HALITOSIS, commonly known as bad breath, can contribute to a decreased self esteem or significant psychological distress.

It is one of the common reasons as well, as to why people consult with oral health practitioners.

[A THREAD]:

Halitosis is an unpleasant odor in exhaled breath, which can either be chronic or temporary and is something that not even good brushing or the use of mouthrinses can fix.

While it is commonly attributed to poor oral hygiene, there are other underlying factors that might contribute to it like dry mouth, the use of tobacco, mouth, nose and throat infections and presence of tonsil stones.

1. POOR ORAL HYGIENE: With my experience as an oral health practitioner, I’ve learnt that there are people who don’t brush the tongue when brushing teeth. This is one of the major contributing factors to halitosis because plaque and bacteria attach to the surface..

..of the tongue, and with their build up and presence of saliva, halitosis results.
Also, ever wondered why your gums and teeth seem clean with no inflammation yet you struggle with bad breath? It might be due to hidden bacteria and plaque on the deep pockets..

..of your gums and deep in between your teeth, that cannot be seen with the naked eye and are difficult to remove and clear out when you’re brushing. This now takes us back to the importance of using a floss (which I will mention later).

2. DRY MOUTH: Saliva plays an important role in a sense that it rinses food particles when eating and aids in preventing cavities and infections. Therefore in its absence, bacteria cannot be flushed off, & therefore halitosis.

3. MOUTH, NOSE & THROAT INFECTIONS: Nose, sinus, and throat tissues that can lead to post nasal drip may contribute to bad breath. Bacteria feeds on mucosa you’re body produces when it’s battling something infection, leaving you stiffly and stinky.