BAD BREATH - BIOLOGY IN ACTION...cont
The condition of the esophagus, the tube from the throat to the stomach, can affect breath. In people who have a hiatus hernia, the esophagus stays slightly open. Stomach odour may scent the breath, especially if the person is hungry. Drinking coffee or smoking can make breath worse, since coffee stimulates stomach secretions and smoking dries the mouth. Some people taking antibiotics find stomach odour increases and then eventually goes away. Others have bad breath because of a sinus infection or even a chronic chest infection.
A range of metabolic diseases can produce breath odour. Poor diabetes control creates a smell like nail polish remover. Liver diseases and kidney disease are also associated with breath odour. In a few people, choline (found in eggs) transforms into a chemical that can contribute to a fishy odour of the breath and urine. There is a whole range of reasons why somebody can have bad breath. Many fall outside of dentistry and in the area of medicine.
WHAT CAN YOU DO?
Worrying about breath odour can be very socially isolating. It is almost impossible to detect and monitor your own breath. There is a remedy - find somebody to advise you. The human nose is still the most sensitive instrument we have to measure bad breath. Using the sense of smell in bad breath research is disguised under the term "neuroleptic assessment". If you are concerned about your breath, recruit a trusted friend who can tell you what works in controlling bad breath and what does not. The right person to work is often the person who tells you that your breath is bad. This person can also give support if you are unnecessarily afraid of having bad breath. If someone you know has breath odour, you might gently offer your help.
A number of instruments for measuring bad breath are used in the clinic. All can give clear proof to a patient and their caregiver of the presence or absence of levels of VSC's associated with bad breath. Appropriate treatment can then be recommended. The gas chromatograph is an example. One type, the OralChroma, specializes in measuring oral VSCs. Many people working in this area use a portable monitor to measure VSC growth in a process halimetry. The Halimeter is a souped-up adaptation of an industrial safety monitor. Instread of detecting "sour gas", it measures VSCs in mouth air. Like all aspects of scientific measurement, using an instrument to detect and measure VSCs in mouth air requires training for correct interpretation of results.
Such instruments have both benefits and limitations. They can be influenced or even deceived by other molecules, such as alcohol (frequently found in mouth rinses)and flavouring agents in products like toothpaste. The instruments used in clinics cannot detect amines which are associated with bad breath in some people, especially the elderly. Most important, the only thing this equipment can do is confirm bad breath at the time of measurement.
If you are worried about your breath, the best solution is to find an advisor you trust. If the problem persists, your doctor or dentist may be able to help find a solution.
THAT TO DO ABOUT BAD BREATH:
* Practice good oral hygiene. Brush after meals and before bed. Floss once a day and scrape your tongue once or twice a day. Rinse your mouth with water if you are unable to brush.
* Chew sugarless gum or try a mouth rinse.
* Drink plenty of water.
* Cut down on alcohol and coffee.
* Eat a small cracker when hungry.
* Have a dental check-up and cleaning. Discuss your concerns with your dentist, who may have products for you to try.
* At your medical check-up, tell your doctor that you are worried about your breath.
* Recruit a close friend to help find out what works to control your bad breath.
* If you are concerned about bad breath, get help from a sympathetic person. Not everyone who thinks they have bad breath actually does. Halimetry can help set your thoughts at ease.
A range of metabolic diseases can produce breath odour. Poor diabetes control creates a smell like nail polish remover. Liver diseases and kidney disease are also associated with breath odour. In a few people, choline (found in eggs) transforms into a chemical that can contribute to a fishy odour of the breath and urine. There is a whole range of reasons why somebody can have bad breath. Many fall outside of dentistry and in the area of medicine.
WHAT CAN YOU DO?
Worrying about breath odour can be very socially isolating. It is almost impossible to detect and monitor your own breath. There is a remedy - find somebody to advise you. The human nose is still the most sensitive instrument we have to measure bad breath. Using the sense of smell in bad breath research is disguised under the term "neuroleptic assessment". If you are concerned about your breath, recruit a trusted friend who can tell you what works in controlling bad breath and what does not. The right person to work is often the person who tells you that your breath is bad. This person can also give support if you are unnecessarily afraid of having bad breath. If someone you know has breath odour, you might gently offer your help.
A number of instruments for measuring bad breath are used in the clinic. All can give clear proof to a patient and their caregiver of the presence or absence of levels of VSC's associated with bad breath. Appropriate treatment can then be recommended. The gas chromatograph is an example. One type, the OralChroma, specializes in measuring oral VSCs. Many people working in this area use a portable monitor to measure VSC growth in a process halimetry. The Halimeter is a souped-up adaptation of an industrial safety monitor. Instread of detecting "sour gas", it measures VSCs in mouth air. Like all aspects of scientific measurement, using an instrument to detect and measure VSCs in mouth air requires training for correct interpretation of results.
Such instruments have both benefits and limitations. They can be influenced or even deceived by other molecules, such as alcohol (frequently found in mouth rinses)and flavouring agents in products like toothpaste. The instruments used in clinics cannot detect amines which are associated with bad breath in some people, especially the elderly. Most important, the only thing this equipment can do is confirm bad breath at the time of measurement.
If you are worried about your breath, the best solution is to find an advisor you trust. If the problem persists, your doctor or dentist may be able to help find a solution.
THAT TO DO ABOUT BAD BREATH:
* Practice good oral hygiene. Brush after meals and before bed. Floss once a day and scrape your tongue once or twice a day. Rinse your mouth with water if you are unable to brush.
* Chew sugarless gum or try a mouth rinse.
* Drink plenty of water.
* Cut down on alcohol and coffee.
* Eat a small cracker when hungry.
* Have a dental check-up and cleaning. Discuss your concerns with your dentist, who may have products for you to try.
* At your medical check-up, tell your doctor that you are worried about your breath.
* Recruit a close friend to help find out what works to control your bad breath.
* If you are concerned about bad breath, get help from a sympathetic person. Not everyone who thinks they have bad breath actually does. Halimetry can help set your thoughts at ease.
