Causes Of Bad Breath

Literally speaking all humanbeings are badbreathres Oral cavity
contains millions of anaerobic bacteria like fusobacterium and
actinomyces which acts on the protein of food materials and
putrifies them This process results in the formation of
offenssive gases like hydrogen sulphide,methyl
mescaptan,cadaverin,skatol,putrescine ect causing bad odor If
oral hygiene is not maintained properly all will suffer from bad
breath Most of us control this by regular brushing,tongue
cleaning and gargling Even after maintining cleanliness in the
mouth some individuals suffer from offenssive smell due to
various causes which has to be diagnosed and treated properly
Some common causes of bad breath
1) Poor oral hygiene:
If oral hygiene is not maintained properly the mouth becomes the
seat for millions of bacteria which produce offenssive gases by
degrading the food debris Bad breath is severe in those who do
not brush their teeth regularly and clean their mouth after
every food Snacks taken inbetween meals can also produce bad
breath because of improper cleaning Badbreath is common in
almost all people in the morning on waking During sleep there
is less production of saliva Saliva has got some antibacterial
properties which help to keep the mouth clean Saliva conains
oxygen molecules which is needed to make oral cavity aerobic So
the reduction in it’s quantity during sleep makes a favourable
condition for anaerobic bacteria
2) Food habits:
The main cause of bad smell is due to degradation of protein by
the bacteria and hence all food products rich in protein favours
bad breath Meat,fish,milk products, eggs,cakes,nuts,pear and
ect can cause bad breath Some food articles can produce
particular type of smell which may be unpleasent Raw onion can
produce typical bad smell It is said that an apple a day keeps
the doctor away,a raw onion a day keeps everybody away Eating
groundnuts can also produce bad smell However if proper
cleaning is done smell can be reduced irrespective of the nature
of food Irregularity in timing of food can also produce bad
breath Small food articles taken in between the meals can also
produce bad smell
3) Biofilm:
There is formation of a thin sticky coating called biofilm on
the tongue and oral mucosa This coating is thick on the
posterior aspect of the tongue where millions of gram negative
bacteriae are seen The thick coating on the tongue is always
associated with badbreath Even a thin biofilm can make
anaerobic condition favourable for bacterial proliferation
4) Dental caries:
This is a destructive process causing decalcification with
distruction of enamel and dentine resulting in cavitisation of
the tooth These are produced mainly by the lactobacilli Food
particles are deposited inside these cavities and are putrified
by the anaerobic bacteria producing bad smell Normal brushing
will not remove the food debris easily and hence they are
putrified completely Caries are common in schoolgoing children
and in those who donot maintain proper oral hygiene Calcium and
vitamin deficiency can also predispose caries
5) Gingivitis:
Gum is a mucus membrane with supporting connective tissue
covering the tooth bearing borders of the jaw The main function
of gum is protection Gingivitis is the inflammation of the gum
Due to various causes gum tissue get infected resulting in
swelling,pain and discharge If the condition become worse the
infection spread towards peridontal area leading to continuous
discharge called pyorrhoea Some times the infection goes deep
producing alveolar abscess with discharge of pus Infection can
even reach the bone causing osteomyelitisAll these conditions
can produce offenssive smell
6) Gum retraction:
When the gums retract from the teeth a gap is developed which
will lodge food particles and cause bad breath
7) Dental plaques and tartar deposits; Plaques and tartar is
deposited mainly in the gaps between the teeth and gum This
will provide shelter for the food debris and bacteria causing
bad breath
Ulcerative lesions coatings:
Almost all ulcerative lesions of the mouth are associated with
bad breath These lesions may be caused by bacteria,viruses,food
allergies or due to autoimmune disorders Apthous ulcer is the
commonest amoung ulcerative lesions Others are herpes,fungal
infections,vincents angina,infectious mononucleosis,scarlet
fever,diphtheria,drug reactions and ect Cancerous ulcers
produce severe bad breath All fungal infections produce white
coating(candidiasis) Leucoplakia is a white thick patch on the
mucus membrane of the mouth tongue It is considered as a
precancerous condition Offenssive breath is associated with
these conditions
9) Diseases of the salivary glands:
Saliva is very useful to supply oxygen to all parts of the oral
cavity Even a thin film of coating called biofilm can provide
an anaerobic condition in the mouth Saliva can wet these layers
and make an aerobic condition which is unfavourable for the
bacteria Any condition which reduces the production of saliva
can increase bacterial activity Some times the salivary duct is
obstructed by stones or tumorsCancer of the salivary gland is
associated with offenssive odor In suppurative parotitis
purulant dischrge in to the mouth causes bad breath
10) Tonsillitis:
Tonsils are a pair of lymphoid tissue situated in the lateral
wall of oropharynx Inflammation of the tonsil is called
tonsillitis Bad breath is seen in both acute and chronic
tonsillitis Quinsy or peritonsillar abscess can also produce
bad breath
11) Tonsillar plaques tonsillar fluid:
If bad breath persists even after maintaining proper oral
hygeine there is possibility of this condition Serous fluid
secreated from the folds of tonsil is very offenssive Some
patients complain that they hawk some cheesy materials from the
throat;which are very offenssive in nature These are formed
inside the tonsillar crypts which contain thousands of
bacteriae In such conditions tonsillectomy gives noticiable
relief from bad breath
12) Pharyngitis pharyngial abscess:
Pharynx is a fibromuscular tube which forms the upper part of
the digestive respiratory tract Inflmmation of the pharynx is
called pharyngitis, caused mainly by bacteria and viruses Bad
breath is present in pharyngitis along with other signs like
cough and throat irritation Abscesses in the wall of pharynx
can also produce offenssive discharge of pus in to the throat
13) Dentures:
Denture users may complain about bad smell due to lodgement of
small food debris in between Proper brushing may not be
possible in denture users especially fixed dentures
14) Tobacco:
Tobacco chewing is associated with bad breath The smell of
tobacco itself is unpleasent for others Tobacco can irritate
the mucus membrane and cause ulcers and coatings Gingivitis and
pyorrhoea are common in tobacco chewers Tartar is deposited on
the teeth mainly near the gums Tobacco chewers get gastric
acidity with eructations All these causes offenssive smell
15) Smoking:
Smokers always have bad smell It can also produce lesions in
the mouth lungs causing bad breathSmoking increases carbon
dioxide in the oral cavity reduces oxygen level,causing a
favourable condition for bacteria Smoking reduses appetite
thirst hence acid peptic disease is common in chain smokers
16) Lesions in the nose ear:
Bad breath is occasionally seen in sinusitis(infection of para
nasal sinuses) In case of post nasal dripping bad breath is
common due to the presence of protein in the discharges These
proteins are degraded by the bacteria Infection in the middle
ear with discharge of pus in to the throat through the
eustachian tube(passage from middle ear to the throat)can also
cause offenssive odor Chronic rhinitis(infection of mucus
membrane of nose) and forign bodies in the nose can also produce
bad smell in the expired air
17) Diabetes mellitus:
Mostly all diabetic patients suffer from bad breath Coated
tongue,ulcers coatings in the mouth ,increased sugar level in
tissues ect are responsible for bad breathBacterial growth in
diabetic patient is very faster than non diabetic individuals
18) Fevers:
Bad breath is common in almost all fevers Even an acute fever
can produce bad breath Severe bad breath is seen in typhoid
Other infectious diseases like Tuberculosis , AIDS ect produce
bad smell 19) Fasting dehydration:
Dry mouth favours bacterial activity So any condition which
produce dryness in the mouth makes the breath offenssive
Eventhough the food particles are known to produce bad breath,
fasting can also produce the same Production of saliva is also
reduced during fasting Chewing and swallowing also helps to
keep the mouth clean
20) Bedridden patients:
Bedridden patients suffer from offenssive breath due to thick
coating on the tongue water intake is also limited in these
patients Regurgitation of food aggravates the condition Since
they talk less aeration in the oral cavity is reduced which
favours anaerobic bacteria to become active
21) Diseases of stomach esophagus:
Eructation of gas and food produce unpleasent smell Abnormality
in the function of lower sphincter can allow the food to
regurgitate upwards causing bad breath Bad breath is also
common in gastritis,gastric ulcer and cancer of stomach
22) Intestinal diseases:
Bad breath is common in patients suffering from ulcerative
lesions of intestine like ulcerative collitisOther diseases
are malabsorption syndrome intestinal tuberculosis, peritonitis
ect
23) Diseases of lungs:
Lung diseases like pneumonia, lung abscess,chronic
bronchitis,bronchiectasis,tuberculosis, lung cancer ect can
produce bad odor during expiration
24) Liver disorders:
Liver diseases like hepatitis, cirrhosis,can cause bad
breathGall bladder diseases with vomiting also causes
unpleasent odor
25) Psychiatric patients:
Bad breath is common in psychotic patients due to poor
hygiene,irregular food habits,less water intake and ect
26) Somatisation disorder:
This is a psychiatric disorder charecterised by the presence of
a physical symptom that suggest a medical illness These
patients come with physical complaints like pain,nausea
difficult respiration, bad smell ect This condition is
diagnosed after detailed examination of the patient with all
investigationsSince this is a psychiatric disorder it has to be
managed with a psychological approach
[ THE POINTS MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE IS FOR GENERAL
INFORMATION ANY PERSON HAVING BAD BREATH SHOULD CONSULT A
QUALIFIED DOCTOR ]

Tags | actinomyces, bad, badbreath, food, materials, molecules, result, sulphide