 Bad
breath or halitosis is a common problem among individuals and can range
from moderate to sever, acute (short term) or chronic (long term). There
are many contributing factors when it comes to bad breath.
This article is about the different
causes, from the connection between dentures and halitosis, to medical
disorders that can cause bad breath.
With all the different contributing factors of bad breath one thing is
certain, good oral hygiene is imperative in helping to control your
breath. If you think you have
bad breath seek treatment, once you can pin point the cause or source of
your bad breath the success is more attainable
Part One: Bacteria and Oral malodor
There are numerous bacteria present in the mouth.
The different species of bacteria are essential in
keeping the oral flora balanced in the oral cavity.
It is important to have some bacteria in the mouth although not all
bacteria are good. Once the
bacteria break down and die they produce gases called Volatile sulfur
compounds (VSC). If not
removed, these compounds
continue to accumulate and combined with the air from the mouth will cause
a malodor.
VSC’s are toxic to oral tissues and can cause
periodontal disease, irritation to oral tissue, and bad breath.
Bacteria can accumulate anywhere in the mouth.
The teeth, inside of the checks, and gums are some places bacteria
can accumulate therefore it is necessary to keep these areas clean by
brushing and flossing. Due to its rough surface and crevices, the tongue
is the most common place for bacteria to be deposited.
Thus creating large amounts of sulfur compounds causing bad breath.
Simply brushing the tongue with a tooth brush will not dispose of
the bacteria imbedded deep into the crevices of the tongue but will only
move the bacteria around. As
Dr. Mel Babot DDS. States: the key is mechanical removal by using a
“rake like” tongue scraper to reach in and remove the debris from the
tongue.
The absence of saliva can also cause bad breath by
promoting more anaerobic bacteria to accumulate in the mouth.
Read more about this topic in the following section entitled, “Oral dryness
and bad breath".
Part Two: Oral Dryness And Bad
Breath
One of the leading causes of oral malodor can come
from xerostomia. Xerostomia
better known as dry mouth is a common occurrence in many people.
One of the contributing factors to dry mouth is medication such as
certain heart medication, antidepressants. Some of the most common types
of drugs that can cause dry mouth are-Decongestants, Diuretics,
Antidepressants, Antihistamines, Antispasmatics, and Puffers.
Stress, smoking, and age are also things that can cause xerostomia.
Saliva is a very important bodily function.
Saliva washes out the mouth of food debris, sugars, and bacteria.
Without saliva food cannot be easily washed away therefore staying
on your teeth longer causing possible plaque build up, thus leading to
tooth decay and possibly gum disease and ultimately causing a foul odor
from your mouth. Bacteria need
to be constantly washed away. Without
saliva, bacteria will stay in the gums, between teeth, and on the dorsal
surface of the tongue. These
bacteria will then break down and produce volatile sulfur compounds
resulting in irritation of the tissues and bad breath.
The first step to try and teat bad breath is to
eliminate the source. Although sometimes the answer is not that easy if
the cause of xerostomia is age or medication.
Therefore keeping your mouth clean and using mechanical techniques
for getting rid of debris with a tongue scraper and toothbrush are of the
utmost importance. Using
alcoholic based mouthwashes like scope or Listerine are detrimental with
someone with dry mouth; it can cause further xerostomia and even further
irritation. Ask your Denturist
for what is best for you to use. Some
examples are Biotene and Oxyfresh.
Part Three: Are My Dentures The
Source of My Bad Breath?
As we know, bacteria that accumulates on the tongue
or in other places in the mouth produce sulfur compounds which leads to
bad breath. Bacteria can also
accumulate on the surface or even within the denture.
Microscopically, dentures have a porous surface allowing bacteria
to enter and therefore, dentures must be cleaned everyday and rinsed
between every meal to minimize the accumulation of bacteria.
Scratches in the denture are an ideal place for bacteria to
accumulate.
Toothpastes like Crest or Colgate are made for use on
natural teeth, and they are
much too abrasive for dentures, thus producing scratches.
To try to avoid scratches in your denture, use non-abrasive
cleaning products such as liquid soap, polident denture paste, Oxyfresh
non-fluoride toothpaste, soaking tablets or liquid denture cleaners such
as Dentanet. With time odors can stay
strapped in the denture
causing it to smell and giving the denture wearer bad breath.
Here is a little test to see if it is your denture
that is causing your bad breath.
Remove your denture, rinse them under water, and
place it into a zip lock baggie. Let
it sit for five minutes and then open the bag a little and smell.
The odor you smell is what other people can smell. Sometimes
the odor is impossible to remove and a new denture is needed.
The average life of a denture is between 5 to 7 years.
Call your denturist for an appointment if you think your denture is
causing your bad breath.
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