Halitosis, commonly known as bad breath, is an abnormal condition of the breath in which it changes in an unpleasant way for both the patient and the people with whom they relate. Halitosis is not necessarily a disease but an indicative sign of pathophysiological imbalance.
The most significant aggravating factor of this problem is the decrease in its perception. The olfactory cells quickly adapt to repeated odors, which does not happen with those surrounding patients with this pathology.
Cause of Halitosis
- There are numerous causes of halitosis. However, the most frequent are gingivitis (responsible for lousy morning breath), periodontal disease (known as Pyorrhea), dental caries, and reduced saliva.
- Other factors can cause halitosis, such as upper respiratory problems, such as sinusitis, and lung diseases.
- It has been thought for many years that the stomach generates halitosis, but after many studies, it became clear that halitosis problems caused by gastric problems are rare. However, this hypothesis cannot be ruled out.
How to Cure Halitosis?
- The use of products available on the market can alleviate halitosis, but it does not resolve it effectively and without relapses. Hence, medical monitoring of patients with halitosis by specialists who have the technological means is essential.
- Halitosis treatment prevents problems in the oral cavity such as cavities, periodontal disease, xerostomia) and systemic diseases (pneumonia, gastritis, myocardial infarction, stroke, premature births).
- Mouth odors even become extremely important in the suspicion and diagnosis of some systemic diseases, for which the odor is characteristic. In these situations, the diagnosis and treatment of the causal systemic disease proceed with the elimination of halitosis.
The breath consultation consists of three phases:
- in the first phase, the physician investigates the etiological diagnosis;
- in the second phase, it institutes specific therapy;
- in the third phase, it plans the measures aimed at maintaining the results obtained.
There are three types of treatment for breath, masking, prophylactic (preventive), and curative:
Masking treatment
- This treatment has already used oral deodorants, chewing gum with a strong odor (e.g., mint or cinnamon), oral sprays, mouthwashes, and antiseptics. In other words, this type of treatment will only alleviate the awful smell by another smell that comes to superimpose, more intense, and more pleasant, masking the original odor for a few hours.
Prophylactic treatment (preventive)
- Measures that a person can take to prevent the appearance of bad breath, such as oral hygiene measures (ex: brushing the tongue), dietary measures (ex: avoiding the ingestion of foods with a strong odor), and medication (ex: use of regular mouthwashes with hydrogen peroxide).
Curative Treatment
- In this case, it is essential, first, a precise diagnosis of the origin or cause of bad breath to eliminate the local causes and then reach the suspicion and solution of possible systemic causes. It is because halitosis may be due to several different concurrent reasons.
- The remission of halitosis will occur through the cure of the condition that determines volatile gases that cause a terrible smell. Since halitosis is an effect, it will only disappear after the respective cause has been eliminated.
For further information, Kindly visit your nearest dentist.