What is Halitosis?
Halitosis is the medical term for a persistent, unpleasant smell in your breath. The smell is usually caused by dry mouth, illness, dental issues, smoking, drinking, or a poor diet. Everyone gets bad breath at times, but if the bad breath continues and it has a specific smell, the cause could be a serious dental or medical problem. Visiting a dentist will help you identify the cause and, therefore, find a solution to your halitosis.
Persistent halitosis can impact other areas of your life. Bad breath can cause complications in your social and professional life. These complications can be detrimental to your confidence, self-esteem, and professionalism. Avoiding social interactions could lead to isolation and depression.
How can we avoid halitosis?
- Good Oral Hygiene: Brush your teeth twice a day. Floss when you brush to prevent plaque and bad breath. Clean your tongue with a scraper to remove bacteria.
- Stay Hydrated: Drinking 6-8 glasses of water a day keeps your mouth hydrated and your body functioning properly. Water is better than caffeine and alcohol to keep your mouth moist.
- Proper diet: Try limiting the foods that cause immediate bad breath, like onions, garlic, and spices like curry. Eat crunchy foods to help clean your teeth, like apples and carrots. Eat a proper, balanced diet to avoid issues with your gums, teeth, and gut.
- Chew Sugar-Free Gum: Chewing gum helps by removing pieces of food left in your mouth and bacteria.
- Quit Smoking and drinking alcohol in moderation: Smoking causes damage to your gums and causes bad breath. Quitting smoking will also be beneficial to your health in general. Certain alcoholic beverages can also cause bad breath.
What does persistent halitosis smell like?
- Fruity or sweet smell: Could be a sign of diabetes, kidney failure, or liver failure.
- Metallic smell: Some medications can cause a metallic odor. Other issues could be gum disease, diets high in protein, respiratory infections, or bleeding gums.
- Decaying food smell: The smell can be due to a sinus infection, gut infection, acid reflux, or food particles in your mouth.
- Fecal smell: A severe oral infection, abscess, bowel blockage, liver failure, or an advanced sinus infection can cause this foul smell in your mouth.
- Rotten egg smell: Rotten egg odor could occur due to bacteria in your gut and mouth, cavities, gum disease, a diet high in garlic and onions, and bad oral hygiene.
- Moldy smell: A moldy or fungal smell can be caused by nose drips or sinus infections.
- Ammonia smell: This smell can be related to liver disease or kidney failure.
Reach out for support
Ignoring halitosis could cause long-term health issues. Persistent halitosis is not fixed by just brushing your teeth or chewing gum. The first step is to identify the reasons for your halitosis. Consult a dentist to get a professional opinion. Your dentist might suggest a visit to your doctor. Follow through with this suggestion. Remember that halitosis can be caused by medical problems, and it also causes social and professional issues. If you have any questions or concerns, we are here to help. Contact our office for an appointment.