Have you ever been stuck inside the elevator with someone who has a bad breath?

Halitosis, the medical name for bad breath is is a symptom in which a noticeably unpleasant odour is present on the exhaled breath. It can result from poor dental health habits and may be a sign of other health problems. In most cases it originates from the gums and tongue. The odour is caused by wastes from bacteria in the mouth, the decay of food particles, other debris in your mouth and poor oral hygiene. The decay and debris produce a sulphur compound that causes the unpleasant odour.

Possible causes of Halitosis (Bad  breath) 

Halitosis has a number of possible causes:

1. Poor oral hygiene:

Poor oral hygiene is the most common cause of halitosis. If you do not brush and floss your teeth regularly, any food trapped between your teeth will be broken down by the bacteria, causing bad breath. The bacteria can also live in the rough surface of your tongue. Therefore, as well as brushing your teeth, cleaning your tongue can also help control halitosis.

2.Dry mouth:

Saliva helps cleanse your mouth, removing particles that may cause bad odors. A condition called dry mouth — also known as xerostomia (zeer-o-STOE-me-ah) — can contribute to bad breath because production of saliva is decreased. Dry mouth naturally occurs during sleep, leading to "morning breath," and is made worse if you sleep with your mouth open. Some medications can lead to a chronic dry mouth, as can a problem with your salivary glands and some diseases.

3.Smoking: 

Smoking is another cause of halitosis. As well as making your breath smell, smoking also causes staining and loss of taste and irritates your gums.

Smoking also increases your risk of developing gum disease which is another cause of halitosis. Stopping smoking will lower the risk of gum disease and help prevent halitosis.

4. Morning Halitosis:

Most of us find that our mouths are not as nice-smelling first thing in the morning, compared to later on during the day. Our mouths tend to become drier when we sleep. People who sleep with their mouths open will probably have a dry mouth when they wake up. Once we are up and start eating the flow of saliva increases, and with good dental hygiene the morning halitosis is usually temporary.

                                                                                                         to be continued

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