Signs, Symptoms, and Prevalence of Bad Breath
- Noticeably unpleasant breath odor
- Associated with anxiety, depression, and symptoms of obsessive-compulsive disorder
- Can cause social stigma and affect daily life
- Common reason for seeking dental care
- Estimated rates of bad breath vary from 6% to 50% of the population
Causes of Bad Breath
- 85% of genuine bad breath cases originate from inside the mouth
- Remaining cases may be due to disorders in the nose, sinuses, throat, lungs, esophagus, or stomach
- Rarely, underlying medical conditions such as liver failure or ketoacidosis can cause bad breath
- Non-genuine cases occur when someone complains of bad breath but others cannot detect it
- Treatment depends on the underlying cause
Locations in the Mouth Contributing to Bad Breath
- Mouth: odor-producing biofilm on the back of the tongue or other areas of the mouth due to poor oral hygiene
- Tongue: anaerobic bacteria on the back of the tongue thrive under a coating of food debris, dead cells, and bacteria
- Gums: gingival crevices and periodontal pockets can contribute to bad breath
Locations Outside the Mouth Contributing to Bad Breath
- Nose and Sinuses: nasal odor due to sinus infections, foreign bodies in the nose, chronic rhinosinusitis
- Tonsils: chronic caseous tonsillitis, tonsillolithiasis (tonsil stones), peritonsillar abscess
- Esophagus: lower esophageal sphincter not closing properly, hiatal hernia or GERD causing acid reflux, Zenkers diverticulum retaining aging food
- Stomach and Systemic Diseases: allyl methyl sulfide from garlic digestion, systemic diseases causing foul breath odor
Classification, Management, and Research on Bad Breath
- Classification: genuine halitosis, pseudohalitosis, and halitophobia
- Management: physical or chemical means to decrease bacteria in the mouth, addressing underlying diseases, counseling
- Research: studies on etiology, diagnosis, and management of halitosis, effectiveness of mechanical measures and mouthwashes
- Social and Psychological Impact: self-perception issues, impact on personal relationships, measurement methods and future prospects for assessing oral malodor
Bad breath Data Sources
| Reference | URL |
|---|---|
| Glossary | https://www.alternix.com/blogs/glossary-of-terms/bad-breath |
| Wikipedia | http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bad_breath |
| Wikidata | https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q16408 |
| Knowledge Graph | https://www.google.com/search?kgmid=/m/025hzf |
