Bad breath or mouth odour or fetor oris is one of the commonest reasons patients visit their dentist. The reasons are not far-fetched: it has ended relationships between partner, it affects the social acceptability of a person, self-confidence and in extreme cases, it can lead to suicidal tendency etc. Research has shown that 25% of the world population suffer from mouth odour, meaning 1 in every 4 persons suffers from bad breath. The first step in addressing the problem is to be able to know the possible causes. The following are commonest causes of mouth odour:

POOR ORAL HYGIENE

This is a major cause of mouth odour. Lack of toothrushing or improper toothbrushing methods will lead to accumulation of food particles which the bacteria in the oral cavity can act upon to produce foul-smelling odour. Lack of good oral hygiene can predispose to more problems such as bleeding gum, cavities etc which may lead to mouth odour.

GASTROINTESTINAL PROBLEMS

Frequent gastric reflux can lead to the escape of gastric content to the oral cavity, this can lead to mouth odour. Indigestion or constipation can also result in bad breath

CERTAIN FOOD CONSUMPTION

Food substances such as garlic, onion and the likes can produce mouth odour after digestion and absorption into the bloodstream. They manifest through the breathing of the affected person.

TOBACCO

The use of tobacco in any form – either by chewing or smoking can produce mouth odour. Its efffect is usully localised, the smoke inhaled would manifest in the breath of the person for a considerable period of time. Then the chewed one produce the same effect as well as producing bad breath through acterial action.

DRY MOUTH

The Saliva naturally ha a self-cleansing effect in the oral cavity. Consequently, any medical problems or intake of beverages such as coffee or prolonged silence can cause dry mouth which can result in mouth odour as a result of bacterial proliferation.

USE OF CERTAIN DRUGS

Some drugs can cause mouth odour by reducing saliva flow or by releasing chemicals in the lungs. Drugs such as nitrates, some anti-psychotic drugs and chemotherapeutic drugs can produce mouth odour through either of the aforementioned mechanisms.

DISEASES OF THE NOSE, THROAT AND MOUTH

Tonsillitis , sinusitis and other diseases of the mouth, nose and the throat can produce mouth odour. For example, Sinusitis can result in post-nasal drip leading to escape of the foul-smelling discharge into the oral cavity.

KETOACIDOSIS

This usually occurs in diabetic patient, when insulin is low and the body utilizes the fat reservoir. This results in ketone production which manifest in the breathing leading to mouth odour.

LUNGS DISEASES

Lungs diseases e.g aspiration pneumonia, bronchiectasis can cause mouth odour. Aspiration pneumonia occurs from escape of vomitus or saliva or food into the lungs.


FOREIGN BODY

This is commoner in children who might have ignorantly place bodies in the nose. This can result in accumulations of mucus which can cause mouth odour

https://dentalgist.ng/10-causes-of-mouth-odour

Highly educating and easy to understand.

I'm always conscious of how fresh my breath is cos mouth odour is a big turn-off for me.

It can be embarrassing and it causes low self-esteem

kennybelle:
Highly educating and easy to understand.

I'm always conscious of how fresh my breath is cos mouth odour is a big turn-off for me.

It can be embarrassing and it causes low self-esteem

Thanks

Very true.
The low self-esteem has made some sufferers to have suicidal tendencies

Thanks for these because somepeople mouth odour can make-up your face,to the extent you will be crying if they are talking to you.

Valid points

You didn't add old age

Hmmm

Check my signature to get free bitcoins up for grabs

Too much sucking of to_to dey cause am also

You forgot to add that pvssy-sucking too can cause mouth odour

How do you know, you ve mouth odour ?y

Cool

Mouth action also cause mouth odour

APC next level also causes mouth odour

Truthbites:
You didn't add old age

Old age doesn't necessarily cause mouth odour

Truthbites:
You didn't add old age

What have old age have to do with mouth odour,wont you like to reach old age

waledeji:
Too much sucking of to_to dey cause am also

You're talking from experience I guess

lanzzy:

Oloriburuku Ole Na God go punish you bastard

Can u break the English? Too much grammar will kee us in this kwontry walai, if I ask u wetin be the full meaning of CCTV now u go dey look me like malu

Phayie:


You're talking from experience I guess

Lol

waledeji:
Too much sucking of to_

to

Source: Delta Dental.com


WAYS TO AVOID MOUTH ODOUR.

1. Brush teeth twice a day

Brush your teeth two to three minutes at least twice a day to remove plaque and food debris. It’s very important to brush your teeth before going to bed. You might try an additional round of brushing with baking soda to reduce the acidity in the mouth and make it difficult for the bacteria that cause bad breath to grow.

2. Floss daily

Flossing will remove food debris from in between the teeth that a toothbrush can't reach. If the food debris is not removed, the bacteria will begin to feed on it, causing bad breath.

3. Brush or scrape your tongue

To remove any residue that may be building up between the taste buds and folds in the tongue, invest in an inexpensive tool called a tongue scraper, which is available in drugstores. If you don’t have a tongue scraper, you can use your toothbrush to brush your tongue.

4. Use a mouth rinse

Keep in mind that if a dental problem is the cause of chronic bad breath, a mouth rinse will only mask the odor and not cure it. In some cases, mouth rinses may actually worsen a bad breath problem by irritating oral tissue. For an emergency freshen-up, try a quick rinse with a mix of water and a few drops of peppermint oil. Or rinse your mouth with black or green tea: according to a study by the University of Illinois at Chicago, rinsing your mouth with black or green tea suppresses the growth of bacteria that cause mouth odor.

5. Visit your dentist

The best way to make sure that you are maintaining good oral hygiene is to visit your dentist regularly. If you have chronic bad breath, you should visit your dentist first, to rule out any dental problems. Or, if your dentist believes that the problem is caused from a systemic (internal) source such as an infection, he or she may refer you to your family physician or a specialist to help remedy the cause of the problem.

6. Quit smoking and avoid tobacco products

If you ever needed another reason to quit, here’s an easy one: smoking contributes to bad breath. Tobacco tends to dry out your mouth and can leave an unpleasant smell that lingers even after brushing your teeth.

7. Wet your whistle

Be sure to drink a sufficient amount of water (six to eight 8-ounce glasses) daily to avoid dry mouth. Drinking water will help keep odor under control because it helps wash away food particles and bacteria, the primary cause of bad breath. If you have chronic dry mouth or take medications that cause you to have dry mouth, talk to your dentist about recommending an over-the-counter saliva substitute.

8. Eat a piece of sugarless candy or chew sugarless gum.

Sucking on a piece of sugarless candy or chew sugarless gum can help stimulate saliva flow. The saliva will help to wash away food debris and bacteria that cause bad breath.

9. Munch on a carrot, a stick of celery or an apple.

Snacks of crispy, fresh fruits and vegetables step up your saliva flow between meals to help wash away bacteria from teeth, tongue and gums that can cause bad breath. These snacks can also help alleviate bad breath caused by hunger or fasting. An empty stomach from skipping meals can cause foul breath as acids in the stomach build up.

Honchovv:
I wish I can show my landlord this thread

Haba!
We wish your landlord's children do not know your moniker on Nairaland o!

mouth odor is a very bad think to have...
I don't know if those that have it know cause they don't seem to talk about it

Mouth odor is natural in adulthood. Everyone has it, only if you are not conscious of it. Stop acting childish like mouth odor is something big. Even a mad man who did not have oral hygiene might not have mouth odor because he's not conscious of it.

Emmanuelstm:

Oloriburuku Ole Na God go punish you bastard

.Just pity his customers

you didnt add ,menstruation.

most women has bad mouth odour during menses or im the only one who noticed it.

brush ur teeth regularly to avoid mouth odour embarrassment

Okay

I rush open am

Na so we see am oh