How to deal with your bad breath wisely

How to deal with your bad breath wisely

By Maria Endah Hulupi

JAKARTA (JP): Sandra, a 25-year-old executive wasn't aware of having bad breath until she noticed how people she talked to reacted as she spoke.

She cannot understand why she has bad breath although she has done everything possible to ensure that her mouth is clean: brushing her teeth three times a day, cleaning her teeth with dental floss and rinsing her mouth out with breath freshener. And yet, she still has it.

Adding to her confusion, her dentist said that her teeth were just fine and told her to go ahead with what she had always done to keep her mouth clean.

It hurts her feelings to see how her colleagues react to her smelly breath as she speaks. She feels that she has been alienated at the office.

Experts warn that bad breath could be a sign of health problems.

An otorhinolaryngologist Jainul A. Djaafar and Gus Permana of the University of Indonesia's Oral Medicine department advise that it is to be taken seriously.

"If a patient has taken good care of their oral hygiene and teeth but they still have bad breath, it may indicate other health problems, and a visit to the doctor is highly recommended," Jainul said.

Smelly breath is generally linked to health problems in the mouth and digestive system.

Jainul noted that malodorous breath is commonly reported by patients with sinusitis or tonsil ailments. This occurs because an infection of the sinus cavity trap discharges mucus and the resulting bacterial activities create a malodorous smell in the cavity. Infections of the tonsils are also commonly accompanied with putrid breath.

Doctors will usually prescribe antibiotics to fight bacteria on the tonsil or sterilize mucus in the sinus cavity but if this doesn't work, they may consider surgery.

Other possibilities include chronic hepatitis and kidney problems. "But not all patients suffering from the disease complain of having bad breath," Jainul said.

In patients with kidney failure or lung diseases, the symptoms will often become physically tangible, such as their skin starts to turn yellow.

Gus Permana suggests a holistic approach that might involve the role of a gastroenterologist to cure chronic fetid breath.

"In general, bad odor may indicate an organic problem. People with diabetes usually have acetone-scented breath; those suffering kidney failure have fishy breath and those with constipation problems have stinking breath," he said.

In short, the putrid smell is closely related to the patients' metabolism and their affected organs.

A healthy person is not likely to have bad breath while ailing people are, often due to a change in their diet or the drugs they consume.

Certain medicines cause offensive odor to a patients' breath or urine. However, this problem will stop once the patient has fully recovered and stopped taking them.

In this case, mouthwash cannot eliminate the mouth odor if the problem lies elsewhere. If the affected organ is not properly treated, the problem will persist.

"Many people think that mouthwash is the answer. In fact it is useless if the problem is not in the mouth," Jainul said.

Of course periodic visits to the dentist is necessary to make sure that teeth are clean and healthy.

Other possible causes of bad breath are excessive amounts of bacteria or fungus on the surface of the tongue; inadequate saliva production, which might be the result of psychological problems or an indication of salivary gland problems; chronic periodontal or a disease that affect gums and the supporting structures of the teeth; and denture stomatitis or irritation that can happen if a false tooth lacks cleanliness.

According to Gus, the formation of bacteria on the tongue is made possible by, among others, the extended use of antibiotics or excessive use of mouthwash. These substances, if used excessively, can disturb the "ecosystem" in the mouth and promote bacteria and fungal growth.

Reduced saliva production can also spurt the growth of bacteria or fungus in teeth cavities. Note that saliva helps control bacteria growth in the mouth.

Poor oral and teeth condition, like plaque, provides an ideal living environment for bacteria, which is responsible for demineralizing the teeth surface, thus causing caries or tooth decay.

Gus recommended that teeth be cleaned with a toothbrush and dental floss and that the tongue be cleaned by way of gently brushing the surface to help reduce bacterial growth in the mouth that might cause oral malodor.

Remember that the excessive use of antiseptic solution, often used just before having a conversation or rinsing the mouth without brushing the teeth first, is not effective in eliminating bad breath.