Halitosis
Halitosis or bad breath or oral malodour is socially unacceptable but
self-diagnosis is difficult, as it is not possible to easily detect an odour
from ones' own breath. Those who have halitosis are often unaware of it and
often may be informed by friends or relatives. Yet those people who have been
told that they suffer from bad breath can continuously worry if an offensive
smell can be detected from their breath.
Halitosis is mainly caused by excessive
amount of volatile sulphur compounds being produced by bacteria in the mouth.
Studies have shown that up to 50 per cent of adults suffer from objectionable
mouth odour in early morning before breakfast or toothbrushing. The reason for
this is that saliva incubates bacteria in the mouth during sleep (reduced
saliva flow). People with periodontal disease exhibit raised odour intensity
due to incubation of saliva and micro-organisms in periodontal pockets.
Prevention
The plaque control and oral hygiene products
aimed at controlling dental caries and periodontal disease will also help
prevent halitosis. Also, treatment of periodontal disease in which periodontal
pocketing is reduced will minimize halitosis. A number of systemic diseases and
conditions such as diabetes mellitus, chronic renal failure and cirrhosis of
the liver can give rise to particular bad odours.
There is increasing interest in the
development of a reliable system that will measure the level of volatile
sulphur compounds in one's breath. This technology is making rapid progress
though the cost of a reliable system remains problematical.
Reduction of halitosis is achieved in several
ways. The amount of volatile sulphur compounds in the breath can vary greatly
during the day in a single subject and is influenced by factors such as eating,
drinking, oral hygiene and sleep and the effect these activities have on saliva
flow and the washing of the oral cavity. The majority of studies done on volatile
sulphur compounds concentrate on the effects which commercially available
mouthwashes have on the reduction of halitosis. The reduction in mouth odour is
caused by the anti-microbial influence of the mouthwash.
Some products however, mask halitosis rather
than dealing with the cause of the problem. Toothbrushing, eating, chewing gum
and tongue brushing usually reduce the levels of oral halitosis to acceptable
levels as well but the effect is not as long lasting as antimicrobial
mouthwashes. There are now tongue cleaning devices which can be effective in
controlling halitosis.
Above article from DentalHealth.ie
Dentists Clemmons NC
Tel: (336) 766-0511
2554 Lewisville Clemmons Rd
Clemmons, NC 27012
Your mother was right: Never open bottles, packages, or other containers with your teeth. You might permanently chip or crack the enamel.
Although tea has a reputation as a healthy beverage, it may not be the best choice when it comes to keeping your teeth white. Dentists say tea -- especially the basic black variety -- can cause more stains than coffee. However, recent studies have found that even herbal teas and white teas have the potential to erode enamel and cause tooth staining.
Opening bottle caps or plastic packaging with
your teeth may be convenient, but this is one habit that makes dentists cringe.
Using your teeth as tools can cause them to crack or chip. Instead, keep
scissors and bottle openers handy. Bottom line, your teeth should only be used
for eating.
Whether you play
football, hockey, or any other contact sport, don't get in the game without a
mouth guard. This is a piece of molded plastic that protects the upper row of
teeth. Without it, your teeth could get chipped or even knocked out when the
action gets rough. Self-fitting mouth guards may be purchased at a store, or
you can have one custom made by your dentist.