By Caroline Mayer
It is one thing to wake up with morning breath and feel disgusted, but some people emit an unpleasant smell around their faces the entire day ... and don't even realize it.
Known as halitosis, the most common cause of this smell is bacteria in the mouth, experts said.
A cause of anxiety and embarrassment for many, "halitosis often cuts affected people off from their social lives," said Sebastian Michaelis, a dentist in Germany.
Defining halitosis is tricky, Michaelis said. With some cases, almost nobody else notices.
"The cases we pay attention to are the ones where you notice the mouth smell from some distance away and the patient is actually having social difficulties as a result," he said.
An expert in treating halitosis, Michaelis asks patients to open their mouths so he can determine whether halitosis is the issue. Once the dentist makes his diagnosis, he starts looking for the source of the problem.
Many people believe that the rotting smell comes from the stomach. That is rarely the case, said Michaelis. In nearly all cases - approximately 90 per cent - the cause is in the mouth. The culprits, more often than not, are bacteria that wedge themselves between the teeth, deep inside gum pockets - spaces between the teeth and gums - or in dentures.
With proper treatment, the problem can usually be resolved quickly.
In the unlikely case a dentist cannot resolve the problem, the next step is a trip to a ear, nose and throat (ENT) doctor. The second most common cause of bad breath is found in the nose or throat.
"Chronic sinus infections or bacteria in the tonsils can cause bad breath from the nose and mouth," said Thomas Deitmer, a professor and director of an ENT clinic in Germany.
If the smell originates from the tonsils, a tonsillectomy, or complete removal of the tonsils, usually fixes the problem. However, that is not a 100-per-cent guarantee, Deitmer explained. Plus there are risks associated with a tonsillectomy, like bleeding.
To avoid rancid breath, brush your teeth two times a day, said Christoph Benz, professor and member of the Bayern Dentist Association. He also recommends a combination of flossing and tongue cleaning once per day.
"But he careful while doing so," he said.
Ideally you'd have professional cleanings with a dentist two times a year, he said.
He also recommends talking with a dentist before using an antibacterial mouthwash. Mouthwashes frequently alter the natural balance of bacteria in the mouth, or the oral microbiome, which can do more harm than good.
For people paying close attention to their oral hygiene, but still unsure whether they are producing a bad odour, it is best to speak with a dentist or ask a trusted friend. Self-tests, like trying to smell your own breath or saliva, are not reliable ways to detect bad breath.
And if you know of someone who has bad breath but is unaware of it, Michaelis recommends speaking honestly to them. "In my experience, most people are very grateful when you bring it to their attention, so long as it is done in a careful and tactful manner," he said.
dpa
