Bad Breath: Halitosis
Posted on May 13, 2010
Filed Under Uncategorized |
Reviewed by Dr. José Ramón Hernandez Galana, a resident in Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery
Why is that bad breath?
Bad breath (halitosis) affects, according to various sources, from 25% to 50% of adults chronically. The root cause bad breath is in the mouth in approximately 90% of cases. Often due to the decomposition of proteins that are found in the oral cavity by bacteria living in the mouth.
Two women
Bad breath is because most of the times to a dental problem. Go to your dentist and do not try to disguise the smell, because it may hinder the diagnosis.
© Net Doctor / Geri
Among the causes that can cause bad breath are:
Origin in the oral cavity (most often)
* Dental caries, by accumulation of organic debris by bacteria in plaque bacterial rot, odor forming substances.
* Gingival infections (of the gums), for a reason similar to the previous one.
* Accumulation of food between the teeth, we can avoid using it after meals to floss or brush removal.
* Remains of food on the surface of the tongue. We recommend brushing the top of the tongue after tooth brushing, to avoid the food that can be surface decompose and produce halitosis.
* Pharyngitis and tonsillitis. When the throat or inflamed tonsils for infection, there is a growth of microorganisms and an increased production of secretions that may have bad smell (especially if they are not expelled, and accumulate).
* Tumors. Sometimes, when the tumors grow (especially if they are fast) is undergoing a process of necrosis or decay of one of them. This decomposition causes odor and facilitates super infection that area.
Origin in the airways
* Rhinitis nasal catarrh infections affecting the nasal cavity with increased secretions (mucus).
* Sinusitis: An infecciónque occurs in natural cavities in the bones of the face surrounding the nasal cavity (maxillary sinus, frontal, etc.)…
* Dry: it can promote the growth of microorganisms that produce odor.
* Foreign bodies: It is important to consider this cause especially in children and mentally handicapped, because they can make any small object in the nose, and may go unnoticed for their parents or caregivers, and cause a local infection with production of secretions smelly.
* Pneumonia and bronchitis: in cases (pneumonia or bronchitis and pneumonia), accumulation of purulent material (pus) or production of malodorous secretions.
* Bronchiectasis: abnormal dilation of the bronchi, by accumulation of secretions that sobreinfectan microorganisms.
Origin in the digestive tract
* Gastric Reflux: there is an upward departure (esophagus) of the contents of the stomach during the digestion process.
* Esophageal-pharyngeal diverticulum’s: Are abnormal cavities that form in the walls of the throat and esophagus, and cause halitosis due to the accumulation of food in it, it decomposes.
Psychogenic origin
this is not a cause of bad breath, but the feeling of having it. It occurs in people who believe to have bad breath, but in reality it is not. In this case the patient would require treatment by a psychologist or psychiatrist.
Other origins
occasionally, bad breath odor are due to diseases such as diabetic patient decomposition or chronic renal failure, so we must not overlook the need to consult with a specialist source of halitosis.
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