a dry mouth due to a lack of saliva flow, especially during sleep, an unclean tongue, decayed teeth, calculus on teeth, dirty dentures, and smoking. Most of these factors share a commonality in increasing bacteria in the oral cavity. These bacteria produce compounds such as hydrogen sulphide, methyl mercaptan, and dimethyl sulphide. Collectively, they are known as volatile sulphur-containing compounds or VSCs. These compounds are responsible for bad breath.
Many people believe that mouthwash is the solution to bad breath. However, a recent concept in dentistry classifies mouth rinse as an oral deodorant. It may be just as effective as using perfume as a substitute for bathing. However, the additives certainly enhance its effectiveness beyond being just cosmetics. For bad breath, at least, people have considerable confidence in the use of mouthwash, but can that be justified? Perhaps just as a temporary measure, but certainly not as a cure.
Incidentally, if you must use mouth rinse as an emergency measure, try swishing with warm salt water. You can create this by mixing a quarter to a half teaspoon of salt to 8 ounces of water.
All one must do is look at the amount of money spent on various mouthwashes, flavouring agents, mints and other substances to see that halitosis is a serious social problem.
Studies show that disorders of the oral cavity are responsible for most instances of bad breath. However, it is clear when you examine the numbers that companies producing mints and sprays are the ones providing bad breath treatment, not the dentist.
Bad breath is a condition with many different causes, and although it is most often associated with oral problems, it can also be a symptom of a serious underlying disease. One of the best examples of this is diabetes.
Since oral factors are the primary cause of bad breath, eliminating these factors should be the first step in the treatment approach. The following steps are recommended:
1. Improve oral hygiene techniques.
2. Control gum disease (periodontal disease).
3. Perform all necessary dental care.
4. Increase salivary flow.
5. Patients who wear dentures or partials need special home care instructions. Clean them thoroughly every day and soak them in mild vinegar when not in use.
6. Patients wearing removable appliances also require special oral hygiene instructions.
7. For individuals who consume spicy foods like garlic and onions, excellent oral hygiene may not be sufficient to eliminate bad breath.
Finally, bad breath can be a symptom of a medical condition which has nothing to do with your oral hygiene. These conditions include respiratory infections, infections of the nose or lungs, chronic bronchitis, post-nasal drip, chronic sinusitis, and digestive, liver, and kidney disorders.