Imagine a situation where you have gotten a chance to pitch your idea to a group of people in the industry, who you are sure will help elevate your idea into a world-renowned project. You are confident that the idea is brilliant and are sure that this is your chance to finally grab that bag and that opportunity. However, as you approach the group, you notice that there is an odour coming from your mouth whenever you speak. You are sure that they will be able to feel and smell the odour too, and they will of course be able to tell where it is coming from. You are devasted and don’t know what to do about the bad breath. You feel anxious and end up not pitching your idea, just because your breath wasn’t right.

This might be a theoretical proposition, but it represents a common problem affecting many people. According to studies, over 1 in 4 people suffer from bad breath, as represented by 31.9% of the global population. This represents over a quarter of the world’s population.  Bad breath can be a traumatizing condition and can cause you to feel insecure and anxious about social gatherings. It can also make you question your health and affect you physiologically, and emotionally. The good news is that it is treatable and manageable. In Kenya, Nairobi Sterling dental clinic offers treatment for bad breath to all patients.

Bad breath is medically known as halitosis. It can affect everyone once in a while. This can be after eating certain foods such as garlic, onions, tuna, cheese and other foodstuffs. However, it can be caused by oral health conditions affecting the mouth. This mostly happens as a result of infections or bad dental hygiene over years. It can also be a sign of another disease affecting another part of the body. Many people tend to choose to use products such as gums, mints and mouthwash to try and fight bad breath. These products, however, offer temporary solutions. This is because they don’t address the cause of the condition, but rather address the symptom. The symptom is bad breath that doesn’t go away.

Causes

Poor dental hygiene such as lack of regular brushing and flossing are the main causes of halitosis. However, there are other causes of this condition. These include:

• Poor dental hygiene. These include not brushing and flossing daily. This means food particles remain in your mouth, causing bad breath. A colourless, sticky film of bacteria (plaque) forms on your teeth. If not brushed away, plaque can irritate your gums and eventually form plaque-filled pockets between your teeth and gums (periodontitis). Your tongue also can trap bacteria that produce odours. Dentures that aren’t cleaned regularly or don’t fit properly can harbour odour-causing bacteria and food particles.
• Food.  Certain foods, such as onions, garlic, cheese and spices, can cause bad breath. Moreover, these foods enter the bloodstream after digestion. They are carried to your lungs and affect your breath. Additionally, the breakdown of food particles in and around your teeth can increase bacteria and cause a foul odour.
• Medications. Some medications can indirectly produce bad breath by contributing to dry mouth. Others can be broken down in the body to release chemicals that can be carried on your breath. Moreover, other medications leave that awful taste and smell in your mouth which can also be a source of bad breath.
• Tobacco products. Smoking causes an unpleasant mouth odour, due to the smell of the tobacco. Furthermore, smokers and oral tobacco users are also more likely to have gum disease. Gum diseases are another common cause of bad breath.
• Dry mouth. Saliva helps cleanse your mouth by removing particles that cause bad odours. A condition called dry mouth or xerostomia causes the decreased production of saliva in the mouth. It contributes to bad breath since there will be reduced cleansing of the mouth by saliva. A dry mouth naturally occurs during sleep, leading to “morning breath,” and it worsens if you sleep with your mouth open. Chronic dry mouth can be caused by a problem with your salivary glands and some diseases.
• Infections in your mouth. Surgical wounds after oral surgery can cause bad breath. These include tooth removal, or as a result of tooth decay, gum disease or mouth sores.
• Other mouth, nose and throat conditions. Bad breath can occasionally stem from small stones that form in the tonsils and are covered with bacteria that produce odour. Infections or chronic inflammation in the nose, sinuses or throat, which can contribute to postnasal drip, also can cause bad breath.
• Other causes. Diseases, such as some cancers, and conditions such as metabolic disorders, can cause a distinctive breath odour as a result of the chemicals they produce. Chronic reflux of stomach acids (gastroesophageal reflux disease, or GERD) can be associated with bad breath. Bad breath in young children can be caused by a foreign body, such as a piece of food, lodged in a nostril.

When should I see the dentist?

The logical answer to this would be as soon as you feel bad breath. However, this could turn out to be harmless at the time of occurrence. Try reviewing your oral hygiene and dental practices, as well as products you have been eating or drinking. You can change some others practices and foods while paying keener attention to your dental hygiene. Should the odour persist, then you should see your dentist. In most cases, to know whether you have bad breath, you can smell it yourself. Cup your palms over your mouth and blow a breath over it and smell it. You can also ask a friend to smell your breath if they are comfortable with it. In most instances, if you feel a bad taste in your mouth, it is most likely you have an odour in your mouth.

If your breath persists even after making these changes, you should visit your dentist. The dentist examines your mouth and helps diagnose your condition. If bad breath is due to poor oral hygiene, a dental cleaning or periodontal (gum) procedure should help. If you have healthy teeth and gums, then bad breath may be linked to an issue in another part of your body. The dentist will refer you to a physician for better check-ups.

How is bad breath treated?

Halitosis treatment depends on the root cause of the issue. If your bad breath is due to poor oral hygiene, the dentist will recommend a dental cleaning and improved oral hygiene. However, if halitosis is a symptom of another condition somewhere else in your body, your physician can help you with proper diagnosis and treatment.

Preventing bad breath.

Bad breath can be preventable by taking some precautionary measures. These include:

• Brush twice a day, for at least two minutes each time, and floss once a day. Remember to clean your tongue with your brush or a tongue scraper, which you can buy in the oral health aisle.
• Drink a lot of water to help prevent dry mouth.
• See your dentist regularly for checkups and cleanings. For some people, this may be every six months. But others may need more frequent visits to keep their oral health in check
• Use an alcohol-free antibacterial mouthwash.
• Boost the production of saliva by using sugar-free chewing gum, sucking on sugar-free candy or eating healthy foods that require a lot of chewing.
• Your dentist might recommend or prescribe products that can produce artificial saliva or help your body produce saliva.
• Avoid alcohol, caffeine and tobacco products because they can dry out your mouth.

Takeaway.

Bad breath can be a put-off, especially in social situations and gatherings. It might make one feel anxious and afraid of social encounters. It can also be ashaming and take a toll on our mental and psychological well-being. It is a normal condition and can affect anyone. Bad breath can be temporary and at other times, it can persist for a long time. It is important to consult with a reputable dentist to offer ad in such situations. If you are in Nairobi or its environs, then Nairobi Sterling Dental clinic is the place you need to visit. We have reputable, qualified and certified dental practitioners here. They have years of experience and tons of knowledge in bad breath treatment. We are located at the Park Suite Building, in Parklands Nairobi. Visit us and let us take away your bad breath, and bring back the joy in your life