Halitosis: Dental Causes of Bad Breath

What is halitosis

Halitosis is the medical name for persistent bad breath. It is not a separate disease but a symptom, so there is always a cause of bad breath behind it. A physiological smell is normal, for example in the morning or after spicy food. A pathological smell is linked to a disease.

We single out one more case: a person feels that their breath smells, but the people around notice nothing. If the fear stays after treatment, it is called halitophobia (a persistent fear of having bad breath). Then one more mouthwash does not help. What helps is a calm, objective examination and a talk with the doctor.

What causes bad breath: where the smell comes from

So what can cause bad breath? Most often the mouth itself, and less often the rest of the body.

Why does my breath smell so bad? Bad breath causes in the mouth

The source of the smell is volatile sulphur compounds. They are produced by bacteria that break down leftover protein. Most of these bacteria live on the back of the tongue and in the gum pockets, that is, in the gaps between gum and tooth.

Tartar (hardened plaque) also makes bad breath worse. Its rough deposits hold plaque and bacteria at the gum edge, and the brush does not remove them from there.

Do cavities cause bad breath

Yes. Food and bacteria collect in a cavity and under the edge of an old filling. Can cavities cause bad breath even if you brush twice a day? They can, because the brush does not reach those places.

Bad breath after sleep

A morning smell is normal. At night less saliva is produced, and the bacteria on the tongue work harder. After brushing and breakfast the smell goes. It is worrying if it does not go away during the day.

Bad breath after tooth extraction

In the first days after an extraction a slight smell is possible: the socket (the hole left by the tooth) is healing, and the area has to be cleaned gently. A sharp smell, pain in the socket that keeps growing and a putrid taste may mean the socket is inflamed. Then we ask you to come for an examination.

Chronic bad breath: why the smell stays even after brushing

Usually because brushing does not reach the main source. The brush does not clean the tongue or the gaps between teeth. Bacteria in deep gum pockets and in cavities are out of its reach.

At appointments we often see the same picture. A person brushes twice a day and has tried several pastes and mouthwashes, but the smell stays. At the examination we find a coating on the back of the tongue, tartar under the gum or an old filling that food gets under. Chronic bad breath that does not go away after several weeks of careful care is a reason to see a dentist.

How to treat halitosis

We treat halitosis through its cause, so diagnosis comes first. We examine the tongue, gums and teeth, assess the gum pockets and take X-rays if needed. What follows depends on what we find.

Chlorhexidine is an antiseptic. Mouthwashes with it suppress bacteria well, but with long use they stain the teeth. So we prescribe them only as a course. If we find no cause in the mouth, we refer you to a general practitioner or an ENT doctor (a specialist in ear, nose and throat diseases).

How to get rid of bad breath at home

According to a clinical study, a tongue scraper reduces the amount of odorous compounds better than a toothbrush. But only ten people took part in that study, so we advise whatever you find easy to use every day.

After spicy food you can use sugar-free chewing gum. We described the early signs of caries, including the smell, in the article on cavity symptoms you should not ignore. Regular prevention is part of our dental hygiene and prevention service.

Where to go

If bad breath does not go away, start with an examination by a dentist and professional cleaning. We carry out professional teeth cleaning with ultrasound and AirFlow. You can book it at Cristi Dent in Chișinău. After it we will assess whether any other causes of the smell remain.