HALITOSIS

Definition: Halitosis, also known as bad breath, is a condition which occurs when noticeably unpleasant odours are exhaled in breathing. The bad smell is usually caused by chemical molecules containing sulphur which are produced when bacteria that live in the mouth breakdown protein in the diet. According to Wikipedia, the intensity of the bad breath differs during the day and is usually worse upon awakening (i.e. “morning breath”) because the mouth is exposed to less oxygen and is inactive during the night.

Bad breath, as we know, is something quite detestable among many people and could cause certain social repercussions. It is quite annoying, limits communication and favourable association/relationship amongst individuals, friends, associates, relatives, and even between spouses and strangers; a majority of the population are usually affected by this condition at one time or the other.

The information contained here seeks to render the issue as a social condition with medical reference and would not in any way act as a substitute for the medical advice of your own health care professional. (I am not a health care professional –I be Engineering student o- but feel this researched information would be needful. Oko Emmanuel, in our last edition says, “Man originated from the grave”; thanks to others who made their comments as well.) A lot of us dislike being accused of having bad breath, no matter how sincere the person might be, and yet many of us prove incapable of pinpointing to those who have it to their faces that they do. Why then is this so? According to Sam, a student, “If it’s my friend, I’ll tell them right away; if a stranger, hmm... I’ll just maintain!” Another, a career-person has this to say: “In fact, it’s not user-friendly!” Having looked at this as a social condition affecting a lot of us, it would be appropriate that we seek ways to ameliorate the condition of our mouths.

Causes: A lot of factors are considered causes of halitosis. Some of these are listed below:

1)                  Systemic diseases –such as kidney failure, lung infections, diabetes mellitus, carcinoma, renal infections, etc., can be at the root of (chronic) halitosis. However, these are extremely infrequent in the general population, and individuals afflicted by such often show additional symptoms than bad breath.

2)                  Tooth decay and gum disease –waste products from the anaerobic bacteria growing below the gum line have a foul smell and have been clinically shown to produce a very intense bad breath.

3)                  Smoking –this is one of the most common causes of bad breath, especially because it can lead to gum disease.

4)                  Mouth –there are over 600 types of bacteria found in the average mouth, many of which produce high levels of foul odours mainly due to the breakdown of proteins into individual amino acids. Dry mouth can be caused by general illness, medicines and simply not drinking enough fluid.

5)                  Tongue –this accounts for 80-90% of all cases of mouth-related bad breath. Large quantities of naturally-occurring bacteria are often found on the posterior dorsum of the tongue, where they are relatively undisturbed by normal activity. This part of the tongue is relatively dry and poorly cleansed, and provides an ideal habitat for anaerobic bacteria.

6)                  Nose –in this case, the air exiting the nostrils has a pungent odour that differs from the oral odour. This may be due to sinus infection or foreign bodies in the nostrils.

7)                  Food –garlic, strong spices and herbs, usually are the favourite culprits; including some other foods.

8)                  Esophagus –this is usually due to ageing food retained in the esophagus. Improper closure of the esophagus allows air to enter it from the stomach and gases escape to the mouth.

9)                  Stomach –this, according to most researchers, is a very uncommon source of bad breath, except in belching.

Diagnosis: How do I know that I have bad breath?

 1)  Self diagnosis –smelling one’s breath, or asking a close family member/friend (confidant) to help. One popular home method is to lick the back of the wrist, let the saliva dry for about 1 minute and smell the result. Another, scrape the posterior back of the tongue with a plastic disposable spoon and smell the resulting residue.

 2) Professional diagnosis –laboratory tests used in dental offices such as Halimeter, Gas chromatography, BANA test, β-galactotestsidase, etc., can be used to carry out professional diagnoses of halitosis.    

Management and treatment: As a rule, effective treatment is not always easy to find for chronic halitosis. However, something can still be done as measures to manage it:

1) Maintaining proper oral hygiene –this is in fact the best approach to this condition. Activities including daily brushing, and gentle cleaning (not scrubbing) of the tongue surface (twice daily), flossing, and periodic visits to dentists and hygienists, should be maintained.

2) Gargling with an effective mouthwash –especially right before bedtime. Mouthwashes may contain active ingredients that are inactivated by the soap present in most toothpaste. Thus it is recommended to refrain from using mouthwash directly after tooth brushing with paste. Mouthwashes often contain antibacterial agents including cetylpyridinium chloride, chlorhexidine (which can cause temporary staining of the teeth), zinc gluconate, essential oils, and chlorine dioxide. A new approach for home treatment of bad breath is the use of oil-containing mouthwashes and two-phase/component (oil: water) mouthwashes. Essential oils have been found effective in reducing halitosis, and are being used in several commercial mouthwashes.

3) Eating a healthy breakfast –especially with rough foods which help clean the very back of the tongue.

4) Chewing gum –chewing sugarless gum can help with the production of saliva and thereby help reduce bad breath; since dry mouth can increase the buildup of bacteria leading to bad breath. This helps in cleansing the mouth and washing away oral bacteria. Chewing may also help after eating certain meals, especially those rich in proteins.

5) Of course, smoking should, if possible, be quit, since it is one of the most causes of bad breath.

Delusional halitosis (Halitophobia): This is a condition in which one worries or fears about bad breath –fear/worry of having bad breath. This tends to affect young men and could be linked to depression, diffidence, etc.

Finally, bad breath is something we all worry about. It would be nicer if there were pleasant odours everywhere out there, for a healthy society is also a wealthy society.

Expect another exceptional write-up same day, next week on the topic: My father, my Father!                                                         Watch out! <www.skola93.blogspot.com>

Skola: +2348138404469, skola.chidi@gmail.com.