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Alternative
Names
Bad breath; Halitosis
Definition
Breath odor is unpleasant, distinctive, or offensive.
How
to Test Yourself for Bad Breath - Halitosis
If
you're unable to tell if you have bad breath, here are a few
tips that may help.
1)
Grab a clean, dry unscented face towel and grab your tongue
with one hand and scrub the furthest part of your tongue for
8 seconds with the face towel. You should bet at least 5 good
scrubs. Wait for about 40 seconds and then smell the cloth.
If the towel has a bad odor, it may indication halitosis (bad
breath).
2) Get a piece of unscented dental floss (unwaxed)
and floss your lower three back teeth. Wait for approximately
40 seconds and smell the dental floss. If the dental floss
has a bad odor, it may be an indication of halitosis (bad
breath).
3)
Take the back side of your hand (not the palm) and lick it
for about 10 seconds. Wait for 40 seconds and smell it. If
your hand has a bad odor, this may be indicative of halitosis.
While
these tips may be simple, they are effective in determining
if you have a bad odor coming from your mouth. As long as
you brush & floss regularly, you may be able to reduce
the odor coming from your mouth. A great idea is to brush
your tongue when you brush your teeth. Another great tool
that is now becoming popular are tongue scrapers. This helps
remove some of the bacteria that remains on your tongue and
in many cases, people have been able to rid themselves of
bad breath simply by brushing, flossing and scraping their
tongue on a regular basis.
Here
Are Some Additional Tips:
Some
Do's
- Visit
your dentist on a regular basis
- Have
your teeth cleaned periodically cleaned
- Floss
and clean between your teeth; use unscented floss so that
you can detect those areas between your teeth that give
off odours, and clean them more carefully.
- Brush
your teeth and gums
- Ask
your dentist to recommend a toothbrush or scraper for your
tongue. Clean your tongue all the way back gently, but thoroughly.
- Drink
plenty of fluids
- Chew
sugar-free gum for a minute or two at a time, especially
if your mouth feels dry.
- Chewing
parsley, mint, cloves or fennel seeds may also help.
- Clean
your mouth after eating or drinking milk products, fish
and meat.
- Unless
your dentist advises otherwise, soak dentures overnight
in antiseptic solution.
- Ask
a family member to tell you whenever you have bad breath.
- If
someone in your family or a close friend has bad breath,
find a kind way to let them know. If you can't tell them
directly, leave this fact file lying around. They may get
the message, or send
them an anonymous tip.
- Ask
your dentist to recommend a mouthwash which has been shown
to be clinically effective in fighting bad breath.
- Use
it most effectively right before sleeping.
- Eat
fresh, fibrous vegetables such as carrots.
Some
Don'ts
- Don't
let your concern about having bad breath run your life.
- Get
help. Don't ignore your gums - you can lose your teeth as
well as smell bad.
- Don't
drink too much coffee - it may make the situation worse.
- Don't
forget to clean behind the back teeth in each row.
- Don't
brush your tongue with regular toothpaste - it's better
to dip your toothbrush in mouthwash for tongue cleaning.
- Don't
give mouthwash to very young children, as they can swallow
it.
- Don't
clean your tongue so hard that it hurts.
- Don't
rely on mouthwash alone - practice complete oral hygiene.
Considerations
Some disorders will produce specific, characteristic odors
to the breath.
A fruity
odor to the breath occurs as the body attempts to get rid
of excess acetone through the breathing. This is a characteristic
sign of ketoacidosis (such as diabetic ketoacidosis), a potentially
life-threatening condition.
A fecal
odor to the breath (the breath smells like feces) can occur
with prolonged vomiting, especially when there is a bowel
obstruction. It can also occur temporarily if the person has
a nasogastric tube in place (a tube placed through the nose
or mouth to the stomach to drain the stomach contents).
The breath
may have an ammonia-like odor (also described as urine-like
or "fishy") in people with chronic kidney failure.
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Common
Causes
If previously normal breath turns into halitosis, causes
could include:
- Food
or beverages consumed (such as cabbage, garlic, raw onions,
or coffee)
- Vitamin
supplements (especially in large doses)
- Poor
dental hygiene
- Dentures
- Cavities
- Tobacco
smoking
- Alcoholism
- Throat
infection
- Sinusitis
- Lung
infection
- Gum
disease (gingivitis, gingivostomatitis)
- Abscessed
tooth
- Impacted
tooth
Home
Care
Use proper dental hygiene (especially flossing). Fresh
parsley or a strong mint are often effective ways to fight
temporary bad breath. Avoid smoking. Otherwise, follow a prescribed
therapy to treat the underlying cause.
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Call
your health care provider if
- Breath
odor persists and there is not an obvious cause (such as
smoking or eating odor-causing foods).
- You
have breath odor and signs of a respiratory infection, such
as documented fever, cough, or facial pain with nasal discharge
The
information provided herein should not be used during any
medical emergency or for the diagnosis or treatment of any
medical condition. A licensed physician should be consulted
for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions.
Call 911 for all medical emergencies.
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