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Bad Breath (Halitosis) |
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Some bad breath is associated with medical conditions such as tonsillitis, chronic sinusitis, chronic bronchitis, diabetes, and liver or kidney ailments. Some comes from foods that you have recently eaten, where the smell is expelled from the lungs when you exhale. But most bad breath comes from the mouth. Some comes from diseased teeth or gums but most comes from the back of the tongue.
Bad breath is worse in the morning on awakening. When you are asleep the flow of saliva decreases and the bacteria on the tongue multiple rapidly. These bacteria release gases which smell bad. Within an hour of wakening the flow of these gases will decrease. This is due to the increase in saliva washing away and killing some of the bacteria present on the tongue.
What can I do about it?
Early in the morning clean the back of the tongue with a tongue scrapper. Eat breakfast. It helps stimulate the flow of saliva. If doing a lot of talking prevent the mouth from drying by sipping water. Brush your teeth twice a day and floss once a day. Remnants of food trapped around the teeth can cause bad breath. A mouthwash that neutralises the gases could be used especially early in the morning. Such a mouthwash is ‘Closys11’ of ‘BDT’. They eliminate the volatile sulphur compounds and kills harmful bacteria. They do not contain flavours or scents that cover or hide bad breath. They do not contain alcohol.
Many people think they have halitosis when they don’t. It is common for the mouth to taste different or smell different if your change your diet, if you are sick or taking medications. This doesn’t mean anybody else has noticed. It is common for people to think they have bad breath when they don’t and for people with bad breath to be unaware of their problem. It’s almost a case of if you think you have it you don’t. But not quite.
http://www.abc.net.au/science/k2/moments/s962298.htm
http://www.abc.net.au/science/k2/moments/s958463.htm
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