A lot of us are confused by the bad breath and halitosis wording on many major over-the-counter medical products. This confusing packaging has led many people to believe that bad breath and halitosis are actually separate terms. The confusion goes even farther because there are those who believe that halitosis is a medical problem while bad breath is merely a common condition that some of us are just “born with”. The fact is that bad breath/halitosis mean the exact same thing and it is not something that you are just “born with”.
There are only three principle causes of halitosis:
- Rotting/Decaying Food
- Infection
- Dry Mouth
However, in all three cases, the true halitosis cause is in fact bacteria. In time, bacteria in our mouths will form what is known as volatile sulfur compounds, or VSC’s. These are the compounds responsible for temporary and chronic halitosis. In many cases, it is possible to remove these VSC’s with regular brushing and flossing. When the mouth is clear of all food particles, there is nothing for the bacteria to form the VSC’s with and therefore simple oral hygiene remains an effective halitosis treatment.
Chronic halitosis, however, is generally not the result of rotting or putrefying food particles within the mouth. In most instances, the bad breath is the result of some infection raging within the oral cavity. Where oral infections are concerned, there are three primary sources to investigate:
- Abscesses
- Gum Disease
- Impacted Teeth
In all three cases, bacteria is once again the true source of both the decay and the odor associated with halitosis. Unless the source of the infection is either removed or treated so that the bacteria are eliminated, no permanent halitosis cure is possible. Even when the teeth and gum tissue are rid of bacteria and infection, there is still the tongue to consider as a potential source of bad breath/halitosis problems. Especially towards the back of the tongue, bacteria tend to hide beneath a semi-permanent layer of mucous. The enzymes present in saliva normally kill off harmful bacteria in the mouth-but neither saliva nor the beneficial enzymes can get to the bacteria so they continue to cause halitosis problems until they are removed via brushing.
Dry mouth is another one of the very common causes of halitosis and this is because the saliva cannot remove both bacteria and food particles from the oral cavity. VSC’s continue to be produced and bacteria populations swell in a dry mouth. There are several common causes of dry mouth that will ultimately cause halitosis, including:
- Excessive Speaking
- Recent Change In Exercise/Diet Routine
- Prescription Medication Side Effect
- Alcohol Consumption
- Smoking Tobacco Products
- Caffeine Consumption
While many of us mistakenly believe that smoking or drinking coffee are the causes of halitosis in some people, this is only partly true as both of these behaviors lead to dry mouth, the true halitosis cause where these products are concerned. Only by eliminating bacteria and keeping the mouth salivated will a true and lasting halitosis cure be effective and long-lasting.
