What to do about bad breath in adults

Halitosis is a rather delicate problem that reduces the quality of life and brings discomfort to a person. The smell from the mouth in adults, the causes and treatment of which are inextricably linked, is easily eliminated at home. However, in some cases, specialist assistance is required.

Why bad breath

There are physiological causes of bad breath. So, in the morning everyone can feel it, because saliva did not have time to clear the oral cavity during the night, because during sleep its production slows down. Halitosis is common in the elderly. The fact is that with age, the amount of saliva secreted decreases.

Sometimes, under the influence of medications taken, the composition of saliva changes, its properties deteriorate, it begins to be produced to a lesser extent. Dryness in the mouth causes a fetid odor, because it is saliva that maintains a healthy acid-base balance, washes away plaque, which contains many harmful microorganisms, and destroys bacterial cells that cause bad breath.

Dry mouth syndrome can also be caused by other factors:

1. avitaminosis;
2. botulism;
3. radiation injury.

Bad breath can be caused by diet. Starvation provokes a process in which the body begins to consume stored fats. When they decompose, ketones are produced, they cause a sweet or sour smell. In this case, fresh breath will return only after leaving the diet. The same applies to overeating and non-compliance with personal oral hygiene. After a hearty lunch or dinner, pieces of stuck food begin to rot, causing a disgusting smell.

The bad smell from some foods can last up to 24 hours. These include:

• spicy seasonings;
• garlic;
• herring;
• canned food;
• carbonated drinks;
• spicy meat products;
• alcohol;
• dairy;
• horseradish;
• coffee.

This food contributes to the formation of plaque, and when it enters the digestive system, compounds are formed that disrupt the acid-base balance in the mouth. In this case, bacteria actively multiply.

Types of bad odor

Depending on the severity and frequency of halitosis, there are three types:

1. True. Surrounding people clearly notice an unpleasant smell. The reasons may be physiological characteristics, the development of pathologies of internal organs, diseases of the teeth and gums.
2. Pseudogalitosis. Breathing with him is not entirely fresh and is felt only with close contact with a person. Usually this problem occurs due to violations of the rules of personal hygiene, eating certain foods.
3. Halitophobia. The adult has no obvious problems, his mouth does not smell at all, but he is convinced of the opposite. The psychological factor plays a big role here.

The nature of the smell can tell about specific pathologies, namely:

1. Rotten talks about dental problems.
2. Rotten is a consequence of a purulent process in the respiratory tract or the development of intestinal dysbacteriosis. Often this occurs in people who abuse alcohol. A putrid odor is felt during the decomposition of the walls of the esophagus, if there is a malignant tumor.
3. Acetone smells from the mouth in those who suffer from diabetes or kidney disease.
4. A slight smell that appears on the exhale or during a cough indicates lung disease.
5. Bitterness in the mouth and yellow tongue indicate problems in the gallbladder.
6. The sour smell is inherent in people suffering from pancreatitis and diabetes.
7. A bitter and pungent taste indicates problems with the pancreas.
8. Rottenness indicates the development of chronic gastritis.
9. The smell of ammonia is a consequence of chronic renal failure.

To understand how your mouth really smells, you can use a regular spoon. You need to turn it over and run it over the tongue so that a little plaque or saliva remains on the spoon. The smell emanating from them speaks of the quality of breathing.

Causes of true halitosis

Adult bad breath can be caused by a variety of factors. Often the problem is associated with the human oral cavity, he may experience:

• carious cavities;
• tartar;
• a large accumulation of plaque;
• the presence of crowns, braces, plates;
• diseases of the tongue and gums;
• decrease in the viscosity of saliva;
• stomatitis and other inflammations of the mucous membrane.

Halitosis can be a symptom of diseases such as:

1. infection of the respiratory organs (gangrene, tuberculosis, lung abscess, bronchiectasis);
2. kidney failure;
3. kidney disease (nephrosis, cystitis, pyelonephritis);
4. diabetes;
5. pathology of the gastrointestinal tract (gastritis, colitis, ulcer);
6. diseases of the liver and biliary tract (cholecystitis, cholelithiasis, hepatitis, cirrhosis);
7. diseases of the upper respiratory tract (sinusitis, otitis media, sinusitis);
8. malfunction of the endocrine system (an imbalance of sex hormones affects the properties of saliva);
9. Sjögren's disease (decreased secretion of the salivary glands).

In almost half of the cases, the cause of halitosis in adults is an unhealthy liver and pathology of the gastrointestinal tract. The most unfortunate cause of bad breath can be cancer of the stomach or esophagus. There is no need to rush to diagnose any disease in yourself in the absence of fresh breath. After all, this situation occurs periodically in every person.

The appearance of a fetid odor may be associated with constant constipation, flu and menstruation, and poor personal hygiene. While smoking a cigarette in the mouth, a violation of the process of cleansing the mucous membrane occurs. At the same time, the amount of oxygen released decreases, microorganisms begin to multiply. This addiction is also the cause of the formation of tartar and the development of inflammation of the gums. The presence of dentures and plates provokes the development of halitosis. It is especially pronounced in case of poor care of the surface of prostheses. After all, many bacteria multiply here, which create a bad smell.

Medicine for bad breath

To eliminate bad breath in an adult, you must first identify the cause of its occurrence. A sudden onset of halitosis may be a consequence of the development of a serious pathology. Therefore, it is necessary to conduct an examination of the body, get expert advice and start therapy as soon as possible.

First of all, dental problems should be eliminated, dentures should be replaced with new ones, if necessary. You may need a dental filling for caries, tooth extraction, or gum disease treatment. The doctor usually prescribes a special toothpaste, dental gel and other antibacterial drugs. Sometimes correction of the problem of reduced salivation is required.

If after the procedures the smell from the mouth persists, you should consult a therapist. In the case of rotten breath, which was the result of an ulcer or gastritis, you need to visit a gastroenterologist. Suspicions of diabetes will help dispel the endocrinologist. The nose should not be stuffy, because forced breathing through the mouth provokes dryness in the oral cavity. Also, with rhinitis or sinusitis, you need to visit an ENT doctor, with bronchial disease - a pulmonologist, in case of diabetes - an endocrinologist.

It is better to remove from the diet foods that provoke bad breath. To eliminate halitosis, you can use special deodorizing agents, dental floss, irrigator, ultrasonic brush.

Self-treatment

For those who prefer treatment at home, folk methods of dealing with halitosis are suitable. Below are popular recipes:

1. For rinsing, use an infusion of sour. 3 teaspoons of raw materials are poured into 0.5 liters of boiling water and left for 2 hours. After that, the composition is filtered and rinsed with their mouth.
2. Strawberry leaves in the amount of 1 tablespoon pour 2 cups of boiling water and leave for 3-4 hours. You should drink the composition every day for half a glass.
3. As a rinse, an infusion of bitter wormwood is suitable. It is necessary to brew 1 teaspoon of it with a glass of boiling water and leave for 20 minutes. Rinsing is carried out 2-3 times a day after meals.
4. Inside use a decoction of sorrel leaves. A tablespoon of raw materials is poured into 500 ml of water and boiled for 15 minutes. After that, the composition is removed and left for 2 hours. The solution is divided into 4 parts and drunk during the day before meals.
5. The following effective remedy will help eliminate the unpleasant odor. You need to take 1 tablespoon of vegetable oil and rinse your mouth with it for 10 minutes. Suitable linseed, sea buckthorn, olive oil.
6. It is necessary to brew 2 teaspoons of anise seeds in a glass of boiling water. The composition must be insisted for 20 minutes and filtered. After eating, they thoroughly rinse their mouth and throat. This plant has a bactericidal and anti-inflammatory effect.
7. You can freshen your breath with the help of berries. Suitable juice of cranberries, sea buckthorn, tea from rose hips, strawberries and raspberries.

Any treatment should be accompanied by personal hygiene and preventive measures:

1. After each meal, you need to rinse your mouth with water or a special solution. It is desirable that it does not contain alcohol.
2. Brush your teeth twice a day, do not forget about the tongue. It is also cleaned of plaque.
3. It is necessary to monitor the cleanliness of dentures, braces, orthodontic plates.
4. It is better to get rid of bad habits.
5. You need to visit the dentist every six months. You can carry out a special hygienic cleaning with him, which will deprive the bacteria of the nutrient medium.
6. It is necessary to drink more water, it helps in the fight against unpleasant odors, contributing to the release of saliva.
7. It is better to use personal care products that contain only natural ingredients.
8. You need to pay attention to your diet. It is better to include more vegetables and fruits in it. It is useful to use hercules, it helps to produce saliva.
9. You can eat 1-2 apples on an empty stomach in the morning, after rinsing your mouth.
10. To eliminate the smell after eating the product, you need to drink strong freshly brewed tea.

You can not abuse chewing gum and rinses. They give only a short-term effect, and sometimes they can exacerbate the problem. After all, they kill the natural microflora. Instead of chewing gum, it is better to use calamus root, clove seeds, mint, dill. The use of lozenges and tablets can cause the development of caries, so you should not get carried away with them either.

It is useless to engage in self-treatment of halitosis if a pathology of internal organs develops or there is inflammation in the mouth, caries in the teeth. Such problems will be solved by a doctor who will prescribe a comprehensive treatment to eliminate bad breath. The main rule remains the rejection of bad habits and healthy food.