Bad breath. What symptoms indicate that a person has stomach problems? General symptoms of helminthic infestation - causes of unpleasant odor

Halitosis (bad breath) refers to symptoms that can, in a matter of seconds, nullify the results of the efforts made by a person to achieve goals in business or personal life. An unpleasant smell, constant or periodic, is repulsive and forces people to keep a respectful distance from its owner. Neither frequent brushing of teeth with toothpaste nor daily use of special rinses can help. The intensity of halitosis is a serious reason to contact a specialist to find out the true causes of bad breath in an adult and find out how to cure it.

Bad breath affects many people

Types of halitosis

Halitosis occurs due to the activity of anaerobic microorganisms involved in the processing of food debris in the oral cavity. The main reason for the increase in bacterial activity is the lack of proper care and ignoring mandatory hygiene procedures. However, a frivolous attitude to hygiene procedures and dental diseases become the cause of Halitosis in 85% of cases. The remaining share falls on diseases of the ENT organs, diseases of the digestive system and other disorders, including psychological ones. Taking into account such a variety of factors, specialists begin to treat putrid breath in adults only after determining the type of halitosis. There are three main types:

true;
pseudohalitosis, which often develops in women;
halitophobia.

True Halitosis includes subtypes:

pathological;
physiological.

Of the presented types, only physiological does not require special treatment. People suffering from unpleasant odor can easily cope with the problem by dedicating just a few minutes a day to hygiene procedures. As for halitophobia and pseudohalitosis, their treatment is carried out by psychotherapists who help eliminate obsessive states in patients.

Common Causes of Bad Breath

Bad breath is a characteristic symptom that accompanies colds, diabetes and gastritis. However, practically healthy people also cannot be sure that they will be able to avoid the appearance of an unpleasant odor and accompanying discomfort. For what reasons does your breath lose its freshness even after brushing your teeth? There are several reasons:

Poor quality products are used to carry out hygiene procedures. For example, toothbrushes lack the necessary maneuverability. In addition, such brushes are characterized by increased rigidity and inability to remove dirt in hard-to-reach places.
The number of hygiene procedures does not correspond to the required level. For example, with a minimum of two brushings per day, the teeth and oral cavity are cleaned only once (morning or evening). As a result, the bacteria that cause halitosis receive enough material for life.
Addiction to tobacco. The source of the odor is both tobacco smoke and chronic dental diseases that develop as a result of prolonged smoking.
Lack of proper diet. Addiction to sweets, fast food, and carbonated drinks also leads to bad breath.
Daily consumption of garlic, raw onions, hot seasonings, fatty fried meat and fish.
Taking medications, in particular antibiotics and vitamin supplements in large quantities.
Wrong diet.
Impaired saliva production in the morning, as well as in the elderly.

Many reasons can trigger the appearance of halitosis.

The nature of odor for various causes of halitosis in adults and children

Mouth odor	Cause	Related Issues
Fetid	Caries, poor hygiene	Damage to teeth and gums
Putrefactive	Inflammation of the nasopharynx	Rhinitis, tonsillitis, sinusitis
Unpleasant	Dry mouth	Mouth dehydration (xerostomia)
Ammonia sour	Diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, kidneys	Kidney failure
Acetone in adults	Diabetes mellitus of the first group	Unpleasant urine and body odor
Unpleasant temporary	Diet, fasting, eating habits	Physiological phenomenon, quickly disappears
Fetid sour putrid	Alcohol and tobacco use	Drying of the oral cavity, disruption of normal microflora
Putrid in adults and children	Periodontitis, periodontal disease, gingivitis, stomatitis	Damage to soft tissues and mucous membranes of the mouth
Acidic putrid	Worms	Damage to the stomach, intestines, lungs
Metal	Anemia, anemia	Bladder diseases
Rotten egg smell	Food
Acetone in children	Impaired metabolism	Imbalance of oral microflora
Ammonia in children	Problems with the liver, metabolism	Excess proteins
Drug	Taking medications	Physiological halitosis, goes away on its own
Sour aroma in children	Gastritis, stomach ulcer	Pathological diseases
Feces in children	Diseases of the nasopharynx	Dental diseases
Urinary in children	Persistent infection	Kidney diseases
Sweetish in children	Diabetes	Increased acetone
Purulent in children	Tonsillitis	Sore throat
Rotten	Gastritis	Helminth infection
Bitter	Liver damage	Hepatitis

Other factors

In addition to these reasons, bad breath appears as a symptom of certain diseases affecting the gastrointestinal tract, kidneys, endocrine, respiratory, and cardiovascular systems.

Gastrointestinal and kidney diseases

The leaders among pathologies accompanied by loss of fresh breath are diseases of the gastrointestinal tract and kidneys. Gastroenterologists believe that it is gastritis, chronic renal failure, liver disease and intestinal obstruction that announce their presence in the body by the lack of fresh breath.

However, when you go to see a doctor, you can hear a completely opposite point of view. The main argument in its favor is the presence of the esophageal sphincter. Thanks to the closed sphincter, food is not thrown back into the esophagus. The sphincter also makes it impossible for unpleasant odors to pass from the stomach into the oral cavity. At the same time, in a number of chronic pathologies of the gastrointestinal tract, the sphincter does not cope with the task assigned to it. A similar situation occurs if the sphincter muscles weaken and are unable to function as before. The cause of weakened sphincter muscles is often gastritis, an inflammation of the gastric mucosa that develops as a result of disruption of the digestion processes. Rotting of undigested food remains is accompanied by:

the appearance of a yellowish, yellow coating on the tongue;
heartburn;
increasing bad breath.

Gastrointestinal diseases often lead to bad breath

Often, if a person has a stomach ache, the development of halitosis is facilitated by diseases of other organs caused by gastritis:

Tonsillitis. Develops against the background of a weakened immune microflora imbalance.
Liver pathologies. These are indicated by halitosis along with a feeling of bitterness in the mouth.
Reflux esophagitis or weakening of the lower esophageal valve (cardiac sphincter). Accompanied by heartburn and belching. Belching occurs due to regular release of gastric juice.

Specialists are helped to correctly determine the cause of the stench by its similarity to other odors encountered in everyday life. Thus, the smell from the mouth when belching resembles the stench of rotten eggs. In kidney pathology, the odor is identical to that of ammonia.

Dry mouth

Bad breath in a child is a phenomenon that usually indicates a disease. As for older people, in this category, an unpleasant odor is not always associated with pathology. The main reason for this difference is that the amount of saliva decreases with age.

Saliva is a natural antibiotic that helps reduce the number of bacteria in the mouth. The less saliva, the higher the risk of developing Halitosis in a healthy person. Young and middle-aged adults are more likely to experience bad breath in the morning because the flow of saliva naturally slows down at night. They also reduce the volume of saliva produced:

habit of breathing through the mouth;
starvation;
strong excitement;
public speaking and lengthy monologues;
bad habits;
stressful situations.

Drinking plenty of fluids, drinking lemon juice, chewing gum, and careful oral hygiene can help correct the situation. The lack of results is likely only when the cause of the unpleasant odor is bad habits, such as smoking.

Smoking and other bad habits

A cigarette butt forgotten in an ashtray copes with the results of cross-ventilation within a few minutes. It is extremely difficult to get rid of cigarette smoke that has soaked into the upholstery and carpet. Resins deposited on fibers and surfaces continue to emit a foul odor for a long time. The same thing happens in the mouth of the smoker himself. You can remove traces of resin from furniture using strong detergents. It is almost impossible to clean teeth and mucous membranes with toothpaste or various rinses. As a result, the smoker faces:

abundant plaque on the tongue and teeth of a characteristic yellow color;
disturbed composition of saliva, precluding its normal functioning;
severe dry mouth;
diseases of the teeth, gums, mucous membranes, gastrointestinal tract, respiratory, cardiovascular and other body systems.

Smoking has an extremely negative effect on the body

The presence of even one of these consequences of smoking necessarily leads to halitosis. The same result is observed if a person abuses alcohol, medications, fatty and salty foods. Bad habits include causes of bad breath such as regular lack of sleep, eating fast food, excessive consumption of coffee and strong tea, and spicy seasonings. In each case, there is a high probability of not only a change in the composition of the saliva produced, but also diseases that easily become chronic.

Respiratory system diseases

Diseases of the ENT organs can cause bad breath. With difficulty in nasal breathing caused by a runny nose, the contents of the nasopharynx with harmful bacteria enter the mouth, causing a characteristic odor. People suffering from viral and bacterial infections have bad breath as a result of the activity of pathogenic agents. The appearance of a bad aroma is a consequence of the inflammatory process. Diseases that cause unpleasant odor:

A persistent cough with bronchitis is accompanied by fever, general weakness, and frequent sputum production. The appearance of a repulsive odor indicates congestion in the respiratory tract.
Inflammation of the tonsils - tonsillitis. If the throat was very sore, coughing attacks were observed; in the chronic form of the disease, caseous plugs form on the tonsils. They cough up white lumps that smell bad.
Frontitis is inflammation of the frontal sinus. It occurs after a runny nose and is accompanied by severe headaches that go away after blowing your nose. When coughing up mucous secretions enter the mouth, causing an unpleasant odor.
Nasal congestion – rhinitis. As a result of the inflammatory process in the nose, burning, irritation, and congestion occur. The entry of some mucus with bacteria into the larynx leads to stale breath.

Respiratory diseases require immediate treatment

In patients with acute respiratory viral infections, influenza, sore throat, sinusitis, sinusitis, and otitis, the appearance of halitosis cannot be ruled out. An unpleasant aroma can be felt with pneumonia and pulmonary tuberculosis. The smell is especially unpleasant when exhaling and during coughing attacks.

Dieting and nutritional habits

Lack of nutrients during diets and fasting causes disruption of metabolic processes in the first days of abandoning the usual diet. Cleansing the body is accompanied by the appearance of an unpleasant odor, but after a while the symptom goes away. Healthy nutrition is based on the body receiving the required amount of meat, dairy and protein foods with a balanced composition of fats, carbohydrates, proteins, vitamins, micro- and macroelements.

Refusal to eat habitual foods causes a deficiency of essential substances and starts the process of consuming reserves accumulated in the body. As a result of the formation of a large number of metabolic products, a person develops “hungry breath”, which persists until the next meal. Eating low in carbohydrates causes the body to quickly break down stored fats into ketones, which have a strong flavor.

Eating odorous foods can cause bad breath. During the digestion process, the broken down elements enter the circulatory and respiratory systems, and a bad odor appears due to the formation of volatile sulfur-containing substances. Features of consuming “smelling” products:

Sugar (cookies, candies, chocolate, cakes) is food for microbes and promotes their rapid reproduction with the destruction of gums and teeth.
Acidic foods, which include citrus and tomato juices and coffee (including decaffeinated coffee), alter the normal acidity level in the mouth.
Protein foods - dairy and fermented milk products, meat, fish, legumes. The end products of protein breakdown are ammonium compounds with alkaline properties, which cause the growth of bacteria in the mouth and an unpleasant odor.
Desiccant Products. Alcohol contains alcohol, which dries out the moisture in the mouth. Decreased salivation causes dry mouth and bad aroma.

To prevent odor, you need to pay attention to nutrition

In patients with diabetes mellitus of the first group, due to impaired metabolism, a characteristic acetone odor appears. Cells absorb glucose worse, its deficiency occurs, and the process of breaking down proteins and fats is disrupted. As a result of the formation of ketone bodies, an unpleasant odor comes from the mouth.

In a normal state, the pancreas provides the body with energy, processes glucose and cleanses the blood of sugar. In diabetic patients, the processing of incoming sugars is impossible, which leads to the processing of fats with the release of strong-smelling ketone bodies. Glucose accumulates in the blood plasma, and the amount of acetone in the urine increases greatly, its smell becomes sharp and pronounced. Therefore, with an acetone odor, diabetes mellitus cannot be excluded as the cause of halitosis. Carrying out tests and measuring blood sugar levels will help establish or refute absolute insulin deficiency, that is, diabetes mellitus of the first degree.

Diabetes mellitus is a serious disease

Infectious diseases

Bad breath is not always a problem of poor oral hygiene. Most people with bad breath regularly brush their teeth, visit dentists, do not smoke, or drink alcohol. But the problem remains relevant, which indicates deeper reasons that caused halitosis - various inflammatory processes. Diagnosis of some diseases shows a causal relationship between infectious diseases and bad breath:

diseases of the respiratory tract, nasopharynx, lungs;
dental problems with inflammatory processes;
dangerous diseases associated with pathologies of internal organs.

Respiratory infections, systemic liver and kidney diseases, and periodontal diseases are accompanied by inflammatory processes. The waste products of microbes cause redness, swelling, bleeding of the gums, the formation of purulent abscesses in the oral cavity, and enlarged lymph nodes.

Halitosis cannot be ignored, since the smell may not be a physiological problem, but an indirect symptom of kidney or liver failure, or lung damage. These conditions, in turn, are provoked by acute pyelonephritis, hemorrhagic fever, inflammation of the genitourinary system, viral hepatitis, and severe pneumonia. Eliminating the root cause of halitosis—treating the infection—helps get rid of bad breath.

Dental diseases and operations

In most cases, halitosis occurs as a result of problems with the oral cavity and the hygienic condition of the teeth and gums. Bacterial waste products accumulate in the folds of the mucous membranes, which leads to the formation of plaque on the tongue, teeth, and subgingival pockets. Dental diseases that cause halitosis:

Stomatitis, accompanied by ulcers on the palate, gums, and tongue. The mucous membranes of the oral cavity become inflamed as a result of the immune system's reaction to irritants. It occurs more often in children; diseases in adults are not excluded.
Periodontitis is associated with inflammation of the soft tissues surrounding the teeth. It is a consequence of a bacterial infection. Symptoms are bleeding gums, unpleasant odor, swelling, pain when chewing.
Periodontal disease is a violation of the blood supply to the gum tissue as a result of improper metabolism. Weak gums do not hold teeth well and they become wobbly. The main symptoms are bad odor and pale gums.
Caries is the destructive effect of bacteria on the hard tissues of teeth, beginning with damage to tooth enamel. Always accompanied by an unpleasant odor as bacteria digest food stuck in the teeth.
Gingivitis is inflammation of the gums as a result of infectious diseases, disruption of the endocrine, immune, circulatory systems, and problems with the gastrointestinal tract. A bad smell indicates an active inflammatory process.

Diseases of the teeth and oral cavity cause odor

If a person’s gums hurt after tooth extraction and an unpleasant odor is constantly present, an infectious process is taking place in the resulting hole. The main reasons are non-compliance with the dentist’s recommendations, suppuration during complex operations, unremoved root residue, the presence of a constant source of infection, for example, periodontitis with inflammation of the gums. Concomitant diseases of the teeth and oral cavity, in which bacteria actively multiply, also cause pain after tooth extraction and an unpleasant odor.

Many dental patients are forced to install dentures of a removable or fixed type. Prosthetic elements are made of polymer, composite, acrylic materials that are capable of reacting with waste products of the oral microflora. As a result, a thick coating forms on the dentures, causing a repulsive odor. Therefore, it is imperative to follow the rules of hygienic care for dental prostheses and the oral cavity, and carefully remove food debris.

What does a sweet smell mean?

Halitosis is accompanied by the presence of bad breath of various natures. It is noteworthy that the human brain perceives odors differently. The foul aroma is not always heard by its owner, but is clearly felt by those around him. Bad breath after sleep is normal and a feature of physiology, but characteristic “odors” throughout the day are a cause for concern. The sweetish smell should cause particular concern. Possible reasons:

The smell of acetone may be a consequence of acetone syndrome in children.
Unpleasant sweet breath is a result of diabetes in adults.
Problems with the gallbladder, serious liver pathologies, exhaustion of the body, hepatitis.

You need to pay attention to the sweetish smell mixed with acetone, since the reasons for its occurrence are quite serious and pose a health hazard.

Why does a putrid smell occur?

With improper or insufficient hygiene, or ENT diseases, a putrid odor can spread as you exhale. The phenomenon is typical for children and adults. In children, the cause of an unpleasant odor is dental problems, nasal congestion, and respiratory diseases. It is enough to treat the child to restore fresh breath.

In adults, the cause of the smell of rotten eggs from the mouth is intestinal problems and disruption of the digestive system. If the foul odor does not disappear after the most thorough and regular teeth cleaning, it is recommended to consult a gastroenterologist. In women, an unpleasant odor sometimes occurs during menstruation, after which breathing returns to normal.

It is necessary to find out the cause of halitosis in order to effectively combat it

Morning symptom

During the night, a large number of germs accumulate in people's mouths because salivation decreases during sleep. A critical mass of bacteria leads to the formation of a bitter, unpleasant odor from the mouth. Mandatory brushing of teeth before bed, rinsing with decoctions and tinctures, drinking mint tea and fresh herbs helps solve the problem.

When a child’s breath smells unpleasant in the morning, parents need to take the child for an examination to a pediatrician and dentist. The reason lies in hidden diseases of the ENT organs, dental problems (teething, stomatitis, caries).

In people who adhere to a diet, in the first days of following the diet, the unpleasant odor is especially strong in the morning on an empty stomach. After eating food, the symptom of hungry oral halitosis goes away. After a few days of following the diet, the unpleasant odor disappears and does not cause concern.

Why does a child have bad breath?

The child should smell good, since in most cases children receive a full range of substances necessary for growth and development from food. Parents closely monitor the balance of their children's diet and the condition of their teeth and gums. The aroma from the mouth of infants has a pleasant milky tint.

But sometimes younger and older children develop an unpleasant odor in the morning, which worries parents, since the factors behind this phenomenon are very different:

The causes of bad odor from a baby’s mouth are inflammatory gum diseases.
Diseases of the nasopharynx - waste products of bacteria enter the mouth.
Dry mouth, decreased salivation – glandular dysfunction.
Tonsillitis (inflammation of the tonsils) also causes bad breath in a child.
Improper hygiene or ignoring timely brushing of teeth.
Caries is the cause of bad breath in children aged 3-6 years.

If a child gets sick, the temperature rises, the body becomes dehydrated, which leads to dry mouth and the appearance of symptoms of halitosis. Against the background of a sore throat, ARVI, influenza, bronchitis, the bad breath of a baby can be associated with taking medications - antibiotics, vitamins, antivirals. It will go away after completing the treatment course.

Poor health of the baby requires appropriate treatment and plenty of fluids.

If the child has recovered, hygiene procedures are followed, but the bad odor does not disappear, the problems may be of a dental nature. According to many experts, in children from 7 to 13-14 years old, the causes of unpleasant odor lie precisely in the oral cavity and nasopharynx. It is extremely rare that childhood halitosis is caused by disorders of the digestive system, diseases of internal organs, and congenital pathologies. The main causes are dental problems, inflammation of the tonsils, adenoid, and nasal congestion. Gastrointestinal problems in babies (diarrhea, upset stomach) may be accompanied by a vinegar-sour aroma. To eliminate the symptom, it is enough to adjust the child’s diet.

The causes of bad breath from a teenager are somewhat different, especially in the morning. As a result of hormonal changes in adolescence, the body undergoes restructuring. The composition of the secretion of the gonads, metabolism, hormonal levels, the work of the sebaceous, salivary, and sweat glands provoke an unpleasant odor in a teenager. This leads to aesthetic problems; older children mask the bad odor with chewing gum, use mouthwashes and other means that only temporarily relieve the unpleasant phenomenon and complicate the diagnosis of the true causes of halitosis. Due to poor nutrition, teenagers often suffer from gastritis and intestinal dysbiosis, causing unpleasant morning symptoms.

To correct their bite, older children wear braces that retain food particles. With improper oral hygiene, bacteria accumulate under the braces, processing food debris and causing an unpleasant odor. It is important to follow your dentist's recommendations and rinse your mouth thoroughly after eating.

What to do and which doctor to see

Halitosis in medical practice is considered not as an independent disease, but as a consequence of other diseases affecting the oral cavity, gastrointestinal tract, internal organs, endocrine system, and respiratory organs. Adults first need to see a therapist, who will give a referral for a blood and urine test. If there are obvious symptoms of problems in the oral cavity, consultation with a dentist is required. For deeper causes of halitosis, an adult needs help from other specialists:

endocrinologist (metabolic control);
gastroenterologist (gastrointestinal diseases);
otolaryngologist (respiratory diseases).

If a child has halitosis, you should consult a pediatrician. After the initial examination, the doctor will issue a referral to another specialist if the cause of the unpleasant odor is not the oral cavity, hygiene is maintained, and there are no obvious signs of dental diseases.

At the discretion of the doctor, the patient may be prescribed various tests - blood, urine, stool. This is necessary to accurately determine the cause of halitosis. The presence of an inflammatory process can be determined by human blood, metabolic disorders by urine, and helminthic infestation by feces.

How to get rid of bad breath

Aesthetically, halitosis is a rather unpleasant and serious problem. Bad breath of varying degrees of bad breath as a result of halitosis can be constant, appear periodically, and persist for 3 days, depending on the cause that provoked it. There are ways to get rid of unpleasant odors at home:

The use of parsley, rosemary, basil, mint, and eucalyptus helps neutralize the effect of dishes prepared with an abundance of seasonings.
Fresh breath is preserved by fermented milk products that support normal microflora - yoghurts, cheeses, kefir.
To avoid unpleasant onion or garlic aroma, you need to eat more fresh fruits and vegetables, drink green tea, and citrus juices.
Chewing cloves, coffee, bay leaves, cinnamon, and nutmeg eliminates the unpleasant alcoholic aroma.
Halitosis caused by dry mouth is effectively relieved by drinking too much, massaging the gums to stimulate the salivary glands, and lemon juice.
Bad breath in children can be removed by proper hygiene using mouthwashes that do not contain alcohol.

But if halitosis is caused by serious health problems, these methods will only temporarily mask the unpleasant odor. Then eradicating the cause of halitosis depends on the effectiveness of treatment of the underlying disease.

Diet and lifestyle

The cause of stale odors is often food. This means that halitosis is physiological in nature, and it is not difficult to eliminate the problem yourself. To do this, it is necessary to exclude from the diet such foods as hot seasonings, garlic, onions, strong oxidizing agents, legumes, reduce the consumption of fatty meat foods, and give up alcohol. Frequent rinsing with non-alcohol products that do not dry out the oral cavity helps remove bad breath.

If a person makes snacks during the day, you need to opt for fresh vegetables, fruits, yoghurts, and kefir.
After eating, you need to rinse your mouth with a special lotion, you can use chewing gum - it stimulates the production of saliva.
Doctors recommend brushing your teeth 30 minutes after eating so as not to damage tooth enamel softened by food.
A decoction of wormwood, nettle, St. John's wort, chamomile, strawberry leaves, and sage will remove the stale smell.
You can reduce the release of bad aroma by adjusting your diet. Fatty, meaty, spicy foods “smell” - their consumption should be reduced.
Tobacco and alcohol actively provoke halitosis. Giving up bad habits will return pleasant freshness to your breath.

To save a child from bad breath, it is necessary to monitor his compliance with hygiene rules. Until the age of six, it is imperative to ensure that the child brushes his teeth correctly, and to teach the child to clean the surface of the tongue and cheeks. Pasta with a pine aroma is suitable for children. To stimulate the normal production of saliva, which kills bacteria in the mouth, you need to maintain a healthy drinking regime, humidify the air in the room, use rinses and check that there is no nasal congestion. The cause of halitosis in children is a simple failure to comply with dental hygiene and diet standards, so the problem is not difficult to eliminate.

Traditional medicine recipes

Simple traditional medicine prepared from available ingredients can help you get rid of bad breath quickly and permanently at home:

Chamomile infusion is prepared according to the instructions and used for rinsing after meals three to four times a day.
Leaves of mint, sage, wormwood or white alder are crushed, poured with one glass of boiling water, and 100 ml of infusion is taken orally.
Lemon juice is used to scent the mouth - rinse your mouth with juice squeezed from a quarter of one lemon.
Pharmaceutical tincture of St. John's wort is dropped into a glass for as long as the person is old and taken orally.
A salt solution - a quarter of a teaspoon per 1 glass of water for rinsing after meals - helps to remove bad breath at home.
You can prepare a solution of apple cider vinegar - 1 tbsp. for 1 glass of water - and drink 15 minutes before meals. The method is not suitable for those suffering from gastritis of any acidity.
You can remove the effects of halitosis by daily rinsing with hydrogen peroxide and water, combined in equal quantities.
If the unpleasant odor is caused by smoking, chewing fresh herbs (parsley, dill seeds, celery) or apples helps get rid of it.
Halitosis associated with gastrointestinal diseases is eliminated with wormwood infusion (1 tablespoon of dry raw materials per glass of boiling water). For one month you need to drink a cup of infusion every day in large sips.
1 tbsp. oak bark, filled with one glass of boiling water, kept for half an hour in a water bath, filtered, rinsed every day.

Traditional medicine knows many recipes with which people can effectively get rid of bad breath at home. Official medicine does not exclude the benefits of such treatment, but it is important to consider that halitosis can only be overcome by eliminating the cause of the disease. It is recommended to combine the use of traditional medicine with taking medications whose action is aimed at treating a specific disease.

Medicines

To get rid of bad breath, it is necessary to clearly establish the cause of halitosis. Pharmacy products are used as prescribed by a doctor, especially if halitosis is a consequence of a serious illness. Conservative therapy with medications includes the use of a number of medications:

To treat infectious and inflammatory processes in the oral cavity and relieve bleeding gums, you can use the Asepta complex with propolis.
Rinse liquid CB12 fights the effects of unpleasant odors, helps restore and freshen breath, and serves as a powerful antiseptic.
Kamistad is suitable for people with oral dentures. An antibacterial and analgesic agent prevents the spread of microbial plaque.
For dental problems (periodontitis, stomatitis), Metrogyl Denta can be used to get rid of bad breath.
Septogal antimicrobial tablets eliminate bad odors and freshen breath, but they are used only as a temporary measure.

When under stress, a person worries, worries, and the amount of saliva decreases, which leads to dry mouth and an unpleasant odor. Oral halitosis caused by psychological factors eliminates the restoration of the emotional state.

Prevention of bad breath

In order not to exude a stale aroma, you need to monitor your own health and follow basic hygiene rules. Preventive measures that are recommended for every person to take can help prevent bad breath:

Visit the dentist at least twice a year. Checking the condition of teeth and gums, timely detection of inflammation helps to quickly select treatment and prevent halitosis from manifesting itself.
Ignoring basic hygiene rules contributes to the appearance of an unpleasant odor. You need to brush your teeth twice a day, and be sure to clean your mouth before going to bed. This stimulates saliva production.
If an unpleasant odor appears after eating food, you need to carefully monitor your oral hygiene. In some cases, replacement of toothpaste, brush, dental floss, consultation with a dental hygienist, and professional cleaning are required.
When brushing your teeth, you need to thoroughly clean your tongue and cheeks so that plaque with bacterial flora does not form on them. The paste must be of high quality, the brush must be changed every 2-3 months.
Rinsing with warm water after eating helps remove food debris, and you can also use dental floss. For rinsing lotions, it is recommended to use Chlorhexidine, Triclosan, and baking soda.

Cleaning your tongue and teeth as a preventative measure

It is worth visiting the dentist periodically for sanitation. This is necessary for improving the health of the oral cavity and preventing dental diseases.

Halitosis signals health problems, so bad breath cannot be ignored. If bad breath is caused by poor hygiene, food, diet, or medications, halitosis will go away over time. When the causes of an unpleasant odor lie in diseases, you need to immediately begin treating them.

Anna Mironova

Reading time: 9 minutes

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Many people are familiar with the situation when, when communicating with a person, you want to cover your mouth with your palm. It’s especially offensive when bad breath causes an interrupted kiss, problems in communication, or even problems at work. This phenomenon is called halitosis, and it is not as harmless as it seems.

9 Causes of Bad Breath – So Why Is Your Breath Bad?

Sooner or later, everyone experiences halitosis. It pretty much ruins our lives and sometimes makes us give up our desires and intentions. Where do the legs of halitosis “grow” from?

Let's list the main reasons:

Insufficient hygiene.
Advanced caries and other dental diseases.
Taking medications.
Microbial plaque on the teeth and tongue.
Wearing dentures.
Decreased saliva secretion.
Smoking.
The smell remaining after eating certain foods (alcohol, fish, seasonings, onions and garlic, coffee, etc.).
Consequences of diets.

Halitosis as a symptom of serious diseases - be attentive to yourself!

In addition to the above, there are more serious reasons for the appearance of halitosis. In some cases he may be unkind a sign of any disease.

For example…

Gastritis, ulcers, pancreatitis and other gastrointestinal diseases (note: hydrogen sulfide smell).
Chronic tonsillitis, tonsillitis or sinusitis.
Pneumonia and bronchitis.
Kidney diseases (note - the smell of acetone).
Diabetes mellitus (note - the smell of acetone).
Gallbladder disease (bitter, unpleasant odor).
Liver diseases (in this case, a specific fecal or fishy odor is noted).
Tumor of the esophagus (note - smell of rot/decomposition).
Active tuberculosis (note: smell of pus).
Kidney failure (note: “fishy” smell).
Xerostomia caused by taking medications or prolonged mouth breathing (putrid odor).

It is also worth noting pseudohalitosis. This term is used when talking about a condition when a person with fresh breath “imagines” an unpleasant odor in his mouth.

How to detect bad breath - 8 ways

In most cases, we ourselves know that we have bad breath.

But if you want to know for sure (maybe you just think), there are several ways to check:

Observe the behavior of your interlocutors. If they move to the side, turn away when communicating, or persistently offer you candy and chewing gum, there is a smell. You can also just ask them about it.
Bring your palms to your mouth in a “boat” manner and exhale sharply. If an unpleasant odor is present, you will notice it immediately.
Pass regular cotton floss between your teeth and smell it.
Lick your wrist and, after waiting a little, smell the skin.
Scrape the back of your tongue with a spoon and smell it too.
Wipe your tongue with a cotton pad and sniff.
Buy a special tester device at a pharmacy. With its help, you can determine the freshness of your breath on a 5-point scale.
Undergo a special examination by a dentist.

Remember to test In a few hours after using odor masking products (rubber bands, pastes, sprays) and at the end of the day.

Modern medicine in the treatment of halitosis

Nowadays, there are very effective methods for diagnosing this disease.

The use of a halimeter which, in addition to diagnosis, also helps in assessing the success of treatment for halitosis.
The composition of dental plaque is also examined.
And the back of the patient's tongue is examined. It should match the color of the oral mucosa. But with a brown, white or cream shade, we can talk about glossitis.

Considering that in most cases true halitosis is one of the symptoms of a certain disease, It’s worth seeing other doctors:

ENT consultation will help exclude polyps and sinusitis.
On a visit to a gastroenterologist We find out if there is diabetes, problems with the kidneys/liver or gastrointestinal tract.
At the dentist We eliminate foci of infection and remove bad teeth. A course of professional oral hygiene at the same time as removing dental plaque will not hurt. When diagnosing periodontitis, the use of special irrigators is usually recommended.

9 effective ways to get rid of bad breath at home

You have a meeting soon, you are expecting guests or going on a date...

How can you quickly eliminate bad breath?

The most basic way is to brush your teeth. Cheap and cheerful.
Freshener spray. For example, with mint flavor. Today such a device can be found in any pharmacy. Just throw it in your bag and keep it handy at all times. It is enough to spray 1-2 times into the oral cavity, and you don’t have to worry that they will run away from you after a minute of communication. Choose a spray with preventive properties (protection against the formation of tartar, plaque, caries).
Rinse aid. Also useful for teeth and mouth. In addition to the fact that it freshens breath, it also has an additional function - protection against plaque, strengthening teeth, etc. But do not rush to spit it out right away - hold the liquid in your mouth for at least 30 seconds, then its effect will be more pronounced.
Refreshing sweets. For example, mint candies. They will not bring much benefit, given the sugar content, but it is easy to mask the smell.
Chewing gum. Not the most useful method, especially if you have stomach problems, but perhaps the simplest. Chewing gum outside the home is even easier to find than candy. The optimal flavor is mint. It is most effective at masking odor. To avoid harming yourself, chew it for a maximum of 10 minutes, only after meals and without dyes (pure white).
Mint, greens. Sometimes it is enough to chew a leaf of mint, parsley or green salad.
Fruits, vegetables and berries. The most effective are citrus fruits, apples, and bell peppers.
Other "camouflage" products: yoghurts, green tea, chocolate
Spices: cloves, nutmeg, fennel, anise, etc. You just need to hold the spice in your mouth or chew one clove (a piece of nut, etc.).

And, of course, do not forget about the prevention of halitosis:

An electric toothbrush. It cleans your teeth much more effectively than usual.
Dental floss. This “instrument of torture” helps remove “remnants of feasts” from the interdental spaces.
Brush to remove plaque on the tongue. Also a very useful invention.
Moisturizing the oral cavity. Constant dry mouth can also cause halitosis. Saliva has antibacterial properties, and a decrease in its amount, accordingly, leads to an increase in the number of bacteria. Keep your mouth sufficiently moist.
Decoctions for rinsing the mouth/throat. You can use chamomile, mint, sage and eucalyptus, oak or magnolia bark. The latter is best for eliminating this problem.
Nutrition. Avoid eating garlic, coffee, meat and red wine. These foods lead to halitosis. Excess of fast carbohydrates is the path to caries and plaque on teeth, give preference to fiber.
We brush our teeth twice a day for one and a half to two minutes, choosing brushes of medium hardness. We change the brush at least once every 3 months. It is also recommended to purchase an ionizer-sterilizer for your brush - it will disinfect your “tool.”
After eating, be sure to remember to rinse your mouth. Preferably, a decoction of herbs, a special rinse or tooth elixir.
We visit the dentist once every six months and solve dental problems in a timely manner. Don’t forget to get examined by a therapist for chronic diseases.
Toothpaste choose one that contains natural antiseptic components that can reduce bacterial activity.
Drink more water.
Treat bleeding gums promptly- It also causes an unpleasant odor.
If you have dentures remember to clean them thoroughly every day.

If, despite all your efforts, the smell continues to haunt you - ask specialists for help!

The site website provides background information. Adequate diagnosis and treatment of the disease is possible only under the supervision of a conscientious doctor. If alarming symptoms occur, consult a specialist!

Here and now and cause self-doubt in the long term. Especially if you don't know why it appeared.

The condition, well known to doctors as halitosis, can be caused by both minor and. In the latter case, diagnosis and treatment are required, so a visit to a specialist is definitely not possible. On the other hand, if you are sure that everything is in order with your health, here are three things that could have caused everything to happen:

Bacteria in the mouth

Research shows that the most common cause of bad breath is bacterial plaque, especially on the teeth, gums and tongue. And while poor or poor hygiene is often to blame, a common trigger remains dry mouth - the perfect environment for bacteria to thrive and thrive. This also explains the fact that for most people (since saliva production stops during sleep) breathing can hardly be called pleasant.

Disease and medicine

Although this state of affairs is less common compared to the previous reason, it may still work in your case. Extremely bad breath—much worse than normal—could be a sign of lung disease, according to dentist Harold Katz in Medical Daily. In addition, bad breath can be a symptom of respiratory tract infection, inflammation of the tonsils and some other diseases. Plus, in some cases, the side effects of the medications you take as recommended by your doctor can also be associated with bad breath.

Alcohol, cigarettes and diet

Halitosis is often provoked by our bad habits, be it or. Alcohol is known to cause dehydration, but smoking can not only dry out your mouth, but also increase the amount of odor-causing compounds in your body. Nutritionists add that the list of “potentially dangerous” should also include a low-carbohydrate diet + the habit of skipping meals with enviable regularity.

Some foods, such as spices, cabbage and radishes, may also be culprits, Health.com reports. So, in any case, you should be very careful about your diet.

How to get rid of bad breath

Speaking about how to get rid of bad breath, it is important to note that if we are talking about a disease, then recommendations should come primarily from your doctor. If the situation is less serious, there are several ways to deal with the problem that are worth trying:

Hygiene habits

Brush your teeth twice a day, using the tongue pad on the back of it. And if possible, use mouthwash after every meal. This is especially important for those who are at risk of bad breath (such as people who wear braces or dentures). Among the obvious recommendations: visit the dentist twice a year and do not forget to change your toothbrush after illness.

Drink more water

In the case of bad breath, the formula works perfectly: the better, the better. We are, of course, talking about clean water without gas, while it is better to exclude sweet soda, which can harm the enamel. Water-rich fruits and vegetables such as apples, cucumbers, celery and carrots will also be a useful addition. They, experts say, can act as an alternative toothbrush, removing food debris stuck between the teeth.

What about chewing gum? This, dentists note, is also a good and universal way of hydration. “The saliva produced during chewing is responsible for reducing bad breath,” says Cassiano Kuchenbecker Rösing, professor at the University of Rio Grande do Sol.

Home Remedies

According to Jennifer Jablow, a cosmetic dentist in New York City, you can chew fresh mint leaves or parsley. She explains that parsley, for example, contains chlorophyll, which prevents the formation of chlorophyll that contributes to unpleasant odors. Ready to move on? You can also make a homemade mouthwash. Dentist Debra Glassman of Glassman Dental Care says a cup of warm water with a tablespoon of baking soda and a few drops of peppermint oil does the job.

One of the obstacles in adults’ communication with others is bad breath. It is important to diagnose the causes of bad breath and then treat the disease. As a result, a person gets rid of the smell.

In medicine, this symptom is called halitosis. It serves as an indicator of various conditions. This could be a metabolic disorder or the activity of some bacteria. During illness, pathogenic bacteria displace existing microorganisms. The waste products of new residents are toxic and have a different smell.

There are 2 types of halitosis: true and false. With false halitosis, the patient has already passed the treatment stage, but he still has a subjective feeling of the presence of an odor, and this is the work of a psychotherapist. True halitosis is divided into physiological and pathological.

Physiological halitosis goes away on its own with regular oral hygiene. This type appears:

In the morning after waking up. At night, less saliva is produced.
Bad habits: smoking and alcoholic drinks.
Consumption of products with a strong odor. When onions and garlic are digested, chemicals are released through the lungs. Toothpaste won't help here.
When fasting. “Hungry” breathing appears.
After taking certain medications. Products of drug metabolism are excreted through the lungs.
When dehydrated. A person drinks too little water, the production of saliva slows down, and it does not perform the function of disinfection. Bacteria begin to multiply rapidly, releasing volatile compounds.

Scientists have proven that anaerobic sulfur-producing microorganisms are the primary source of odor from the oral cavity and are localized in the area of the tongue and throat.

Oxygen-rich saliva prevents the growth of bacteria. If plaque forms on the teeth, cheeks and tongue, then it is a nutrient medium in which volatile sulfur compounds are produced.

One toothbrush is not enough. No need to ignore hard-to-reach areas. It is important to clean your tongue using the same brush or scraper. Additionally, flosses and irrigators are made for cleaning.

People who regularly brush their teeth, take care of their condition, drink water, and eat properly should not have any odor. What smells is something that stagnates.

Bad breath in adults can cause pathologies that are difficult to treat. As soon as breathing has become unbearable and it is impossible to get rid of it with oral hygiene, then first you should visit a dentist on the issue of caries and gum inflammation.

It must be visited every six months, even if there are no complaints. According to dentists, periodontitis and gingivitis occur in 90% of people who are unaware of it.

The cause is bacteria that accumulate in the space between the teeth, which is difficult to clean. Plaque forms into tartar and deepens under the gums, causing an unpleasant odor. The dentist will provide local treatment, but the real problem may lie deeper.

If everything is fine with your teeth, then the next thing will be a visit to the otolaryngologist. The most common cause is tonsils. With tonsillitis and adenoid enlargements, the tonsils turn into a bag of unpleasant-smelling pus.

There may be mushrooms there, the waste products of which smell unpleasant. With rhinitis, mucus is produced, which emits a heavy odor. Breathing through your mouth when you have a runny nose dries out your mouth, making the situation worse.

The cause of oral odor in adults may be a lack of enzymes, which will require treatment.

Volatile compounds depend on the type of bacteria. Some odors can identify serious illnesses or their exacerbation. What do diseases smell like?

Putrid smell

A putrid odor may be a symptom of esophageal diverticulum. A pocket forms on the wall of the esophagus, into which some of the food falls. Food leftovers do not enter the stomach, accumulate and rot. Such people may regurgitate undigested food at night.

In a healthy body, saliva is alkaline and does not smell. With a decrease in acidity in the oral cavity, caries develops with the appearance of a putrid odor. Periodontal disease, tonsillitis, and pancreatitis have a similar “aroma.” It should be taken into account that with age, saliva production slows down and you need to drink more water.

Stool smell

The smell of feces from the mouth appears in the following cases:

Exacerbations of atrophic gastritis.
Dysbacteriosis, which is evidenced by a white coating on the tongue.
Dyskinesia of the gallbladder. There is also a coating on the tongue.
Be a product of the vital activity of worms.
In cancer patients with intestinal obstruction.
Stress dries out the oral cavity, creating conditions for odor.

Smell of acetone

In adults, the smell of acetone in the mouth is especially alarming. It is impossible to get rid of such an aroma even after sanitizing the mouth, as it appears when breathing. The causes of the smell are under-oxidized compounds secreted by the lungs, and it is necessary to treat, first of all, the sources of bad breath. This smell portends several diseases.

The smell of acetone with a sweet taste in the mouth is one of the first signs of diabetes. With this disease, there is not enough insulin in the blood, glucose is broken down worse and fats are used. During the reaction, ketone bodies appear, which are acetone. The process is accompanied by a violation of the secretion of the salivary glands. Saliva becomes insufficient and the body does not cleanse itself.

The kidneys remove harmful substances from fluids and blood. A disorder in their work also becomes the reason for the appearance of acetone breath.

Those who practice long-term fasting as a remedy go through a stage when their breath acquires an odor with a predominance of acetone. If the procedure is carried out correctly, the unpleasant aroma goes away. Otherwise, the body is destroyed.

A malfunction of the thyroid gland can cause sudden weight loss, insomnia, and irritability. This disease is accompanied by an acetone smell.

A large lack of carbohydrates in various mono-diets encourages the body to use fat reserves as an energy reserve. The result of such a diet will be the appearance of ketone bodies - acetone and its smell.

The same thing happens with excessive alcohol consumption. Ketone bodies are potent toxic substances. Once in the blood, they poison the systems through which the blood flow passes.

Sweet smell

A sweetish “liver” smell comes from liver diseases that remain asymptomatic for a long time. In this case, it would be wise to consult a therapist.

Pseudomonas aeruginosa has a sweet smell in diseases of the lungs, otitis. The smell of honey emanating from a person requires the intervention of a doctor.

Sour smell

The appearance of such a smell indicates gastritis with increased secretory activity of the stomach or an ulcer. The smell does not go away even after eating. The disease is accompanied by the release of stomach contents into the esophagus - heartburn. The odorous substances that hydrochloric acid contains emit a sour odor.

Rotten egg smell

If the acidity of the stomach is reduced, then protein foods are not completely digested, the process of rotting begins, and an unpleasant odor rises up the esophagus. Belching a rotten egg is a symptom of such a pathology.

Ammonia smell

Ammonia odor occurs in diseases of the genitourinary system. This could be nephritis, cystitis, urolithiasis, urethritis. In this case, the human body is released from excess nitrogen through the lungs.

Home Recipes for Oral Remedies

This is a medical subject - bad breath, causes and treatment in adults. How to get rid of such discomfort at home? There are no fewer ways to get rid of such a smell forever than the reasons for its appearance. Available medications available in every first aid kit, plants and products will come in handy. It must be remembered that any treatment must take place against the background of proper nutrition.

Oil emulsion

Sucking oil has a beneficial effect on health. This is a simple technique to remove toxins from the body. The procedure eliminates bleeding gums and foreign odor in the mouth.

Suck a tablespoon of unrefined vegetable oil like a candy. It becomes liquid and turns white. After 20 minutes, spit out the emulsion and rinse your mouth thoroughly.

Gargling with herbal infusions

Rinse cleanses your mouth better than chewing gum or mints. To eliminate the smell, you can prepare a homemade rinse from calendula, chamomile, St. John's wort, and sage. These herbs have anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial effects.
The decoction can be either mixed or separate.

1 tbsp. Brew a spoon with 200 g of boiling water;
heat for 15 minutes on steam without boiling;
cool, strain and rinse your mouth after eating.

According to this recipe, to enhance the secretion of saliva, decoctions of bitter herbs are prepared: wormwood, yarrow.

Hydrogen peroxide rinse

The body needs oxygen because it is a powerful oxidizing agent. It takes on the function of deoxidizing and destroying organic substances.

Anaerobic microorganisms containing sulfur will be removed by active oxygen. This method should be used regularly.

Use of activated carbon

The unpleasant odor after a large feast is neutralized by activated carbon. Eat 5 tablets in the morning on an empty stomach, and 4 tablets before bed. The smell goes away after 3 days. You can brush your teeth with charcoal powder 2 times a week.

Aloe and honey mixture

Traditional medicine recommends mixtures based on juice from the leaves of young aloe arborescens for gastritis of low acidity. It must be remembered that long-term consumption of juice is unacceptable. It is contraindicated for high blood pressure, fibrous formations, polyps, and pregnant women.

Honey is used in the treatment of liver, intestines and stomach ulcers. The treatment outcome is influenced by the method and time of administration. Therefore, you should figure out whether you need to take aloe with honey, how and at what time. This mixture must be agreed with your doctor.

Do not pre-water the plant for a week. During this time, it will accumulate useful substances.

Pass 1.5 kg of lower shoots through a meat grinder;
mix with 2.5 kg of honey and 850 ml of Cahors;
transfer to a dark glass jar;
stand without access to light for a week.

The age of the agave is from 3 to 5 years. Honey is taken from May.

Take a teaspoon one hour before meals, 1 time per day for 5 days. Then increase the daily dose to 3 teaspoons per day. The course of therapy takes 2 - 3 months.

Buckwheat flour

Roast a glass of buckwheat in the oven. Cool and grind into flour with a coffee grinder. Take a coffee spoon in the morning on an empty stomach for 10 days. After a 3-day break, resume treatment. Use until bad breath completely disappears.

Oak bark

Oak bark is considered one of the best astringents for strengthening bleeding gums. This remedy prevents the growth of bacteria, attacks of peptic ulcers, relieves inflammation in the stomach during gastritis and normalizes intestinal function.

Decoction for indigestion:

1 tbsp. spoon of product per 500 g of water;
bring to a boil, cool, filter;
drink a quarter glass half an hour before meals twice a day.

To rinse the mouth, prepare a stronger decoction:

3 tbsp. l. bark per 200 ml of boiled water;
simmer for 25 minutes over low heat;
pass through a strainer and add up to 300 ml;
clean your mouth every 2 hours.

Store in the refrigerator for 2 days.

Any oak bark products are taken temporarily. The course of treatment does not exceed half a month. Long-term use leads to nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, stomach and intestinal bleeding. Rinsing the mouth in such cases darkens the teeth and leads to a partial loss of smell.

Pine needles and mint

To get rid of unwanted odor, just chew young pine needles or fresh mint until it becomes liquid. During the chewing process, the oral cavity is disinfected with fungicides. At the same time, your teeth will be cleansed of food debris and bacteria.

Which doctor should I contact?

A gastroenterologist can help you get rid of bad breath in adults, find the causes and choose treatment
Regarding bad breath in an adult, you should go to a gastroenterologist for a stomach examination. The doctor will find the cause and prescribe appropriate treatment, and give recommendations on how to get rid of bad breath. The main thing is that measures are taken by a person in advance. Ordinary gastritis quickly develops into more serious diseases.

Homemade recipes are quite effective, but you shouldn’t rely on them alone. Without getting rid of the main “fragrant” disease, all other remedies will only be a temporary disguise.

Videos: bad breath causes and treatment in adults. How to get rid of it.

How to get rid of bad breath. Causes and treatment in adults. A few simple methods:

Bad breath - causes and treatment:

One of the most common problems in today's medicine is bad breath. Such a person’s problem causes a number of unpleasant emotions in others, in particular, a persistent disgust towards this person. What causes bad breath, and how to deal with it?

Causes of bad breath.
It should be noted that bad breath is a pathology that occurs as the body grows and develops. In modern medicine, this condition is known as Halitosis. This problem is, in principle, solvable. Usually the treatment process is very simple and effective; it is only necessary to accurately identify the main source of bad breath. Basically, it is an accumulation in the human mouth (on the back of the tongue, around and between the teeth) of white matter, which contains a large number of anaerobic bacteria (gram-negative anaerobes that live and reproduce in an oxygen-free environment). These bacteria produce chemical compounds (hydrogen sulfide, methyl mercaptan, cadavrine, putrescine, skatole), which are the source of halitosis. Basically, bacteria begin to secrete foul-smelling substances after a person consumes proteins - meat, fish, seafood, eggs, milk, cheese, yogurt, cheeseburgers, cereal products, nuts, legumes, as well as any desserts based on them. In addition, dead oral cells serve as food for bacteria.

In addition to the accumulation of bacteria in the oral cavity, the causes of bad breath can be:

Diseases of the digestive system (gastritis, ulcers). In this case, this problem is caused by the pathology of non-closure of the esophageal sphincter, when odors from the stomach penetrate directly through the esophagus into the oral cavity.
Intestinal pathology (enteritis and colitis). As a result of inflammatory processes in the intestines, toxic substances penetrate into the blood, which the body removes, including through the lungs, as a result of which bad breath appears.
Diseases of the liver and pancreas. The process of the appearance of bad breath is similar to the previous option.
Diseases of the ear, nose and throat (sore throat, chronic tonsillitis, chronic sinusitis). A bad odor occurs against the background of inflammatory processes of a purulent nature.
Lung diseases (tuberculosis, pneumonia, abscess). Inflammatory processes in the lungs occur with the breakdown of lung tissue, namely a purulent process, which leads to the appearance of this problem.
Oral diseases (caries). Carious lesions of teeth or tooth abscess occur with the release of purulent bad breath.
Poor oral hygiene. Putrefactive microbes, their active reproduction and activity in food debris, poorly eliminated as a result of brushing the teeth and oral cavity, contribute to the production of foul-smelling gases.

Consumption of certain foods (garlic, onions) can also cause this problem. During the digestion of food, molecules are formed that are absorbed by our body, after which they are removed from it through the bloodstream. These molecules can have a very unpleasant odor, which, when it enters the lungs, occurs when exhaled. The unpleasant odor caused by the consumption of certain foods disappears on its own after a few days, that is, when the body removes all the foul-smelling molecules from the body. In this case, it is not difficult to get rid of or prevent this problem; you just need to limit the consumption of these same products.

Excessive smoking or drinking alcohol can also cause bad odor. Basically, the process of its formation is based on nicotine, tar and other substances contained in tobacco smoke. They accumulate on the teeth and soft tissues of a heavy smoker. In this case, you can get rid of the problem only by giving up cigarettes. Perfect oral hygiene will help reduce the odor somewhat, but will not eliminate it completely. In addition, smoking leads to dehydration of oral tissues, as a result of which saliva somewhat loses its moisturizing and disinfecting effect. This results in dry mouth or xerostomia, which also leads to an unpleasant odor. Decreased saliva production leads to dry mouth. This is especially noticeable in the morning. As a result, our breath becomes less fresh. By constantly swallowing saliva, we cleanse our mouth of the waste products of the bacteria inhabiting it and of the bacteria themselves. Dry mouth significantly reduces the positive effects of saliva, resulting in favorable conditions for bacterial growth. Chronic xerostomia can occur as a side effect when taking certain medications (antihistamines, drugs that normalize blood pressure, antidepressants, diuretics, tranquilizers, narcotic substances). Over the years, this problem can worsen as the effectiveness of the salivary glands decreases and the composition of saliva changes, resulting in a weakening of the cleansing effect of saliva. Chronic dry mouth, or xerostomia, contributes to the development of periodontal disease (gum disease).

Periodontal disease can also lead to bad breath. Typically, this disease occurs in people over 35 years of age and consists of bacterial infection of the soft tissues that surround the teeth. In its advanced form, the disease can cause complications in the form of serious damage to the bone on which the tooth is located. In the active form of the disease, gaps, so-called “periodontal pockets,” form between the teeth and gums, where excessive amounts of bacteria are concentrated. These gaps are sometimes very deep, which makes hygienic cleaning difficult, resulting in accumulated bacteria and their waste products causing bad breath.

Diseases of the upper respiratory tract can cause bad breath. This is due to the fact that mucous secretions accompanying diseases enter the oral cavity from the nasal cavity, and their accumulation leads to the appearance of this problem.

People suffering from sinusitis are forced to breathe through the mouth due to nasal congestion, which in turn leads to dry mouth and, as a result, an unpleasant odor. In the treatment of sinusitis, antihistamines are usually prescribed, which also contribute to dry mouth.

It should be noted that wearing dentures can also negatively affect the freshness of your breath. It is very easy to find out whether dentures have a bad odor or not. You just need to remove them and place them in a closed container for a day. After the specified time, open the container and immediately smell. This is roughly the aroma that comes from you when communicating with people. In addition, bacteria can also accumulate on the surface of the denture, resulting in a foul odor. Therefore, it is very important to clean them thoroughly and daily, both inside and outside. Usually, when installing them, the dentist talks about the hygiene features of dentures. After cleaning, dentures should be placed in a container with an antiseptic liquid (as recommended by your doctor).

How to get rid of an unpleasant odor?
When solving the problem of bad breath, most people mask it with chewing gum or mouth rinses, not realizing that it is represented by volatile compounds. They also don’t know that chewing gum has a negative effect on the gastrointestinal tract, and their effect is only short-lived. Mouth rinses often disrupt the natural flora in your mouth, which only makes the bad odor worse. There are many other remedies, but doctors most often prescribe CB12, since, unlike others, it does not mask, but neutralizes those same volatile compounds, eliminating the unpleasant odor for at least 12 hours. At the same time, it does not disturb the normal flora of the oral cavity and can be used even by pregnant and lactating women. CB12 is actively used by users of braces and prostheses. For lasting fresh breath, it is recommended to use the mouthwash every day.

To deprive bacteria of nutrients, you should include more fresh vegetables and fruits (especially apples and oranges) in your diet and limit your meat intake. It has been proven that vegetarians have virtually no problems with fresh breath. Proper and timely cleaning of the oral cavity is also of great importance, especially after eating protein foods. If you don't thoroughly clean the spaces between your teeth every day where food remains get stuck, you won't be able to cope with the unpleasant odor. Therefore, if you have a problem with fresh breath, it is recommended to brush your teeth, gums and tongue after each meal, rinse your mouth thoroughly and use dental floss. All this will help keep your mouth clean and prevent the appearance of plaque, which is home to bacteria that produce unpleasant “odors.”

If you keep your mouth perfectly clean, but the bad breath does not disappear, you should visit a dentist who, if necessary, will teach you how to properly brush your teeth with a toothbrush and help you with flossing. Unfortunately, even today, a large number of people do not use these hygiene attributes correctly. If you have tartar on your teeth, your doctor will remove it quickly and effectively. If periodontal disease is detected, the dentist will prescribe the necessary treatment. Also, if any other untreated medical conditions are found that may be the source of bad breath. If, after an examination, the dentist finds nothing that could be the source of the problem, he may refer you to a general practitioner for evaluation.

To get rid of this problem, it is important, in addition to the teeth and gums, to thoroughly clean the surface of the tongue every day. Unfortunately, most of us ignore this procedure, but in vain. After all, it is this procedure that often helps to get rid of this problem without using any additional methods. It should be noted that it is necessary to clean the back of the tongue, since the front, in the process of constant movement of the tongue, touches the hard palate and thus cleans itself. Therefore, bacteria that produce unpleasant-smelling compounds mainly concentrate on the back of the tongue, which is where it needs thorough cleaning.

To eliminate unpleasant odor, it is best to use toothpaste that contains antibacterial substances (chlorine dioxide or cetylpyridone chloride). This paste not only cleans well, but also has a detrimental effect on anaerobic bacteria.

Additional use of liquid mouthwash will help combat the unpleasant odor. Its composition has antibacterial properties and the ability to neutralize volatile sulfur compounds.

Rinse aids can be of several types:

containing chlorine dioxide or sodium chlorite (kills bacteria and neutralizes their secretions);
with zinc content (neutralizes volatile sulfur compounds);
antiseptic (kills bacteria, but does not eliminate odor);
containing cetylpyridone chloride (reduces the number of anaerobic bacteria).

As mentioned above, using mouthwash is necessary in addition to brushing and flossing, since the mouthwash alone is not effective as it cannot penetrate deep into the plaque on the back of the tongue. Rinsing your mouth after brushing your teeth will remove any remaining bacteria. You should not just put the product into your mouth, but rinse it thoroughly. Before rinsing, you need to say “ah-ah”, which will allow the product to get to the back of the tongue, where most of the bacteria are concentrated. After rinsing, the product should be immediately spat out. Children should not use mouthwash as they may accidentally swallow it.

As an additional means of getting rid of an unpleasant odor, you can use various mint tablets, lozenges, drops, sprays, chewing gums, etc. It is good if these products contain substances such as chlorine dioxide, sodium chlorite and zinc, which neutralize volatile sulfur compounds. In addition, mints, lollipops and chewing gum stimulate the production of saliva, which, thanks to its cleansing properties, removes bacteria and their metabolic products from the oral cavity, and therefore eliminates unpleasant odors.

Irrigators as a way to get rid of unpleasant odor

Recently, dentists are increasingly advising patients to use irrigators. These are devices that deliver a pressurized stream of water that washes away food debris and accumulations of bacteria even from the most inaccessible places.

One of the new models on the Russian market is a stationary irrigator from the German brand ACleon TF600, which has expanded functionality. Seven attachments included allow you to eliminate bacteria even from the most difficult to reach places and thoroughly clean the oral cavity (including attachments for the tongue, braces and implants). The presence of a built-in ultraviolet lamp and disinfection nozzle prevents the entry of new microorganisms.

An analogue of a stationary irrigator is a portable model of the same brand, ACleon TF200. It weighs only 250 grams, comes in a case and comes with a battery, so you can take it with you anywhere. Use irrigators, and the problem of bad breath will not affect you.

Video: Review of ACleon TF600 and TF200 irrigators

Additional measures to eliminate unpleasant odors.
Drink more fluids throughout the day. This will reduce the unpleasant odor. Not drinking enough water during the day will cause the body to retain it by reducing saliva production. And this will negatively affect the natural cleansing of the oral cavity from bacteria and their secretions. It is especially important to drink plenty of fluids for people who suffer from chronic dry mouth (xerostomia).

Rinse your mouth with water several times a day. This will somewhat reduce bad breath by dissolving and washing away bacterial waste products.

Constantly stimulate the process of salivation, which will reduce the unpleasant odor. The easiest way is to chew something (mint tablets, propolis, chewing gum, mint, cloves, dill, parsley, etc.). If you prefer chewing gum or mints, you should make sure that they do not contain sugar, as this stimulates the growth of bacteria that cause tooth decay.

Folk remedies for getting rid of unpleasant odor.
Add three to four teaspoons of three percent hydrogen peroxide to a glass of water. Rinse your mouth with the resulting liquid two to three times during the day. Under the influence of active oxygen formed due to hydrogen peroxide, putrefactive bacteria, which cause an unpleasant odor, die.

For the same purposes, you can use hydroperite (hydrogen peroxide in tablet form).

Fresh Siberian cedar needles will help get rid of diseases of the oral cavity and gums (you can use pine or fir henna). It is necessary to chew the needles until water forms. In the process of chewing, due to coniferous phytoncides, the oral cavity is disinfected and cleansed of food debris. Two weeks of daily procedure will eliminate the unpleasant odor forever.

For decreased salivation and severe dry mouth, it is recommended to chew a slice of lemon. This will eliminate the repulsive odor from your mouth for an hour and a half.

Rinsing your mouth with decoctions of bitter herbs (wormwood, yarrow, tansy) also eliminates unpleasant odor. This is due to the fact that herbs enhance the secretion of saliva, which suppresses pathological microflora, which is the source of the unpleasant odor. To prepare the infusion, pour a glass of boiling water over the dried and crushed herb (a tablespoon) and leave for fifteen minutes. Rinse your mouth with this infusion two to three times a day.

An infusion of chamomile and calendula has an anti-inflammatory effect, will reduce inflammation of the tonsils, the back wall of the pharynx and the root of the tongue, reducing the intensity of bad breath. Preparation of the infusion is similar to the previous recipe.

Tea made from lemon and peppermint leaves, rose hips, caraway seeds, and thyme herb gives freshness to your breath. Brew the herb instead of tea and drink with honey.

Eating nuts or fennel in the morning will also reduce the unpleasant odor.

Rinse your mouth with tincture of St. John's wort (twenty to thirty drops in half a glass of water).

Use an infusion of strawberry leaves: pour two glasses of boiling water over a tablespoon of raw material and put on fire, cook for twenty minutes, then strain. Drink half a glass daily.

Infuse cranberries in water and consume daily.

Juice, water and alcohol infusion, alcohol tincture, syrup and sea buckthorn oil, consumed internally, will help get rid of the unpleasant odor.

Drinking an infusion of sorrel leaves also solves this unpleasant problem. Pour a tablespoon of fresh leaves into two glasses of water, put on fire and cook from the moment of boiling for fifteen minutes. Then leave the broth for two hours and strain. Drink 50 ml four times a day fifteen minutes before meals.

A decoction of oak bark helps with chronic tonsillitis, stomatitis, pharyngitis, and bad breath. Rinse your mouth with it two to three times a day for ten minutes.