Bad Breath: Halitosis

Introduction

Bad breath is quite a common experience that most people have experienced. It can even be a daily problem for some people. Also known as halitosis, bad breath can be embarrassing and might lead to anxiety. There are numerous people who are not even aware of their own bad breath, and experience distress on learning it from friends, relatives, or co-workers. Severe bad breath can have negative impacts on quality of life as well as personal relationships.

Food habits to health conditions can be responsible for producing bad breath. Practicing good oral hygiene is the key to managing bad breath. However, it is better to see a dental professional before the condition gets more serious.

What is bad breath?

Bad breath, or halitosis, occurs from time to time, particularly after having foods with strong smells like onions or garlic. But if you are suffering from chronic bad breath, it may indicate oral health issue or some serious problem in some other part of your body. Halitosis can be a warning sign that can point to another serious complication.

What kind of smell comes from bad breath?

Here are some most common smells occurring from bad breath:

Sweet or fruity smell

Uncontrolled diabetes can result in a serious health condition, diabetic ketoacidosis. Along with other symptoms, this condition makes your breath smell like a fruit or sweet. Moreover, fasting and diets with low carbohydrates can produce a different smell or taste from your breath, which most people describe as metallic or sweet.

Rotten smell

Infection or abscess in your throat, lungs, or mouth can produce a smell like rotting tissue. For example, a condition of widening or thickening of your bronchial tubes – bronchiectasis – which cause recurrent respiratory infections and excess mucus produces a strong odour.

Food particles can also get stuck in the gaps if your crowns, dentures, or other orthodontic appliances do not fit properly on your teeth. Odours coming from bacterial growth or old food debris might smell like decay. Untreated periodontal disease or gum disease can be another potential reason.

Decayed or rotten smelling breath might also occur from granulomatosis. It is a rare type of inflammatory disorder causing problems with your kidneys, nose, or blood vessels.

Odour like nail polish remover

Carbohydrates offer the fuel for your body. When you are taking a low carb diet, your body burns down your stored fats instead of carbohydrates. This process produces a chemical called acetone. This same chemical is also present in nail polish removers, and this is why your breath smells like nail polish remover.

Sour smells

In a condition called gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), your muscle between the stomach and oesophagus does not close properly. This is why the contents within your stomach return into your oesophagus, then throat, and finally to the mouth. If you are suffering from GERD, your breath may smell sour due to the partially digested food.

Breath which smells like faeces

If the flow of your body waste through the intestine faces obstruction in any case, your breath might start smelling like faeces. Besides your bad breath, the blockage also causes vomiting, bloating, nausea, cramping, or constipation.

Smell like urine or ammonia

A bad breath that produces smell like urine or ammonia is called azotaemia. If your kidneys do not expel enough nitrogen, it encourages build up of chemicals within your body and producing the ammonia odour.

A musty smell

Liver disease like cirrhosis often produces a breath with a musty smell. Moreover, volatile organic compounds (VOCs) often produce a distinctive smell.

A maple syrup odour

When your body fails to metabolise three types of amino acids – valine, leucine, and isoleucine – it leads to maple syrup urine disease. In this condition, the breath or urine of the individual smell like maple syrup or caramelised sugar.

Smell like sweaty feet

If your body does not produce the right kinds of enzymes in adequate quantities for breakdown of amino acids, your breath might produce distinctive odours, based on the specific type of enzyme malfunctioning. A genetic condition called isovaleric academia which affects infants, leads to a leucine build-up in the blood. This results in an odour which feels like sweaty feet.

Smells fishy

Another enzyme disorder called trimethylaminuria disrupts your body’s ability to break down trimethylamine, an organic compound. It causes your breath, sweat, as well as other bodily fluids to release a fishy smell.

A smell like boiled cabbages

A genetic disorder called hypermethioninemia occurs when your body fails to metabolise the amino acid, methionine. It makes your breath and urine emit the smell of boiled cabbage.

Different Types of Bad Breath

Normal or physiological

Halitosis might occur under certain physiological circumstances, including:

Smoking habits
Morning breath
Excessive consumption of alcohol
After having foods with strong smells like onions, garlic, cabbage, spices, sprouts, etc.
Being on a low carb diet, crash diet, or while fasting

Pathological

A pathological bad breath usually occurs from some serious health problem. It is mostly an oral problem, or might also originate from other sources or might result from a specific medical condition or illness.

Psychological

The person does not usually have halitosis in this case. While no one else can smell bad breath, the person themself gets very conscious and anxious about it. It can progress to a severe condition known as halitophobia, fear of bad breath. This might lead to odd behaviour due to the meaningless efforts of reducing their imaginary halitosis which do not exist. This impacts their social interactions and overall quality of life.

These individuals might cover their mouth while speaking to someone, maintain distance from people, and avoid social occasions as well. Individuals having halitophobia get obsessed with constant teeth and tongue cleaning, and also frequently use mints, chewing gums, sprays, and mouthwashes with the purpose of managing their imaginary bad breath and reduce distress.

What health conditions can cause bad breath?

There are some health conditions responsible for your bad breath:

Gum disease: This occurs from plaque build-up, which is a thin bacterial layer forming on your teeth. Remember that irregular brushing can make your plaque progress to gingivitis – the primary stage of gum disease, and make it worse.
Xerostomia (Dry Mouth): Saliva is vital to keep your mouth clean and healthy by washing away the food particles stuck in between your teeth and gums. If you have a problem of dry mouth, sufficient saliva won’t be available to remove the debris from your mouth and prevent the growth of bacteria producing bad breath. You may also get dry mouth due to having medicines like hypertension drugs (diuretics and beta blockers), antihistamines, antidepressants, or decongestants.
Infections: Throat and sinus infections can cause postnasal drip which can lead to bad breath. A lung infection, pneumonia, causes you to cough up some unpleasant fluid which produces foul smell. Bacterial infections can also produce dental abscesses or some pus-filled pockets which cause your breath to smell.
Diabetes: This condition makes you more vulnerable to gum disease – a major cause of bad breath. Moreover, another medical emergency called diabetic ketoacidosis often cause acidic build-ups (ketones) which block your body from receiving adequate insulin; and producing a sweet and fruity odour.
Head or neck cancers: Cancers in the throat, larynx, or oral cancers can also be responsible for your bad breath.
Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD): This condition makes acid and fluid from your stomach to return back into the oesophagus, producing a bad breath and a sour taste in your mouth.
Sjögren’s syndrome: It is an autoimmune disorder leading to dry eyes, muscle pain, dry mouth, or dry skin – all associated with halitosis.
Kidney and liver problems: These organs play a vital role by helping your body get rid of toxins. When your liver and kidneys are not functioning with their complete potential, toxins might accumulate within your body and produce bad breath. For instance, chronic kidney disease can cause your breath to smell like urine, ammonia, or a rotten fish.
Tonsil stones: When food accumulates in your tonsils, it solidifies into calcium deposits which are also called tonsiloliths; with bad breath being the primary symptom. Bad breath may also be caused by illnesses or diseases like postnasal drip, seasonal allergies, or gastrointestinal issues.

Symptoms

The odours of bad breath in different individuals vary according to the cause. While some people are over-conscious regarding their breath even though they have no or little mouth odour, some other individuals have noticeable bad breath but are unable to realise it.

Risk Factors

You are more susceptible to the risks of bad breath if your food habits include those strong smelling items like onions, garlic, or spices which are more likely to produce a bad mouth odour. Moreover, inadequate maintenance of oral hygiene, smoking habits, conditions like cancer, diabetes, or GERD, or intaking certain drugs which cause dry mouth – can all result in bad breath.

How is halitosis diagnosed?

If you are worried about halitosis, a dentist simply smells your mouth odour to diagnose your breath and rate the odour. In some cases, the dentist might also scrape the back of your tongue and smell it. This is because this region is often the source of your bad breath.

Halitosis Treatment

Depending on the cause of your bad breath, treatment varies:

Poor oral hygiene

If your poor oral healthcare is the reason of your bad breath, the dentist will focus on treating that specific cause.

Gum disease

If the original cause of your bad breath is your underlying gum disease, the dentist will treat that problem or might refer you to a specialist or periodontist. The periodontist can help you mouth get rid of the tartar, plaque, or bacterial build-up. This helps reduce the inflammation in your gum line.

Plaque build-up

In case there is a plaque build-up within your mouth, the dentist or periodontist might recommend you using an antibacterial mouthwash. Gently brushing your teeth and tongue can also help removing the bacteria causing a bad mouth odour.

Health condition

Effective treatment of an existing health condition causing your bad mouth odour can help alleviate your bad breath problem.

Preventing Bad Breath

Here are some do’s and don’ts you can follow to treat your bad breath by yourself:

Do’s

Brush your teeth and gums gently at least up to 2 minutes, twice a day or after every meal if possible
Use a fluoride toothpaste
Clean your tongue gently once a day with a tongue cleaner or scraper
Use interdental brush or floss once a day to clean in between your teeth
Go for regular dental checkups
Keep your dentures or other dental appliances clean and make sure to remove them while sleeping at night
Use chewing gums or sugar-free mints after you have some food or drink with strong smell
Use an antibacterial mouthwash to rinse your mouth properly

Don’ts

Avoid tobacco products
Cut down on having sugary foods and drinks
Avoid aggressive brushing as it might cause your tongue or gums to bleed

What to expect from bad breath treatment at our clinic?

At our Cosmetic Dentistry Clinic Our dentists usually prefer morning appointments to check for your bad breath, as appointments during this time of the day can reduce the chances of foods you eat throughout the day affecting your breath or mouth odour. You must also avoid scented lotions or lipsticks or wearing perfumes before the exam as they might mask the original smell of your breath. Also inform our dentists if you are having any kind of medicines as they might affect your breath. It is a simple physical examination including a thorough inspection of your nose and mouth. A throat culture might also be performed if you have a sore throat or mouth.

Why choose Cosmetic Dentistry Clinic?

Here’s why our Cosmetic Dentistry Clinic is the perfect partner in fixing your bad breath problem:

Personalised Care: Our dentists are truly committed to understanding your needs, addressing your concerns, and providing focused, compassionate care.
Proven Success: We take pride in the countless success stories of transforming the smiles of thousands of satisfied clients across the UK.
Tailored Treatment Plans: Our team designs customised, straightforward treatment plans to meet your unique dental needs and create the smile you have always wanted.
Comfortable Procedures: We guarantee pain-free dental implant surgeries, using appropriate sedation or local anaesthesia for a comfortable experience.
State-of-the-Art Facilities: Our clinic is equipped with modern infrastructure, the latest techniques, and the highest quality materials to ensure the best possible outcomes.
Flexible Financing: We offer various financing options with 0% interest to make treatments more accessible and affordable for you.
Exceptional Patient Care: Our friendly team is dedicated to providing excellent patient care and ensuring a smooth, pleasant experience from start to finish.
Transparent Pricing: Rest assured, we have no hidden fees or additional costs.
Convenient Booking: Our easy-to-use online booking system makes it simple to schedule your appointments at your convenience.
Same-Day Appointments: We offer same-day appointments and flexible scheduling to accommodate your needs.

What products are suitable for managing bad breath?

Several products are available to manage your bad breath, for example:

Best mouthwash: Go for an alcohol-free antiseptic mouthwash containing antibacterial agents like chlorine dioxide and chlorhexidine. This helps get rid of the bacteria producing bad breath.
Best toothpaste: Use a fluoride toothpaste as it can prevent bacterial growth.

When should you see a doctor?

If you are experiencing bad breath which does not go away even after you practise good oral hygiene, it’s time you should see a dentist. The rate of plaque build-up is faster in some individuals than others, requiring more frequent cleanings. You might also consult a periodontist to check if you have gum disease which might cause halitosis.

If the dentist or periodontist fail to find the root cause of your bad breath, seeing a general physician might help to find out if some other underlying health condition is causing your bad breath.

Final Thoughts

Halitosis is a common problem which might lead to reduced self-esteem or embarrassing situations at times. But there’s nothing to be ashamed of.

While poor oral hygiene stands out to be the main culprit in most bad breath cases, other underlying health conditions might also be the reason. But there’s nothing to worry as halitosis can be treated with the right intervention.

Contact Cosmetic Dentistry Clinic at [email protected] or call us on 020 71830755 to get in touch with our expert dentists and find out what is effective to manage your bad breath.

FAQs

How can I get rid of bad breath permanently?

While having mints and chewing gums can offer temporary solution, treating the underlying reason causing your bad breath is the only way to cure your halitosis once and for all. Your dentist determines the root cause of your halitosis and tailors the treatment plan accordingly.

Why do I get bad breath every day?

Lack of regular brushing or flossing is the primary reason why you keep getting bad breath every day. Certain health conditions might also be responsible for your bad breath.

Does chronic bad breath have a cure?

When you find out the actual cause producing your bad breath, chronic halitosis can definitely be cured by treating the underlying reason.

Is bad breath permanent?

Bad breath is not usually permanent. You can use a mouthwash to avoid it, or may also see a dentist if the problem does not go away with self care and oral hygiene.

How to avoid bad breath if I wear dentures?

Cleaning dentures is equally important just like cleaning your natural teeth. This is because food debris might be stuck around the edges of your dentures, and not cleaning them can cause the debris to rot and result in bad breath.