Halitosis, or commonly called bad breath, is the third most common reason for seeking dental care.

Most adults suffer from occasional bad breath with an estimated 10– 30% of the United States population experiencing halitosis on a regular basis.

The condition can cause emotional distress, embarrassment, and social isolation.

What are the causes of halitosis?

Temporary halitosis maybe due to consumption of certain foods such as raw onions and garlic. Smoking is another cause that can result in severe bad breath.

Halitosis can be also subdivided into intra-oral and extra-oral halitosis, depending on the place where it originates.

Saliva and periodontal (gum) pockets can act as reservoirs for the anaerobic bacteria that produces the foul smelling and volatile sulfur compounds.

Most researchers now agree that the most frequent sources of halitosis exist within the oral cavity and the most common location in the oral cavity is tongue.

These bacteria populate the posterior portion of the tongue and flourish under a continually-forming tongue coating of food debris, dead cells, postnasal drip and overlying bacteria, both living and dead.

Xerostomia or dry mouth is one of the causes of halitosis because the lack of saliva prevents bacteria and food particles in the mouth from being broken down and swallowed. Xerostomia can be caused by medication, problems in the salivary gland, or excessive breathing through the mouth. Also, low salivary flow creates very thick saliva that often pools in the floor and corners of the mouth. This saliva prevents the bacteria from being washed out properly.

Poor oral hygiene is another major cause of malodor.

Untreated cavities in the teeth collect the remnants of foods which are left once again to break down into those foul smelling, volatile sulfur compounds causing bad breath.

Extra-oral halitosis can be subdivided into non-blood-borne halitosis and blood-borne halitosis.

Non-blood-borne halitosis can originate from the upper respiratory tract including the nose and from the lower respiratory tract.

Sinusitis or an infection of the sinuses often results in a postnasal drip which drains into the back of the throat. Along with a postnasal drip, people suffering from sinusitis also experience increased mucous production, another cause of halitosis.

The majority of patients with extra-oral halitosis have blood-borne halitosis.

Extra-oral halitosis, covering about 5-10% of all cases of halitosis, might be a manifestation of a serious disease, such as diseases of the liver, stomach, and intestines. The volatile substances can be absorbed from those organs into the bloodstream and later transferred into the lungs. Pulmonary (lungs) excretion of these volatile substances into the air causes halitosis.

Prevention

Most causes of halitosis can be prevented with good dental hygiene.

By brushing teeth regularly and flossing, halitosis causes can be, for the most part, avoided.

If you are experiencing halitosis and there are no discernible causes, then you should consult with Dr. Lyssova in order to ensure that the cause of the halitosis is not a serious condition.