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Halitosis, commonly known as “bad breath” is the condition of having an unpleasant odor emanating from the mouth. It can occur for various reasons, including poor oral hygiene, gum diseases, cavities, inadequate functioning of the salivary glands, systemic diseases (such as diabetes), and smoking. Treating bad breath can improve both a person’s social life and general health. It is important to correctly identify the source of bad breath and create a treatment plan accordingly.

Factors Causing Halitosis:

Oral Care: Not brushing regularly, using dental floss, and cleaning the tongue increases bacteria growth in the mouth and causes odor.
Dental Diseases: Cavities, gum diseases, and accumulations in dental prostheses, coatings that do not have ideal gum adaptation, desementing coatings (removal of the coating as a result of the dissolution of the adhesive substance that provides the connection inside the coating), conditions such as pericoronitis, which is inflammation in the tissue around the tooth in impacted 20-year-old teeth, can cause bad breath.
Dry Mouth: Saliva is a natural antiseptic that cleanses the mouth. When saliva production decreases, bacteria growth increases. If the patient has difficulty with nasal breathing, they will try to breathe through their mouth. Therefore, the patient will constantly want to keep their mouth open in order to breathe. Or, in patients whose upper jaw is excessively forward, they cannot close their mouth. Even if the patient constantly tries to close it using their lips, they cannot succeed. All these problems cause dry mouth.
Foods: Onions, garlic, spicy foods, and some dairy products can temporarily cause bad breath.
Smoking: Smoking feeds the bacteria in the mouth and intensifies bad breath.
Health Problems: Some health problems such as sinus infections, tonsillitis, reflux, diabetes, and kidney diseases can also lead to bad breath.

Symptoms of Halitosis:

Unpleasant odor from your breath
Bad taste in the mouth
Dry throat
White or yellow colored tongue coating

How is Halitosis Diagnosed?:

Your dentist will perform a detailed examination to determine the cause of bad breath. During this examination, they will check your teeth, gums, and tongue. They may request additional tests if necessary. In addition, the upper respiratory tract, nasal breathing, what systemic ailments you have, and how you do your oral care are evaluated.

Treatment of Halitosis:

Halitosis treatment varies depending on the cause. In general, the following can be done:

Regular Oral Care: Brushing your teeth at least twice a day, using dental floss, and cleaning your tongue.
Oral Care Products: Antiseptic mouthwashes and special toothpastes can be used.
Professional Cleaning: Having your teeth cleaned regularly by your dentist.
Specific Treatment of the Underlying Problem: If another health problem is causing bad breath, that problem needs to be treated.

Remember; bad breath is usually a treatable condition. If you have a bad breath problem, it is important to see a dentist.