Halitosis or bad breathis a widespread condition, affecting approximately 1 out of 4 people around the globe. The main halitosis symptom is foul-smelling breath that doesn’t go away. The odor may be strong enough for other people to notice.
While poor oral hygiene is the most common cause of halitosis, it’s not the only one. There are several other conditions that can cause bad breath, including:
Dry mouth –Saliva helps to wash your mouth, so if your body isn’t making enough saliva, it can lead to halitosis. Smoking can cause dry mouth, and it also increases your risk for gum disease. Additionally, certain medications can cause dry mouth.
Head and neck cancers – Symptoms of oral or oropharyngeal cander (your oropharynx is between your nose and mouth) include sores that don’t heal, mouth pain, difficulty swallowing a lump in your neck and unexplained weight loss.
Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) – This is a digestive disorder in which stomach acid or fluid leaks back into your esophagus the tube that takes food from your mouth to your stomach.
Tonsil stones – When food gets stuck in your tonsils (located in the back of your throat), it sometimes hardens into calcium deposits called tonsil stones or tonsillitis.
Gum disease/Gingivitis – this an inflammation of your gums that can cause redness, swelling and bleeding. It’s caused by plaque or a sticky film that builds up on your teeth and can be removed by brushing and flossing. Untreated gingivitis can lead to periodontis, which damages gum tissue and can lead to tooth and bone loss around your teeth. Trench mouth is an advanced form of gum disease that can involve intense pain, bleeding, fever, or fatigue
Infections in your nose, throat or lungs – People with pneumonia for example, cough up liquid that smells bad.
Diabetes – People with diabetes have an increased risk of gum disease which can make it harder to manage diabetes because it can increase blood sugar.
Liver disease or kidney disease – When your liver and kidneys are working properly, they filter toxins out of your body. But in people with liver or kidney disease, these toxic substances aren’t being cleared out.
Sjögren’s syndrome – This autoimmune disease can lead to muscle pain, dry eyes, dry skin and dry mouth.
If you have bad breath that doesn’t go away, schedule an appointment with Dr. Soto The Downey Dentist. Halitosis treatment depends on the root cause of the issue If halitosis is due to poor oral hygiene, a dental cleaning or periodontal (gum) procedure should help. If you have healthy teeth and gums, then halitosis may be linked to an issue in another part of your body and your primary healthcare provider can help you with proper diagnosis and treatment.
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