bad breath

To banish bad breath

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Your Health - Dr. Gita Mathai

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Bad breath makes us self-conscious. About 25 per cent of the population feel that they have bad breath, when actually they don't. Another 10 per cent really have foul breath but fail to recognise it. It is an embarrassing problem and even close family members will seldom tell you that you have it. To check, cup your palms, hold it over your mouth and nose, breathe out and then smell your breath. You will get a fairly clear idea of the odour.

Most of the time, bad breath originates in the mouth. There may be untreated cavities. There may be food stuck in between the teeth. Bacteria feast on this food, breaking it down and releasing gases. Plaque may have formed between gums and teeth. This causes gum infection. Sometimes, if the gums are pressed, pus can be seen. Coffee and alcohol also cause overgrowth of mouth bacteria.

Brush teeth twice a day, morning and evening. Rinse your mouth well after every meal. A mouthwash can also be swirled around in the mouth for 30 seconds after every meal. Try to drink 2-3 litres of water in summer. Water cleanses the mouth and washes out food debris and bacteria.

Food containing spices, onions or garlic can produce halitosis even after the mouth is rinsed and teeth brushed. These condiments contain sulphides, which are released as they are digested. The sulphides are absorbed into the blood stream and released in the breath.

Gastrointestinal reflux disease (GERD) can cause belching and foul smelling breath. Diabetic ketoacidosis produces a fruity odour. Kidney and liver disease can cause a smell like ammonia. Intestinal obstruction causes the breath to smell like faeces. Now there are theories that various types of cancer release characteristic odours.

Sinusitis, post-nasal drip, blocked nose with mouth breathing, tonsillitis and adenoids cause bad breath. Lung infections like bronchitis, lung abscesses, bronchiectasis all result in halitosis, as toxins released by the bacteria in the lungs are breathed out.

Tobacco use destroys teeth and causes bad breath. It does not matter if the tobacco is chewed, smoked or used as snuff.

Sometimes children are put to sleep with a milk bottle in their mouth. This results in dental caries, a coated tongue and foul breath (bottle mouth). They may have sinusitis or adenoids. Children sometimes place objects like erasers, twigs, crayons or toys in the nose. Once the object is stuck there, there is a discharge and a foul smell. They child may not remember placing the object there or may deny it.

If correcting your oral hygiene does not get rid of bad breath:

• Consult a dentist to ensure nothing is wrong with your teeth and gums.

• See a physician to rule out GERD, diabetes, liver and kidney disease.

• Consult an ENT surgeon to rule out nasopharyngeal problems.

• Maintain a food diary to see if any particular item causes the odour.

Dr Mathai is a paediatrician and author of Staying Healthy in Modern India. Mail your questions to yourhealthgm@yahoo.co.in