Putrid odor from the mouth. Bad breath and white coating on the tongue: causes and treatment

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 tint, 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!

Almost every adult faces the problem of bad breath (halitosis) sooner or later. People experiencing such problems begin to feel some discomfort when communicating, which, in turn, leads to isolation, decreased self-esteem, loss of self-confidence and, ultimately, to loneliness.

All this can provoke the occurrence of psychoneurological diseases that develop due to a lack of communication.

Causes of bad breath in adults. Types of halitosis

Sometimes the person himself does not notice or does not want to notice the unpleasant odor emanating from the oral cavity. However, this may be a symptom of quite serious illnesses, therefore, you should not ignore the problem and contact the clinic as soon as possible to find out the cause and make the correct diagnosis.

Types of halitosis

There are two types of halitosis:

Physiological. The appearance of bad breath is caused by dietary errors or poor oral hygiene. This type of halitosis can occur with smoking, fasting, and excessive consumption of alcohol and medications.
Pathological. Caused by dental diseases (oral halitosis) or pathologies of internal organs (extrooral).

In addition, in the scientific world there are such concepts as pseudohalitosis and halitophobia. Both of these conditions are psychological in nature.

Pseudogalithosis is one of the obsessive states in which the patient constantly feels that his breath smells bad. In such cases, the help of a psychotherapist is required.

Overly suspicious people often suffer halitophobia- constant fear of the appearance of a bad odor after an illness.

So, before taking any measures to eliminate bad breath, you should find out the reason his emergence. Perhaps it’s a matter of an incorrect and unbalanced diet, or is everything explained by the poor state of the environment? What if halitosis is caused by pathological changes in internal organs or is it contagious?

Physiological type

There are many reasons that cause bad breath, the main ones being the following.

General oral health. In an adult, as well as in a child, odor can appear due to insufficient oral care. In this case, you should check your teeth and gums.

Dry mouth. In medical circles, this phenomenon is called xerostomia. It usually arises as a result of lengthy conversations. Often, xerostomia affects people whose profession involves constant communication (for example, TV presenters, announcers, etc.).

Wrong diet. Experts have identified a number of products, the consumption of which can provoke halitosis. These are mainly fatty foods that have a negative effect on the walls of the stomach and esophagus.

Bad habits. Habits such as smoking and alcohol can cause bad breath. But if with the second option everything is more or less clear (those who have encountered the problem of hangover syndrome understand well what we are talking about), then with smoking the situation is somewhat different. This is explained by the fact that smokers use cigarettes almost every day, and tobacco smoke has a negative effect on the oral mucosa. The result of this effect is the drying out of the mouth and the creation of favorable conditions for the emergence and development of various types of harmful microorganisms, which will be very problematic to get rid of in the future.

Poor oral hygiene. Bad breath can occur as a result of plaque on the tongue, gums, inside of the cheeks and even teeth. The appearance of such plaque is usually explained by non-compliance with the rules of oral hygiene, which results in the active development of bacteria that feed on food debris remaining in the mouth.

Microbes. In some cases, bad breath appears in the morning, seemingly for no apparent reason. In fact, it’s all about microbes that actively grow and multiply almost constantly, especially at night. During sleep, the amount of saliva in a person's mouth decreases, which creates favorable conditions for the growth and development of harmful bacteria. You can get rid of bad breath in a simple way: just brush your teeth and additionally use a mouth rinse to maintain the effect.

Pathological type

This form of halitosis is characterized by the appearance of the following odors from the mouth:

acetone;
ammonia;
feces;
putrefactive;
sour;
rotten eggs.

Smell of rotten breath. Most often, the cause of this odor is pathological changes in the respiratory system and dental diseases. In addition, it may appear due to the accumulation of food debris under the denture or in a diseased tooth. Under the influence of harmful microorganisms, amino acids decompose, which determines the nature of this form of halitosis.

The main causes of putrid odor from the mouth may be the following:

In addition, the smell of rot can be caused by the following factors:

organ dysfunction digestive tract, in this case a particularly pronounced odor is observed;
alcohol abuse and smoking;
poor oral hygiene, resulting in the appearance of tartar or plaque.

Ammonia smell. The causes of its appearance are kidney diseases and renal failure, in which the level of urea in the blood is greatly exceeded. The body, not being able to fully remove this substance naturally, begins to look for an alternative exit, that is, through the skin and mucous membranes. This explains the appearance of the ammonia smell.

Smell of feces from the mouth. There may be several reasons for its occurrence: intestinal obstruction, poor absorption of food, decreased peristalsis and dysbiosis.

People with bulimia or anorexia may also experience a fecal odor in their mouth. This is also associated with a disruption of the digestive process: food is poorly digested (or not digested at all), and rotting and fermentation begins.

In some cases, such an aroma may be caused by infectious lesions of the respiratory system.

Smell of acid. An increased level of gastric acidity caused by diseases such as pancreatitis, gastric or duodenal ulcers, esophageal diverticulitis or gastritis provokes the appearance of a sour odor from the mouth. The acidic smell may be accompanied by nausea or heartburn.

Rotten egg smell. The main reason for the appearance of such a smell is also disturbances in the functioning of the stomach associated with decreased acidity and gastritis. In this case, a person may experience a feeling of discomfort in the stomach area, and belching appears. Another cause of rotten egg breath is food poisoning.

Smell of acetone from the mouth. The most harmless cause of the smell of acetone is ordinary indigestion, but there are several quite serious diseases accompanied by this form of halitosis.

The smell of acetone may indicate diseases of the pancreas (pancreatitis, diabetes), and also indicate the development of other pathologies, as will be discussed below.

Liver diseases. The course of some liver diseases is accompanied by the appearance of acetone in human urine and blood. If the functioning of an organ is disrupted, the task of which is precisely to cleanse the body of all sorts of unnecessary substances, including toxic ones, leads to the accumulation of acetone and, as a result, the appearance of odor from the oral cavity.
Diabetes. High blood sugar, characteristic of an advanced form of diabetes, coupled with the release of large amounts of acetone (ketone bodies) into the human blood forces the kidneys to work harder and remove toxic substances from the body. The lungs also take an active part in the process, which explains the appearance of an acetone odor from the patient’s mouth.

When this symptom appears, the patient must be urgently hospitalized in order to conduct a thorough examination and provide immediate assistance. medical care. Otherwise, a diabetic coma is possible.

Kidney diseases. The smell of acetone from the mouth can appear with uric acid diathesis, as well as with diseases such as kidney dystrophy, renal failure, nephrosis. These pathologies cause disruption of protein metabolism and its breakdown products begin to accumulate in the blood.

Diagnosis of bad breath

Halitosis is detected in the following ways:

Organoleptic method (assessment of the intensity of halitosis by a specialist). In this case, the degree of manifestation of bad breath is assessed on a five-point scale (from 0 to 5). Before the examination, it is recommended to refrain from using odorous cosmetics one day before the procedure, and eating spicy food approximately 48 hours before visiting the doctor. In addition, 12 hours before the start of the assessment, it is advisable to stop using breath fresheners and mouth rinses, and stop brushing your teeth, smoking, eating and drinking.
Analysis of the medical history: when exactly does bad breath appear, how long ago has it started, are there any chronic diseases of the oral cavity, gums, liver, gastrointestinal tract, paranasal sinuses and nose itself, is there a connection with food intake, etc.
Pharyngoscopy (examination of the larynx).
Sulfide monitoring is the use of a special device (halimeter) to measure the degree of sulfur concentration in the air exhaled by the patient.
Examination of the nose and nasopharynx using an endoscope.
Examination of the oral cavity by a dentist (to identify white or yellowish plaque on the patient’s tongue and teeth).
Laryngoscopy.
Consultation with a gastroenterologist and pulmonologist (in order to exclude diseases of the lungs and bronchi).
Biochemical blood test (sugar levels, liver and kidney enzymes are examined).

Prevention of unpleasant odors

In order to avoid the appearance of bad breath and subsequent problems associated with it, you should follow a few simple rules:

First of all, you must carefully adhere to the rules of oral hygiene and regularly visit the dentist for preventive examinations.
Nutrition should be balanced, rich in vitamins and microelements.
In addition to daily brushing of teeth, it is necessary to use special mouth rinses that help destroy harmful microorganisms and freshen breath. Do not overuse alcohol rinses, as they greatly dry out the mucous membranes.
Timely prevention and treatment of pathologies of internal organs, as well as infectious diseases.
Regular consumption of fresh vegetables and fruits.
Whenever you brush your teeth, do not forget about your tongue and be sure to clean it of any plaque that has appeared.
Refusal to drink alcohol, cigarettes, and lead a healthy lifestyle.
Using special moisturizers for dry mouth.

The appearance of bad odor from the oral cavity should not be ignored and you should not try to get rid of it with the help of hygiene products. This can only drown out the problem for a while, but will not destroy it completely. Sometimes even a simple consultation with a specialist gives a good result, and timely treatment will save you from such troubles for a long time.

Foods with odors can cause bad breath. Halitosis is the medical term for bad breath. Treatment for halitosis will depend on what is causing the bad breath. Treatment for bad breath is very simple. If bad breath persists, you should consult a doctor to determine the causes of bad breath and treatment. And treatment is necessary if the bad breath is constant and if you cannot determine the cause of this bad breath, consult a doctor to identify the cause of the bad breath and treatment. Smell from the mouth. Methods of treatment with folk remedies. The causes of bad breath can be divided into two groups: those associated with diseases of the oral cavity or those associated with diseases of the internal organs. Let us consider below not only all the possible causes of bad breath, but also methods of treating it.

Bad breath - causes and treatment

Bad breath can destroy any image, even a well-formed one. With the help of advice from professional doctors, we will help you, at a minimum, not attract the attention of others with your breathing.
Halitosis- a medical term for unpleasant odor from the mouth.
Morning bad breath is a purely physiological phenomenon and can be eliminated with an ordinary toothbrush. Additionally, certain foods such as garlic, onions or cabbage can also cause bad breath. All these manifestations relate to physiological odor from the mouth (halitosis (bad breath)). Eat less of these smelly foods.
However, more than a quarter of the entire world's population suffers from pathological halitosis (bad breath) (bad breath). In this case, neither tons of chewing gum, nor mountains of mint candies, nor newfangled mouth sprays help - the smell still remains unpleasant.

Bad breath can also be caused by advanced caries. A large number of anaerobic bacteria and food debris accumulate in carious cavities. These cavities are difficult to clean using conventional hygiene products, which makes the disease highly resistant. The same applies to periodontitis - microbes actively multiply under the gums, causing a sulfurous odor. In this case, even the blood and purulent inflammatory exudate located in the gum pockets smell unpleasant.

Wearing dentures can also lead to halitosis - firstly, the smell will be absorbed by the polymer base of the denture, and secondly, pieces of food can remain under the dentures and decompose there, emitting “odors”.

Another cause of halitosis is decreased saliva secretion and dry mouth syndrome. When saliva is not released quickly enough and in small quantities, the natural cleaning of the oral cavity from food debris is disrupted, favorable conditions are created for the proliferation of microorganisms, and local immunity is reduced.

Common causes of halitosis include mainly chronic diseases associated with the gastrointestinal tract, ENT diseases, metabolic disorders, hormonal disorders, etc. For example, in women, bad breath may appear during the onset of the menstrual cycle, which associated with increased estrogen levels. These hormones promote increased desquamation of the epithelium, including on the oral mucosa, and this is a favorite breeding ground for anaerobic microorganisms.

In many cases, halitosis should make the patient check his health - the smell also signals a more serious illness. Thus, in approximately 8% of cases, the cause of halitosis is pathology of the ENT organs. Chronic sinusitis, rhinitis, tonsillitis, nasal polyps often make themselves felt with an unpleasant odor.

Many people know that a consequence of diabetes mellitus is often the smell of acetone released when breathing. Dysfunction of the liver and gall bladder is also accompanied by a “pungent” heavy odor, and kidney failure is accompanied by a putrid “fishy” odor. So, before you run to the pharmacy for a new toothbrush and advertised toothpaste that kills germs outright, go to the doctor.

Food is also of great importance. For example, garlic and raw onions contain substances that belong to the group of sulfur compounds. They are able to be absorbed into the blood and then released through the lungs during breathing.

Alcohol, nicotine, coffee and some medications (antibiotics and sulfonamides, antidepressants, antihistamines and anti-inflammatory drugs) cause dry mouth and, as a result, lead to an unpleasant odor.

Stress, nervous tension, or excessive dieting and fasting also lead to halitosis. During fasting, a deficiency in the intake of proteins and fats is created in the body, and the utilization of endogenous reserves begins, which can also cause an unpleasant odor. It appears during a stressful situation and disappears after the cessation of emotional stress. Among the causes are impaired salivation and dry mouth.

Nowadays medicine uses effective methods for diagnosing halitosis. You can evaluate the intensity of an unpleasant odor using a special device - a halimeter. It is not only useful for diagnosis, but also allows you to evaluate how well the treatment is progressing.

To identify bacteria that cause halitosis, some dentists use microbiological tests, for example, analyzing the composition of dental plaque. Using a mirror, the back of the tongue is examined - it should be the same color as the oral mucosa. White, cream or brown color indicates glossitis. The condition of the patient’s teeth is also assessed for the quality of hygiene.

A consultation with an ENT doctor (for the presence of sinusitis and polyps) and a gastroenterologist is also necessary - he must exclude systemic diseases such as diabetes, liver and kidney failure.

Treatment for halitosis will depend on what caused the disease. If these are advanced ENT diseases, then you will have to undergo treatment from an otolaryngologist. Other chronic diseases require consultation and treatment from appropriate specialists.

If the cause of the unpleasant odor lies in the oral cavity, then it is necessary to eliminate foci of infection, remove decayed teeth that cannot be restored, and undergo a course of professional oral hygiene with the removal of supragingival and subgingival dental plaque.

Any odor is a volatile compound. This problem is solved in different ways. People often try to mask the odor with mouthwash or chewing gum. But few people know that the effect of chewing gum is temporary and they have a detrimental effect on the gastrointestinal tract. As for rinses, they kill the natural flora of the oral cavity, and this can only increase the unpleasant odor. Today, CB12 anti-bad breath is the only product that completely neutralizes volatile compounds rather than masking them. With daily use of the product, fresh breath will become your constant companion. Unlike other rinses, it retains its effect for 12 hours, acts directly on the cause of the odor, without disturbing the normal flora in the mouth.

Compliance with hygiene rules is of great importance: teeth should be brushed using a toothbrush and floss (dental floss) to remove plaque and food debris from the teeth. And cleaning your tongue should become a mandatory daily procedure. This not only helps eliminate odor, but also reduces the total number of bacteria in the oral cavity, which has a beneficial effect on the health of periodontal tissue. If periodontitis has already been diagnosed, it is worth starting to use special oral irrigators to more effectively remove infected masses and food debris from the periodontal pockets. In addition, these irrigators will help get rid of dry mouth.

Don’t forget about proper nutrition: an excess of fast carbohydrates (sugar and processed foods) increases the amount of plaque on the teeth and leads to caries. Eat more fiber. Fresh greens, vegetables and fruits will help normalize intestinal function and reduce bad breath.

Checking your breathing

In order to determine the freshness of your breath, just bring your palm to your face in such a way as to simultaneously cover your mouth and nose. After this, exhale deeply through your mouth. Did you smell it? If you can’t clearly determine what and how much it smells, buy a disposable mask at the pharmacy and breathe into it for a minute. The smell under the mask will exactly match the smell that others smell from you during communication.

Today, specialized breath indicators are produced that can determine the level of freshness on a five-point scale. The manufacturers of this device claim that its use is a sign of good manners. In fact, it is easier to talk about the smell with your loved ones, ideally with your child, because children are less diplomatic in these matters and will tell the whole truth.

In medical institutions they use a more complex device - a gas analyzer. With its help, you can determine the chemical composition of the air that is exhaled and, based on the analysis, determine the causes of the bad odor.

Why is my breath bad?

The main causes of halitosis (bad breath) are:
- insufficient level of hygiene;
- diseases of teeth and gums;
- xerostomia - insufficient level of hydration of the oral mucosa;
- inflammatory processes in the oral cavity.

In these cases, the cause of the foul odor is bacteria accumulated in the mouth and residual food fragments. It is almost impossible to combat these phenomena at home. Such halitosis (bad breath) can only be cured in dental clinics.

But it is necessary to take into account that halitosis (bad breath) can be caused not only by diseases of the oral cavity.

In one case out of ten, the causes of odor are:
- ENT diseases: sore throats, sinusitis, runny nose;
- diseases of the intestines and stomach;
- lung diseases;
- endocrine system disorders;
- all kinds of diets;
- some medicines;
- smoking.

What does illness smell like?

The hydrogen sulfide smell is the smell of rotten eggs. The cause of the smell is the process of rotting protein substances. If the smell is accompanied by pain in the abdominal area after eating, belching and nausea, then it can be caused by gastritis with low acidity, peptic ulcer, diverticulosis of the stomach or esophagus, etc.

Very often, such an unpleasant odor can occur after a banal “holiday” overeating. In such cases, you can get rid of it with the help of absorbent substances (activated carbon, Smecta), as well as enzyme-based drugs (Festal, Pancreatin, Mezim, etc.).

A sour smell and taste in the mouth can be caused by: gastritis with high acidity, gastrointestinal ulcers, esophageal diseases.

The smell and taste of bitterness is a manifestation of diseases of the gallbladder and liver; this can also be indicated by a yellow coating on the tongue.

The smell of feces from the mouth can occur with dysbacteriosis, intestinal motor neuroses (dyskinesia) and intestinal obstruction.

The acetone smell with a sweet aftertaste can cause pancreatic diseases and diabetes.

The smell of urine from the mouth indicates kidney disease.

Treatment of bad breath (halitosis - bad breath)

First of all, try adding a tongue cleansing procedure to your daily twice-daily brushing of your teeth. It is better to do this in the evening using an ordinary teaspoon. Using light, gentle movements from root to tip, clean your tongue of daytime plaque. The procedure is not very pleasant, but effective.

Cleaning your tongue will rid you of bacteria, the population of which could increase significantly overnight in a favorable oral environment. Believe me, thanks to this evening procedure, your breath will be much fresher the next morning.

Clean the spaces between your teeth using a special floss. If you don’t have this tool at hand, use the old-fashioned method: tear off a strip of clean polyethylene, stretch it into a thread and remove food debris and plaque from the interdental space.
- After eating, be sure to rinse your mouth. You should not use tea for this purpose; it darkens tooth enamel.

Making your own mouth rinses

1. A tablespoon of mint, chamomile, sage or strawberry is poured into a glass of boiling water. After cooling, the broth is filtered. Use for rinsing after meals 3-4 times a day.
2. A tablespoon of oak bark is poured into 200 ml of boiling water and heated in a water bath for up to 30 minutes. Strain after cooling and rinse your mouth and throat. Oak bark has a strengthening effect on the gums and clears plaque from the tonsils, which can serve as sources of bad breath due to a large accumulation of infectious components.

An irrigator provides more effective cleaning of the oral cavity at home. This is a toothbrush-type tool that cleans the spaces between teeth using a strong jet of water, which massages the surface of the gums and activates blood circulation.

Choosing a toothpaste for bad breath
If you have halitosis (bad breath), you should choose a toothpaste that does not contain alcohol. Alcohol dries out the oral mucosa, which intensifies the odor.

In addition, pay attention to pastes that contain antibacterial agents based on chlorine compounds.

When choosing a rinse aid, the same principles are used as when choosing a toothpaste. In addition, modern mouthwashes may contain components (zinc- and choloro-containing) that reduce the activity of halitosis (bad breath) due to chemical reactions.

Quick effect of fresh breath
There are a large number of modern means of quickly getting rid of bad breath: aerosol fresheners, chewing gum, lollipops, etc. They are characterized by both rapid efficiency and low stability due to their short duration of action.

What to do when they are not at hand at the right time?

First of all, try drinking a cup of strong tea, then rinse your mouth and throat with clean water.

Apples and carrots will help get rid of the smell. The aroma of onions or garlic can be neutralized with parsley or celery root.

Chewing coffee beans can reduce the unpleasant smell and taste in your mouth.

People who have to talk a lot during the day often have bad breath. This is due to drying of the oral mucosa due to a decrease in the amount of saliva.

Saliva is a natural means of cleaning the oral cavity. Saliva contains the antibacterial enzyme lysozyme, which ensures the destruction of bacterial cells. In addition, saliva ensures the dissolution of food debris and toxins released by bacteria. Lack of saliva is one of the main reasons for increased bad breath.

In such situations, you should simply drink more often. A small amount of liquid will protect the oral cavity from drying out, remove the unpleasant taste and freshen your breath.

Include oatmeal porridge in your morning diet; this product significantly activates saliva production.

If there is no toothbrush nearby, you can wipe your teeth, gums and tongue with your finger. Thus, you will not only get rid of the unpleasant odor, but also massage your gums.

Use walnut pulp to rub your gums. In this way, you can provide the oral cavity with the necessary vitamins and freshen your breath with a pleasant nutty taste.

You need to understand that bad breath is a problem that interferes with your normal life. Halitosis (bad breath) is a direct threat not only to personal self-esteem, but also to a person’s social status. Communication, attractiveness and sexuality can be ruined in an instant by repulsive bad breath.

Halitosis (bad breath) is a problem that requires mandatory solutions. At the same time, we should not go to extremes; traditional methods of hygiene procedures are familiar to us from childhood, and they should not be neglected.

If the odor remains, even after daily oral hygiene, you need to contact your dentist. Nine times out of ten, your problem will be resolved within a few visits. If your mouth and teeth turn out to be healthy, and the smell continues to bother you, then you will have to look for the reasons inside the body.

Start visiting doctors with an ENT specialist. Diseases of the nose, throat and ear most often provoke problems with fresh breath. If no complaints are found from these bodies, then it’s time to visit a therapist. It is possible that the cause of the unpleasant odor is an exacerbation of a disease that has become chronic and to which you have long been accustomed.

Smell from the mouth– an unpleasant symptom that can be experienced by a person of any age. Halitosis is the medical term for unpleasant odor from the mouth. Morning bad breath is a purely physiological phenomenon and can be eliminated with an ordinary toothbrush.

Additionally, certain foods such as garlic, onions or cabbage can also cause bad breath. All these manifestations relate to physiological halitosis.

Smell from the mouth

However, more than a quarter of the entire world population suffers from pathological bad breath. In this case, neither tons of chewing gum, nor mountains of mint candies, nor newfangled mouth sprays help - the smell still remains unpleasant.

Its occurrence is often associated with the presence of dental problems. In fact, bad breath does not always indicate diseases of the teeth and gums. In some cases, you can get rid of such a smell on your own, and sometimes you cannot do without the help of a specialist.

Causes of bad breath

Chronic bad breath, medically called halitosis, is most often caused by smoking or chewing tobacco, as well as improper dental care. Or this is a sign that something is wrong in your mouth:

damaged tooth;
sore gum;
tongue disease.

In approximately 85% of cases, the cause of bad odor is in the mouth. The remaining 25% are due to gastroenterological or respiratory diseases.

If you suffer from bad breath when you wake up in the morning, it may be a sign of dry mouth due to mouth breathing at night, or you are taking certain types of medications, or it may be due to some internal disorder.

Halitosis can appear with swelling of the nasopharynx, nasal infection and other diseases of the respiratory tract.

It is caused by tonsillitis (tonsil stones) - small whitish specks consisting of foul-smelling food debris, dried mucus and bacteria that fill the folds of the tonsils. Enlarged tonsils with deep folds or frequently recurring tonsillitis are excellent soil for such deposits. People suffering from these “accumulations” sometimes try to dig them out with the help of cotton swabs or sharp objects, but the situation repeats itself again.

Bad breath can be a sign of serious kidney, liver, and lung disease. Sometimes it warns of intestinal and digestive disorders, including constipation, indigestion, etc. Any condition that causes frequent vomiting, including bulimia, can cause bad breath.

Although bad breath is rarely the result of stomach problems, it is an epidemic among dieters. It's easy to tell if someone is on the Atkins diet or another low-carb, high-protein or high-fat diet. Almost two-thirds of people following one of these diets suffer from bad breath, so they often lose friends along with the extra pounds.

Bad breath is a sign that the body is breaking down fat into ketones, hence the name ketosis (high ketone levels). Ketosis is considered a good sign for those trying to lose weight, but it can progress to acidosis - an imbalance in the acid-base balance in the blood, and this is a serious disorder that increases the risk of osteoporosis and kidney stones or something even more serious.

Risk factors for bad breath

The appearance of bad breath can be caused by temporary factors that change the microflora in the oral cavity or disruptions in the functioning of individual organs:

insufficient oral care;

excessive consumption of sweets and foods with a strong smell: onions, garlic, corn, cabbage;

carious teeth, gum inflammation, stomatitis;

breathing through your mouth causes dry mouth;

coating on the tongue;

fungal infection of the tongue, lips, inner cheeks (white “grains”);

metabolic disorders: hereditary diseases, diabetes;

diseases of the intestines and stomach: gastritis, dysbacteriosis, liver or kidney disease, worms;

concentration of mucus in the sinuses and nasopharynx: chronic sinusitis, sinusitis, seasonal allergies, adenoids, inflammation of the tonsils - chronic tonsillitis;

increased dryness of the oral and nasopharyngeal mucosa as a result of long-term use of medications: antibiotics, nasal drops;

emotional tension (stress, fears) cause drying of the oral mucosa;

Lung pathologies: bronchitis, bronchoetasis, abscess.

Diseases that cause bad breath

The disease that causes it can be determined by the smell from the mouth.

Bad breath can be a symptom of the following diseases:

How to get rid of bad breath

Getting rid of such an unpleasant symptom is not always easy. To prevent the appearance of odor, you should resort to oral hygiene procedures as often as possible, use special toothpastes and rinses that prevent the rapid growth of bacteria, breath freshener sprays, and chew chewing gum.

Such measures are more likely to mask this symptom, but do not in any way affect the cause of its occurrence, and therefore are ineffective. You can completely eliminate bad breath only by solving the problem of its occurrence.

If the problem lies only in the rapid proliferation of bacteria that accumulate on the teeth and gums, mainly after eating, it can be easily solved with toothpaste. If you cannot brush your teeth after eating, you can rinse your mouth thoroughly with water and use dental floss.

Also, the condition of the oral cavity and the body as a whole is influenced by a person’s diet and lifestyle. Regular consumption of healthy food, rich in vitamins and various microelements, and giving up bad habits help restore the microflora of the oral cavity and, as a result, lead to the disappearance of unpleasant odor (if its cause does not lie in the presence of pathologies of the internal organs). In other cases, only a specialist can help solve the problem of bad breath.

Treatment of bad breath

Before starting treatment, we must clearly establish the cause of the odor. But sometimes only a trial treatment can reveal this cause. The main cause of halitosis is a coating on the tongue. And he, in turn, is a mirror of the gastrointestinal tract. Therefore, it is necessary to look for and identify gastrointestinal diseases that are accompanied by the appearance of plaque on the tongue.

eliminate sugar in any form from your diet;
exclude black tea and coffee from the diet;
exclude milk and cottage cheese;
reduce the content of meat dishes in the diet;
increase the content of raw vegetables and fruits, berries.

Make it a rule to eat one apple and one carrot a day. Chewing raw fruits and vegetables loads and strengthens the gums, teeth, chewing muscles, in the thickness of which and under which the salivary glands are located, that is, they massage and secrete saliva. In addition, raw vegetables and fruits mechanically remove plaque from the tongue.

Intake of fermented milk products containing acidophilus bacteria:

yogurt;
curdled milk;
kefir;
fermented baked milk;
biolact.

These products saturate the intestines with beneficial bacteria that help a person with immunity and digestion. This means that the work of pathogenic bacteria, which previously caused fermentation and flatulence in the intestines, diarrhea and colic, and also led to a decrease in immunity, is inhibited.

Liquid

Another important point in the treatment of bad breath is replenishing the amount of saliva in the mouth. Or rather, not so much saliva as moisture in general. Remember who most often has bad breath - teachers, lecturers, institute professors. They talk a lot and for a long time every day. As a result, your mouth becomes dry and anaerobic bacteria develop on your tongue.

In addition, human saliva normally contains a bactericidal substance - lysozyme, which kills various bacteria. And if there is little saliva, then there is nothing to kill bacteria. Therefore, advice to everyone who wants to cure bad breath is to drink at least 2 liters of water a day, that’s 10 glasses of water. And in the summer - even more, since most of the moisture also comes out with sweat.

Moderate physical activity

Antibiotics

Antibiotics are an extremely effective treatment, but without proper medical supervision can lead to even worse halitosis. The main antibiotics used today in the treatment of halitosis are antibiotics from the metronidazole (Trichopol) group.

These antibiotics kill anaerobic microbes, which leads to quick relief from bad breath. But if a person has not identified the true reason why anaerobic bacteria began to appear in him, then treatment with antibiotics will be like “shooting sparrows with a cannon.”

If the causative disease is not treated, then immediately after stopping antibiotics, bad breath will return with the same force. In addition, self-medication can be harmful.

Folk remedies for bad breath

We can advise you to rinse your mouth using herbal infusions. For example, chamomile - to do this, pour a glass of boiling water over three tablespoons of chamomile flowers, leave for an hour, then strain and you can rinse.

You can also prepare a mint infusion - pour half a liter of boiling water over a tablespoon of dry mint leaves or a handful of fresh mint leaves, leave for half an hour and strain.

Thanks to research, magnolia bark has the best effect - it helps get rid of ninety-nine percent of pathogenic bacteria in your mouth, which bring with them an unpleasant odor.

In addition, you can eat certain foods that will help get rid of halitosis. These products include:

green tea;
chewing gum containing xylitol;
yogurt;
carnation;
parsley.

There are several other traditional ways to get rid of bad breath. Pour a glass of boiling water over two tea boats of wormwood, leave this decoction for twenty minutes, strain and rinse your mouth five to six times a day. Or pour a tablespoon of mint into half a liter of boiling water. Leave this infusion for an hour and strain. You need to rinse four to six times a day.

Child has bad breath

An unusual or unpleasant odor from a child’s mouth should always attract the attention of parents; such a case should not be ignored. After all, an unhealthy smell in the mouth is the first sign of some abnormalities in your child’s well-being. Therefore, it is necessary to accurately understand the reasons for this condition.

Causes of bad breath in children

Child's oral hygiene

Having sensed a bad odor in a child, parents naturally turn to the dentist. Carefully following all the suggested recommendations will help you get rid of unwanted bad breath in your child. Already from childhood, it is necessary to accustom your child to brushing his teeth. To do this, be sure to use only baby toothpaste. All children's pastes are classified according to the age of the children, so you can easily choose the right option.

Disturbance of microflora in the mouth and nasopharynx

This cause of bad odor can occur in children in case of chronic diseases of the nasopharynx or oral cavity. Such diseases include untreated caries, pharyngitis, tonsillitis, adenoiditis, otitis media, bronchopulmonary diseases, and diseases of the gastric organs. All of these diseases lead to disruption of the microflora in the baby’s mouth and, as a result, to a repulsive odor from the child’s mouth.

Salivation disorders

Impaired salivation due to problems with the salivary glands, in particular with their functionality. The work of the salivary glands in the body of any person, including a child, is of great importance. Because it is saliva that performs a kind of protective function, as it cleanses the oral cavity of germs with every sip. Saliva contains special enzymes, immunoglobulins and many other components that provide many useful functions in the human body. Saliva cleanses and moisturizes the mucous membrane in the mouth, has a bactericidal effect, and ensures phosphorus and calcium metabolism.

Pathologies in nasal breathing

This is far from a harmless phenomenon, which is accompanied by rhinitis and adenoiditis. Due to incomplete nasal breathing, the mucous membrane in the mouth dries out, which leads to the same pathological consequences - dry mouth and, as a consequence, disruption of the microflora, accompanied by an unpleasant odor in the mouth.

Digestive system disorder

Often, such disorders can appear during special age periods of children, for example, when the child grows rapidly and the internal organs cannot keep up with it. During this period, an imbalance in the functioning of the digestive system may occur and also lead to a repulsive odor in the mouth.

A specific odor from a child’s mouth can be caused by such serious diseases as diabetes mellitus, pulmonary diseases: bronchitis, tracheitis, abscesses.

Treatment of bad breath in children

As you can see, there can be a lot of reasons that can cause an unpleasant smell in a child. Therefore, effective treatment requires competent diagnosis, which can only be performed by a doctor, and therefore there can be no talk of any self-medication. The very first thing to do if a child has bad breath is to consult a pediatrician.

Only a pediatrician can take a comprehensive approach to solving this problem.

Questions and answers on the topic "Bad breath"

Question:Hello! What should I do if I have bad breath?

Answer: Hello! There are various causes of bad breath, but in healthy people, the main cause is related to microbial deposits on the tongue, especially in the back of the tongue. Some studies have shown that simply brushing your tongue reduces bad breath by as much as 70 percent.

Question:Hello! What does the smell of rotten eggs on your breath indicate?

Answer: Hello! The smell of rotten eggs on the breath occurs when air laced with hydrogen sulfide escapes from the digestive tract. This “aroma” is a consequence of the breakdown of protein products. This symptom can be observed, for example, with low acidity of gastric juice, as a result of which food lingers in the stomach for a long time and begins to rot. Putrid belching can also occur as a result of banal overeating.

Question:Hello! How to remove bad breath?

Answer: Hello! This is of course a very sensitive topic and a big problem for the person who suffers from it. In fact, there are many of this unpleasant problems. First of all, you need to check the gastrointestinal tract, visit the dentist to make sure that you do not have caries, which in turn also causes bad breath. Try using mouthwash (they are sold in pharmacies or chewing gum).

Question:Hello! Lately, I, a neat guy, have been told that I have an unpleasant odor coming from my mouth. I don’t want to go to any doctors, because all my teeth are healthy and I have regular dental check-ups. What can be done in my case?

Answer: Hello! The causes of unpleasant odor in the mouth can be smoking, alcohol, dental and gum disease, stomach disease, and can also be due to certain medications. You can get rid of this situation in several ways: you must thoroughly brush your teeth and gums, and you can even brush your tongue (only with a special spatula, not the back of a toothbrush), you also need to rinse your mouth, the solution can be prepared as follows - 1 tbsp. pour a spoonful of chamomile with one glass of boiling water, there is also such a solution, take 1 tbsp. spoon of oak bark and also pour boiling water, leave and strain and rinse before going to bed. If traditional medicine does not help, it is worth considering that the cause of the unpleasant odor lies elsewhere and be sure to visit a gastroenterologist.

Question:

Answer:

Question:Hello! For a very long time now, I have had bad breath and a bitter taste in my mouth in the mornings. I tried everything I could, but nothing helps. My personal hygiene is fine, I brush my teeth, before going to bed too, but the bitterness still remains in the morning... And it doesn’t go away even after brushing my teeth, but only when I eat something or drink sweet coffee. And now I got married and for me it became just a tragedy, I try to wake up earlier than my husband, but I understand that this is not an option. Help, please, advise what to do.

Answer: Hello. Such problems may be associated with pathology of the gastrointestinal tract. Have you contacted the trapeut? To begin with, in addition to the examination, I would advise you to do an ultrasound of the abdominal organs and FGDS, and then build on the results obtained.

It is possible to get rid of bad breath, but, of course, it is necessary to accurately determine the period of occurrence of the problem and its possible causes.

A bad smell often becomes the source of many complexes in the person who suffers from it. This problem creates a lot of trouble in relationships with other people, and even after it is eliminated, the patient continues to suffer from various complexes.

How to check bad breath?

There are several options for checking for bad breath, but in order for the result of such tests to be objective, you need to do this about an hour after eating.

The easiest way is to breathe into your palm and immediately smell the area. If it stinks a little, then you still have an unpleasant odor when breathing, but this method is only effective when the odor is very noticeable. An unpleasant but weaker odor cannot be detected in this way.

You can use another method - run a spoon over your entire tongue. As a rule, plaque (bacteria) remains on it, which provokes “fragrance”. This is approximately the smell your interlocutors smell when you talk to them at a fairly close distance.

You can use other methods to check, for example, but an unpleasant odor from dental floss does not always mean that your breath smells the same.

Causes

Why does my breath have a strong odor? The reason is only in the teeth, but what if they are healthy? Let's try to figure out the main causes of the problem:

The most common and common cause is eating foods with a strong and persistent unpleasant odor (for example, garlic). After eating such food, some particles begin to be released through the mouth through breathing.
Negative processes in the oral cavity: diseases of the teeth, throat. Every disease is an increase in the number of bacteria that lead to stench.
Bad habits – smokers, for example, have these problems more often than non-smokers.
Diseases not related to the oral cavity: tonsillitis, sinusitis, diseases of the lungs, digestive system.

How to eliminate bad breath at home?

People who have had these problems get rid of putrid, rotten or sour smells by rinsing with the following tinctures:

Regular rinsing with strong mint infusion. Regular consumption of mint tea can have the same effect;

To instantly get rid of the smell, you can chew parsley leaves, but this method does not eliminate the cause, it only effectively combats the consequences.

A decoction of wormwood, chamomile and strawberry leaves, mixed in equal quantities and poured with boiling water, is also popular.

Important! Regular and comprehensive oral hygiene is the best way of prevention. Brushing your teeth before bed is especially helpful, as it will reduce the critical mass of bacteria that accumulates there overnight.

It is also worth contacting a dentist, he will tell you from a professional point of view what is the cause of this phenomenon and how to effectively deal with it specifically in your case.

Smell of acetone from the mouth - what to do?

It is immediately worth noting that at different ages the smell of acetone from the mouth should not be perceived in the same way.

In children

So, children, due to their very fast metabolism, very often suffer from this disease. Since beneficial substances are often removed from their body, a certain imbalance is created that can provoke such a smell.

However, this state of affairs is not a reason to panic, because often the condition returns to normal very quickly, and the smell disappears. You should be concerned if the child suffers from this for a very long time or too often.

In adults

If such a problem is noticed in an adult, then this is a much greater cause for concern. The fact is that this problem can hardly be attributed to too fast a metabolism, and it means systemic disturbances in the body’s activities.

Based on this, it is better to immediately consult a doctor and undergo an examination. Sometimes patients with diabetes and some other diseases suffer from such symptoms.

How to remove bad breath in the morning?

Unpleasant odor in the morning is a common but not very serious problem. The fact is that during the night, most people accumulate a critical mass of bacteria in their mouths due to a decrease in the amount of saliva in the mouth during sleep.

This problem can be eliminated as easily as it appears; as a preventative measure, it is necessary to regularly brush your teeth not only in the morning, but also before bed.

If the smell does not disappear after such procedures, then it is not a matter of biorhythms and then it is necessary to use the above methods of caring for the oral cavity, rinsing it with tinctures and decoctions. At the same time, you will need to consult a doctor.

Treatment of bad breath due to stomach

Stomach problems are also often the cause of bad breath. This case is more complicated, because the “fragrance” of the oral cavity is only a consequence of another disease.

If, when visiting a dentist, he did not reveal any problems with teeth, gums, etc., then you will have to contact a digestive system specialist to conduct a serious examination. After all, various diseases of the stomach and pancreas can be detected (for example, gastritis, ulcers, etc.).

For this reason, it is the stomach that will have to be treated first; after all, stomach diseases are much more serious than just bad breath. And after treatment of the detected disease, the breath will not smell unpleasant, but will return to normal.

The smell from the child’s mouth: sour, putrid, ammonia

As already mentioned, sometimes a child’s bad breath is not a cause for concern. A more serious cause for concern for parents will be the prolonged period of this phenomenon.

In this case, it is worth conducting a comprehensive study of the child’s health status. First of all, you need to take him to the dentist; if he does not find the cause of the phenomenon, then you should show the child to an otolaryngologist and gastroenterologist.

You should not attempt treatment on your own. Remember that the child’s body is much more sensitive to all kinds of drugs and drugs, and it is in this case that the observation and treatment of the child by specialists is very important.

Video: Dr. Komarovsky about the problem of unpleasant odor.

What to do if mucus with an unpleasant odor accumulates in the nasopharynx?

Bad breath odor is often a consequence of the accumulation of mucus in the nasopharynx; it itself does not cause a bad odor, but when it accumulates in excess and flows to the oral cavity, it thereby stimulates the growth of bacteria.

Excessive salivation occurs in the following cases:

infectious diseases respiratory organs;
allergy;
drinking alcohol, smoking;
pathologies of the digestive organs;
neurological diseases;
polyps and other nasopharyngeal abnormalities.

Medicines and drugs

Medicines are based on the need to rinse the mouth.

Tincture of calamus and/or St. John's wort is often recommended; they are quite simple to prepare. You need 20-25 drops of medicine per cup of boiled water; you can rinse your mouth with this solution several times a day.

The method of treatment with hydrogen peroxide is also popular. An equal amount of three percent peroxide and boiled water should be mixed and rinsed with this mixture in your mouth for several days. By the way, if you have periodontal disease, then this solution will help you cure this disease.

Video: Elena Malysheva talks about how to get rid of an unpleasant odor.

Preventive measures

To prevent bad breath, you must adhere to the following prevention methods:

go to the dentist regularly (2 times a year);
brush your teeth thoroughly and regularly (especially before going to bed);
be examined by other specialists (gastroenterologist, otolaryngologist, etc.);