Halitosis is the scientific term for bad breath. It is detected when the sufferer exhales. The bad odor may originate from the oral cavity (mouth) or some other part of the body. There are several medical reasons for halitosis.
The source of the halitosis is usually the mouth. It can come from oral dryness due to stress or fasting. Some foods also can contribute to bad breath. These include cheese, fish, garlic, meat and onions.
More obvious examples of causes of halitosis are smoking and alcohol consumption. If you go near someone who has been chain smoking or has been drinking lots of alcohol, you may draw yourself away at the foul stench.
Chronic halitosis occurs when the sufferer has had bad breath over a long period of time. It is a more serious condition than just the occasional case of bad breath caused by something that has been consumed. This chronic condition of halitosis is experienced by 25% of the population to one extent or another.
Halitosis can have a vast impact on a person's quality of life. It can affect self esteem and relationships with others. It can also cause the sufferer increased stress, and resulting in other health problems. Chronic halitosis is usually caused by metabolic activity of certain types of oral bacteria.
The habitat of the tongue is an ideal growing medium for bacteria. Halitosis results from the breakdown of the residue on the tongue, producing the bad smell from the sufferer's mouth.
There can be over 600 types of bacteria living in the mouth of an average person. Studies show that several of these can produce foul odors. However, it is not entirely clear what the connection is between these bacteria found in our mouth and bad breath. What is known is that halitosis has something to do with the proteins that get trapped in our mouth from the food that we eat and how the bacteria in our mouth then processes this protein.
The most common place for this odor causing bacteria to be found in the mouth is our tongue. This is why it is vital that you practise good dental hygiene and to brush your tongue.
The back part of our tongue is rarely touched and is relatively dry and usually not properly cleansed. Bacterial populations generally thrives on parts of food particles deposited there while we chew our food before swallowing. Dead epithelial cells and postnasal drip also can collect at the back of the tongue.
There can also be other sources of oral halitosis. These include gum disease, nasal, tonsils, or certain systemic diseases such as liver failure, bronchial and other lung infections, carcinoma, renal failure, diabetes mellitus and metabolic dysfunction.
Published by Evelyn Lim on November 20, 2007 09:49 PM
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