Bad Breath

Bad Breath

One of the questions our patients frequently ask us is "Bad Breath". We have often come across statements such as "Doctor, my bad breath does not go away even though I brush my teeth."

Bad breath is an unpleasant odor caused by some bacteria and food residues in the mouth. This odor is often caused by oral causes, rarely seen as a result of systemic disorders or dry mouth, which is a side effect of some medications. This odor is especially noticeable in the morning, but in healthy individuals, this condition improves after oral care. If this odor persists despite oral care, it is useful to consult a dentist for differential diagnosis.

Causes of Bad Breath

Bad smelling compounds are formed as a result of the interaction of food residues that are not cleaned well in the mouth with the bacteria in the mouth.

Infection foci in the mouth, poorly made dentures, broken or cracked restorations, cavities, dental stones, and gingivitis also cause bad breath.

Saliva plays a very important role in cleaning and washing the mouth. A decrease in the amount of saliva in the mouth will reduce the ability to wash the mouth, which will cause bad breath. In this case, some medications used for systemic disorders (antihypertensives, antidepressants, etc.) will cause dry mouth, which can indirectly cause bad breath.

Some foods we eat (onion, garlic, meat, fish, cheese, etc.) cause bad breath. A diet high in protein can also cause bad breath. This smell will continue until these consumed foods are eliminated from the body.

Similarly, tobacco products and alcohol also cause bad breath.

Some diseases play a role in the emergence of bad breath, albeit to a small extent. Diabetes, lower and upper respiratory tract infections, digestive system disorders, liver and kidney system diseases can be included in this category. These diseases secrete different odors. For example; a distinct acetone smell in the mouth in diabetes...

What Should Be Done to Eliminate Bad Breath?

• First of all, the differential diagnosis of whether bad breath is caused by an oral cause should be made by a dentist.
• Necessary treatments should be carried out for cavities in the mouth, bleeding gums, and poorly made dentures, and tartar should be eliminated.
• Oral hygiene training should be given and this training should be fully established, regular teeth brushing and interface care should be done.
• Bacteria in the mouth, especially; can often live in the crevices and protrusions on the tongue. Bacteria can feed on food residues that accumulate in these areas and cause bad breath. For this reason, brushing the tongue is very important in eliminating bad breath. Specific tongue brushes can be used in this regard. Ozone therapy treatment applied to the tongue also provides supportive treatment for the elimination of bacteria living on the tongue.
• Chewing sugarless gum also contributes to the oral hygiene process as it accelerates the flow of saliva.
• If all these recommendations are followed but there is no change in the person's bad breath, then the bad breath may be caused by the gastrointestinal system, in which case the person should be referred to an internal medicine specialist.

Tongue Cleanliness and Its Importance

Did you know that your tongue helps you speak, eat, swallow and taste your food? We probably don't pay much attention to the importance and function of our tongue in our daily lives.

Interesting Language Facts

Of all the muscles in the human body, the tongue is the strongest for its size and is the only muscle attached at one end. It is also the only muscle in the body that works without any support from the skeleton. The mouth typically hosts around 700 species of bacteria, most of which gather on the surface of the tongue. Our tongue quickly gets to work ‘sweeping’ after eating to try, check and remove any food that may have stuck to the teeth. This organ, which has such an important function, also needs to be cleaned very meticulously. As we mentioned, the tongue is a muscle. It is covered in a moist coating known as mucosa and has millions of tiny projections called papillae. These papillae give the tongue its rough texture and some of these papillae contain taste buds that allow us to taste food and drink. This rough surface can collect food particles and, of course, millions of bacteria or microorganisms called flora. Just like your fingerprint, the flora of the tongue is different for each person.

Cleaning your tongue can reduce the amount of bacteria on your tongue. Studies suggest that cleaning your tongue can improve your mouth's freshness as well as gum and tooth health. In studies conducted on patients with bad breath, it has been determined that it can originate from other parts of the body, including the lungs, nose, mouth, teeth, and tongue. In most patients, it has been observed that the complaint is reduced or completely eliminated after dental plaque and professional tongue cleaning.

Why is Tongue Cleaning Important?

Tongue cleaning is as important as brushing your teeth. However, it is neglected by many people and its necessity is not known. If the tongue is not cleaned regularly, it causes some health problems. Not cleaning the tongue causes the bacteria accumulated on the tongue not to be removed from the mouth and the bacteria to multiply over time. As a result, these bacteria can spread to the teeth and cause serious problems such as inflammation of the gums, tooth loss, and miscarriages during pregnancy. Not cleaning the tongue regularly can cause the color of the tongue to fade. Because food and drink particles accumulated on the tongue are not cleaned and cause stains on the tongue. This situation can cause the tongue to darken and look hairy over time, causing you to have aesthetic concerns.

Benefits of Tongue Cleaning

It helps to eliminate bacteria or other problems that cause bad breath. It prevents the gradual growth and spread of bacteria accumulated on the tongue surface. In this way, it prevents discomfort in the mouth and teeth. It also helps to protect general health by preventing the formation of some diseases. When tongue cleaning is done regularly, oral and dental hygiene can be fully provided. In this way, you can have healthy and long-lasting teeth and a fresh breath.

How to Clean Your Tongue?

If you like the feeling of cleaning your tongue or decide to clean your tongue, you should be very gentle because the tongue surface is very sensitive! Our toothbrush can be used for this task, provided it has soft bristles, but other tools such as a tongue scraper can also be used. Start gently at the back of the tongue, pull forward or brush, and use water to lubricate the process so that the brush does not irritate the tongue surface. Professionally, you should have your tongue cleaned periodically by your dentist in a clinical environment with special vacuum devices. Afterwards, in addition to regular tooth brushing every day, you should clean your tongue as described above.

Benefits of Vacuum Tongue Cleaning

• Deep cleaning of the tongue by vacuuming the bacterial plaque formed on the tongue
• Removal of bacterial tongue plaque from the oral cavity
• Extraordinary feeling of freshness after treatment
• Reduced gag reflex compared to traditional methods
• It provides cleaning without causing irritation or trauma to the lingual papillae as is the case with tongue scrapers or rotary brushes.

Essential Tips for Keeping Your Entire Mouth Healthy

• Brush your teeth twice a day,
• Clean between your teeth daily with dental floss or interdental brushes,
• Drink plenty of water,
• Quit smoking,
• Limit sugary foods and drinks,
• Visit your dentist regularly for a checkup, dental scaling, professional tongue cleaning, and personalized oral health advice. All of these tips are evidence-based and proven to be effective in maintaining optimal oral health!

Sources used

http://www.tdb.org.tr/tdb/v2/yayinlar/TADS_Brosur/agiz_kokusu.pdf