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Understand stinks from the mouth. Bad breath - causes and treatment

There are a number of reasons bad smell mouth (halitosis):

usage low-quality funds hygiene. The toothbrush should be as maneuverable as possible, have medium hardness and a movable head that can penetrate hard-to-reach places;
irregular brushing of teeth. You need to take care of the oral cavity at least 2 times a day, because cariogenic bacteria constantly produce fetid hydrogen sulfide, which causes bad breath;
smoking. The smell from the mouth of smokers occurs against the background of prolonged smoking and chronic diseases of the teeth;
caries. Rotten food fragments stuck in carious cavities increase the manifestations of bad breath;
some diseases. Often the stench appears due to diseases of the digestive system (for example, gastritis);
wrong diet. Eating lots of fast food and rich foods simple carbohydrates, carbonated drinks can cause bad breath;
other reasons.

Who is at risk?

At risk of developing halitosis are also people who have:

endocrine disorders;
excess body weight;
hormonal disorders;
problems with the functioning of the salivary glands;
tendency to gas formation (flatulence);
immunodeficiency disorders;
inflammatory and infectious processes in the oral cavity;
disorders of the intestinal microflora.

How to get tested for halitosis?

Sometimes it is difficult to find out what causes bad breath without using instrumental and laboratory diagnostics. Therefore, if you suffer from halitosis, the symptoms of which do not decrease against the background of increased hygiene measures, it is worth going through comprehensive examination, visit a gastroenterologist, nutritionist, dental hygienist, take blood and urine tests.

In the dentist's office, you can undergo a diagnosis of exhaled air and assess the degree of development of halitosis. The specialist will determine exactly if you have this disease or if you suffer from halitophobia. The air exhaled through the nose has an odor that comes from palatine tonsils and nasal cavity. It has no odor coming from the mouth. Sometimes it's just unpleasant nasal breathing(with sinusitis, adenoids, polyps). Therefore, to determine the exact localization of the source of the stench, the specialist will evaluate the nasal, pulmonary and oral air separately.

Eliminate bad breath

Get rid of bad breath (halitosis) by changing your approach to nutrition and daily hygiene:

Use quality toothpastes and gels well-known manufacturers that can effectively remove microbial plaque, contribute to the prevention of caries, as well as the elimination of bad breath.

Use ultrasonic toothbrushes, because their bristles clean food debris even from hard-to-reach places.

Floss to clean the interdental spaces from pieces of food, which are fed by bacteria that create a stale smell in the mouth.

See you off regular procedure mouth rinses. Use rinse aids such as LISTERINE®. They include a complex essential oils, which can remove bad breath by acting directly on the cause of its appearance - pathogenic microorganisms. The ingredients in LISTERINE® reduce the formation microbial plaque on the surface of the teeth, destroy up to 99.9% of bacteria 1 that cause halitosis, as well as gum and dental diseases. When used correctly, LISTERINE® Rinses allow you to get rid of bad smell for 24 hours!

Food. In some cases, certain foods, such as apples, carrots, broccoli, spinach, Brussels sprouts, and other vegetables, can help reduce bad breath.

As you can see, the causes of bad breath are manifold. It can sometimes be difficult to determine why bad breath occurs in people who regularly visit the dentist, correct image life and take good care of your teeth. In each case, individual diagnosis and competent treatment are necessary.

1 In vitro studies using model of oral biofilms have shown that LISTERINE® can reduce the viability of plaque biofilm by up to 99% compared to a water control. Reduces up to 99% of plaque (or plaque forming) bacteria in lab tests. Internal reports for studies by Minoli G., October 3, 2008 (mixed species biofilm flow through assay performed from Sept. 30, 2008 through Oct. 3, 2008) and by Ilg D et al, Febriary 20, 2009 (mixed species biofilm flow through assay performed from February 16, 2009 to February 20, 2009).

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, reduced self-esteem, loss of self-confidence and, as a result, loneliness.

All this can provoke the emergence of neuropsychiatric diseases that develop on the basis of 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 what is coming from oral cavity unpleasant smell. However, it can be a symptom of quite serious illnesses , so 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 due to errors in the diet or non-compliance with oral hygiene. This type of halitosis can occur with smoking, fasting, overuse alcohol and medicines.
Pathological. called dental diseases(oral halitosis) or pathologies 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.

pseudohalitosis is among obsessive states, in which the patient constantly thinks that he has bad breath. In such cases, the help of a psychotherapist is required.

Too much suspicious people often suffer halitophobia - constant fear before the appearance of a bad smell after an illness.

So, before taking any measures to eliminate bad breath, you should find out the reason his occurrence. Maybe it's wrong and unbalanced diet or is it explained bad condition ecology? And if halitosis is caused by pathological changes in the internal organs or is it contagious?

Physiological type

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

General condition of the oral cavity. In an adult, however, as in a child, the smell may appear due to insufficient care of the oral cavity. In this case, the teeth and gums should be checked.

Dryness in the mouth. In medical circles, this phenomenon is called xerostomia. It occurs, as a rule, as a result of long conversations. Often, xerostomia affects people whose profession is associated with constant communication (for example, TV presenters, announcers, etc.).

Wrong diet. Experts have identified whole line foods that can cause halitosis. Mainly fatty food, which provides negative impact on the walls of the stomach and esophagus.

Bad habits. Bad breath can be caused by habits such as smoking and alcohol. But if everything is more or less clear with the second option (the one who faced the problem hangover syndrome understands well what is at stake), then with smoking the situation is somewhat different. This is explained by the fact that the smoker uses cigarettes almost daily, and tobacco smoke has Negative influence on the oral mucosa. The result of such an impact is the drying of the mouth and the creation of favorable conditions for the emergence and development different kind harmful microorganisms, which will be very problematic to get rid of in the future.

Poor oral hygiene. Bad breath can result from plaque on the tongue, gums, inside cheeks and even teeth. The appearance of such a plaque is usually due to non-compliance with the rules of oral hygiene, as a result of which there is an active development of bacteria that feed on the remnants of food that have been preserved 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. Get rid of bad breath in a simple way: just brush your teeth and to maintain the effect, additionally use a mouthwash.

Pathological type

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

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

The smell of rot from the mouth. The most common cause of this odor is pathological changes bodies respiratory system and dental diseases. In addition, it may appear due to the accumulation of food debris under the prosthesis or in a diseased tooth. Under the action of harmful microorganisms, amino acids are decomposed, which determines the nature of this form of halitosis.

The main reasons for the occurrence putrid smell from the oral cavity may be the following:

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

disruption of organs digestive tract, while there is a particularly pronounced smell;
alcohol abuse and smoking;
poor hygiene oral cavity, resulting in the appearance of tartar or plaque.

smell of ammonia. It is caused by kidney disease and kidney failure, in which the level of urea in the blood is greatly exceeded. The body, not being able to fully eliminate this substance in a natural way, begins to look for an alternative way out, that is, through skin covering and mucous membranes. This explains the appearance of ammonia smell.

The smell of feces from the mouth. There can be several reasons for its occurrence: intestinal obstruction, poor absorption of food, decreased peristalsis and dysbacteriosis.

People who suffer from bulimia or anorexia may also experience a fecal odor in their mouths. This is also associated with a violation of the digestive process: food is poorly absorbed (or not digested at all), it begins to rot and ferment.

In some cases, this odor can be caused by infectious lesions organs of the respiratory system.

The smell of acid. Enhanced Level acidity gastric juice caused by diseases such as pancreatitis, stomach or duodenal ulcer, esophageal diverticulitis or gastritis provokes the appearance sour smell from the oral cavity. The smell of acid may be accompanied by nausea or heartburn.

Smell rotten eggs . The main reason for the appearance of such a smell is also a violation of the stomach, associated with a decrease in acidity and gastritis. In this case, a person may experience a feeling of discomfort in the stomach, belching appears. Another reason for the smell of rotten eggs from the mouth is food poisoning.

The smell of acetone from the mouth. most harmless reason the appearance of the smell of acetone is an 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), as well as indicate the development of other pathologies, which will be discussed later.

Diseases and liver. The course of some liver diseases is accompanied by the appearance of acetone in the urine and blood of a person. In case of violation of the work of the body, the task of which is precisely to cleanse the body of all kinds of unnecessary substances, including toxic ones, leads to the accumulation of acetone and, as a result, the appearance of a smell from the oral cavity.
Diabetes. High content blood sugar, characteristic of an advanced form of diabetes, coupled with the release of a large amount of acetone ( ketone bodies) into human blood causes the kidneys to work in an enhanced mode and remove toxic substance from the body. The lungs also take Active participation in the process, this explains the appearance acetone smell from the patient's mouth.

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

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

Diagnosis of bad breath

Identification of halitosis is carried out in the following ways:

Organoleptic method (assessment of the intensity of halitosis by a specialist). 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 the day before the procedure, admission 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, brushing your teeth, smoking, eating and drinking.
Analysis of the history of the disease: when exactly does bad breath appear, how long ago did it start, are there chronic diseases of the oral cavity, gums, liver, gastrointestinal tract, paranasal sinuses and the nose itself, is there a connection with food intake, etc.
Pharyngoscopy (examination of the larynx).
Sulfide monitoring - the use of a special apparatus (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 detect white or yellowish plaque on the tongue and teeth of the patient).
Laryngoscopy.
Consultation with a gastroenterologist and pulmonologist (in order to exclude diseases of the lungs and bronchi).
Biochemical blood test (examines the level of sugar, liver and kidney enzymes).

Prevention of unpleasant odor

In order to avoid the appearance of halitosis 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 visit the dentist regularly for preventive examinations.
Nutrition should be balanced, rich in vitamins and minerals.
In addition to daily brushing of teeth, it is necessary to use special rinses for the oral cavity, which contribute to the destruction of harmful microorganisms and freshen breath. Do not abuse alcohol rinses, as they greatly dry the mucosa.
Timely prevention and treatment of pathologies of internal organs, as well as infectious diseases.
Regular use fresh vegetables and fruits.
With each brushing of the teeth, do not forget about the tongue and be sure to clean it from the plaque that has appeared.
Refusal to use alcohol, cigarettes, as well as maintaining a healthy lifestyle.
Use of special moisturizers for dry mouth.

The appearance of a bad smell from the oral cavity should not be ignored and try to get rid of it with the help of hygiene products. This may only temporarily muffle the problem, but it will not completely destroy it. 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.

And others. In addition, fillings with a porous structure are able to accumulate bacteria on the surface, which multiply and create bad breath. Amalgam fillings can irritate the gums, which leads to enhanced growth bacteria on damaged areas, which also lead to an unpleasant odor. Poor quality crown can also cause this symptom. In addition to diseases of the teeth and gums, bad breath can cause pathologies of the kidneys, liver, organs of the gastrointestinal tract and upper respiratory tract.

Naturally, in order to get rid of an unpleasant odor, the underlying disease that caused it should be treated. However, with persistent bad breath, additional measures to get rid of bad breath. To understand how to get rid of persistent bad breath, you need to know what triggers are involved in the process of its occurrence. It is by acting on the triggering factors for the appearance of bad breath that this symptom can be eliminated.

Regardless of the specific reason, trigger factor the appearance of persistent bad breath is the lack of saliva. The fact is that in the oral cavity lives great amount bacteria, which use food debris and dead body tissues for their nutrition. In the process of life, bacteria emit fetid gases, which give the stench to the breath. These bacteria are adapted to live in an oxygen-free environment, and in its presence they simply die. Normally, saliva leads to the death of these bacteria, since it contains oxygen. Thus, when there is a lack of saliva, the oral mucosa dries up and the person begins to smell badly from the mouth all the time.

In fact, the causes of persistent bad breath, in addition to various diseases, a bunch of. In life modern man a huge number of situations that lead to overdrying of the oral mucosa, and, consequently, to the appearance of an unpleasant odor. For example, mouth breathing, excitement, stress, hunger, long conversation, etc.

So, in order to get rid of the ever-present bad breath, it is necessary to prevent overdrying of the mucous membrane and stimulate the production of saliva. To maintain salivation at the proper level, you need to drink as much water as possible and rinse your mouth with it. Various chewing gums, lollipops, sweets, etc. stimulate the formation of saliva. However, any refreshing candies and chewing gum should not contain sugar.

Be sure to keep your mouth clean. First, brush your teeth, tongue and gums at least twice a day - morning and evening, with a toothbrush and floss. Secondly, if possible, brush your teeth after every meal. If you can’t brush your teeth every time after eating, then you need to use rinses. In this case, you should use toothpastes and rinses containing antibacterial components. Great effect toothpastes and rinses containing chlorine dioxide or zinc have a detrimental effect on the bacteria that are the source of bad breath. After using these products, the bacteria that emit fetid gases die, and for some time they are not able to multiply and poison the breath.

At hygiene measures in the oral cavity, it should be remembered that it is necessary to clean not only the teeth, but also the tongue, and inner surface cheeks, on which a large number of dead cells accumulate, which are an excellent nutrient medium for bacteria that produce fetid gases. The tongue and cheeks are cleaned with a brush or special spoons. If tartar is present, it must be removed by a dentist.

Today there are professional mouthguards filled with oxygen gel, which easily penetrates the gums, tongue and teeth, effectively cleaning them, destroying bacteria and their metabolic products that have a fetid odor. Wearing such mouthguards for 2 weeks allows you to completely cope with bad breath. Moreover, the effect of wearing mouthguards will be long-term.

In addition to mouth guards, another affordable and easy way to get rid of persistent bad breath is by killing the bacteria that produce bad breath. To do this, you should regularly, several times a day, rinse your mouth with hydrogen peroxide. The fact is that hydrogen peroxide releases active oxygen, which destroys the bacteria that cause bad breath. For rinsing, they take the usual 3% hydrogen peroxide, sold in a pharmacy. 4-5 tablespoons of hydrogen peroxide are added to a glass of water, and the mouth is thoroughly rinsed with this solution. Rinsing is carried out 3-4 times a day. The use of hydrogen peroxide helps to permanently eliminate bad breath. However, after the unpleasant smell ceases to disturb the person, it is necessary to continue the use of hydrogen peroxide, because otherwise the bacteria may again begin to multiply rapidly and release fetid gases that poison the breath.

The problem that a huge number of people face is bad breath.

When a person notices him at home, he begins to worry, feel awkward, and when communicating with people, he keeps his interlocutors at a distance.

For some, this phenomenon is constant, for others it manifests itself periodically.

A person can be aware of such a circumstance in his body and try to different methods hide it. Constant thoughts about why a person has bad breath make him communicate less with others, not think about arranging his personal life.

Possible reasons

Most likely, the formation of a fetid odor is associated with poor oral hygiene. main reason- Poorly brushed teeth and tongue. Food stuck between the teeth and at the base of the gums, plaque on the tongue, give an unwanted smell.

This symptom is also characteristic of dental caries and gum disease - periodontal disease and gingivitis.

The presence of false prostheses negatively affects the freshness of breath.

Microorganisms accumulate on the dentures and an unbearable odor is created.

Dentures should be cleaned after meals and treated daily with an antiseptic solution.

Unhealthy salivary glands favor the development of bacteria in the oral cavity. Saliva is produced in a small volume, which causes decay of food debris in the oral cavity.

Bad breath in the morning is due to decreased salivation during sleep. After hygiene procedures, the smell disappears.

Daily diet and lifestyle. Onions, garlic, cabbage, some types of cheese, alcohol and smoking contribute to the formation of a specific smell. Frequent use coffee, carbonated drinks change the acidity of the mouth and can be one of the causes of bad breath.

And if the teeth, gums, salivary glands, tongue are in perfect condition, then bad breath can be a manifestation of some diseases:

chronic tonsillitis and sinusitis;
diseases of the lungs and bronchi;
diseases of the stomach - gastritis or ulcers;
intestinal inflammation - colitis and enteritis;
unhealthy kidneys or liver;
diabetes;
nervous tension or stress;
hormonal changes in women during the monthly cycle;
metabolic disease;
starvation.

In 80% of cases, the formation of an unpleasant odor is still associated with the state of the oral cavity.

How to assess the presence of an odor

You can feel this symptomatology with the help of several tests:

Lick your wrist, dry it and smell it. If there is no smell, then everything is fine.
Lick the spoon, sniff in a minute - this will be the smell of the breath being checked.
Wash your hands, cover your mouth with your hand and breathe. Then sniff.

If it is difficult to determine for yourself, ask a loved one to help and do not hesitate to tell the truth. This must be done so as not to worry in vain.

Bad breath: what to do

Try to find the cause and eliminate it. Mouthwashes, lozenges, chewing gums are only a temporary disguise. When identifying constant smell from the mouth, it is advisable to visit the dentist. Undergo oral examination and necessary treatment.

See new caries treatment technologies.

Methods of treatment

What to do yourself, in addition to the usual brushing with toothpaste 2 times a day:

clean the interdental spaces with dental floss 2 times a day;
do not snack between main meals;
after eating, rinse your mouth with rinse aid or water, if you use chewing gum, then 3-5 minutes;
be sure to clean the tongue from bacterial plaque, clean thoroughly, but gently.

Medical treatment

The doctor will establish the origin and eliminate the sources this disease. The dentist will hold professional cleaning oral cavity:

clean teeth from stones;
remove damaged teeth;
cure teeth with caries and replace old fillings;
Learn personalized oral care.

If, after the measures taken, the stale smell from the mouth persists, you should consult a therapist.

Drug treatment takes place taking into account the disease that caused the formation of unwanted breath. The specialists will necessary diagnostics and prescribe treatment.

Folk remedies

Traditional medicine is rich in time-tested recipes in the fight against halitosis:

Chew on a pinch of fresh pine needles. The oral cavity is disinfected, inflammation of the gums is removed.
Prepare a solution - add 4 tsp to a glass of water. hydrogen peroxide. Rinse your mouth morning and evening.
Hypericum infusion. For 0.5 liters of water take 1.5 tbsp. spoons of herbs. Boil for 1 minute, insist 1 hour and filter. Rinse your mouth after every meal.
Peppermint infusion. Take 1 tsp per glass of boiling water. herbs, insist an hour and filter. Rinse when needed to freshen breath.
Infusion to get rid of plaque on the teeth and eliminate bad breath. Prepare from equal parts of oak bark, nettle, St. John's wort, chamomile, birch leaves. Take 2 tbsp. l. dry mix, pour 4 tbsp. boiling water, let it brew. Strain and rinse your mouth five times a day. The course of treatment is one week.
Take in the morning on an empty stomach, 0.5 tsp. buckwheat flour. Treat for 10 days, three days break, repeat several courses until the unpleasant odor passes.
Infusion of wormwood. Simply prepared. In any container place 1 tbsp. a spoonful of wormwood, pour 2 cups hot water, insist 3 hours. Strain and rinse your mouth 3-4 times a day. The bad smell goes away after a week.
Help overcome the problem Activated carbon. In the evening, you need to drink 4 tablets, and in the morning before meals, 5 pieces. The smell from the mouth disappears on the third day. Treatment can last a week.
A decoction of oak bark treats stomatitis, tonsillitis, pharyngitis and relieves bad breath. Rinse your mouth with decoction three times a day.

Folk methods well help to cope with the disease without harming the body.

Breath freshening products

Foods containing vitamin C. Ascorbic acid destroys harmful bacteria in the mouth. Citrus fruits and their juices freshen the breath.
Useful green tea. Prevents the growth of microbes.
Roasted seeds will remove the smell for a while.
Cloves will freshen your breath. Put on the cheek and hold, with a frequency of 1-3 times a day.
Nuts, fennel, anise seed will freshen your breath.
Fresh apples, carrots, celery will peel tooth enamel from flying.
Parsley leaves will get rid of the smell of onions and garlic. You just need to chew parsley leaves.
Lemon increases salivation, thereby cleansing the mouth. A slice of lemon will get rid of the repulsive smell for two hours.
Natural yogurt, dairy and dairy products prevent the growth of microbes in the oral cavity.
Rinse your mouth with infusions of cranberries, rose hips, sea buckthorn and strawberries.
The oil removes the bad smell. Rinse your mouth with any vegetable oil 10 minutes.

To prevent the reproduction of microorganisms in the oral cavity, it is necessary to include in the diet natural fruits and vegetables. Limit use meat dishes. Drink more water.

Eliminating bad odor is a complex process and can take a long time. Known ways quite effective, but will cope with the problem for a short time. Therefore, it is necessary to eliminate the underlying disease, leading to the appearance of such an unpleasant phenomenon.