From poorly cleaned teeth to a stomach ulcer. What does bad breath indicate – List of News

Social faux pas or a bigger health problem? Bad breath can easily be both. Because apart from the fondness for aromatic foods and insufficient hygiene, the fault can be found elsewhere.

You can find anywhere between 800-1000 bacteria in your mouth, and these are only the ones that scientists have already discovered. And it is their overgrowth that can lead to bad breath. How does this happen? Quite simply – they get out of control due to insufficient hygiene.

No need to mention cleaning twice a day, morning and night. If you have a dilemma, whether before or after breakfast, it is entirely up to you. However, there should be a 30-minute break between eating and brushing the teeth, so that the pH in the oral cavity is neutralized, which can be helped by milk, for example.

You shouldn’t forget either, but you should pay special attention to the evening one. Brush your teeth for at least five minutes, use interdental brushes and don’t forget to clean your tongue as well, because even its folds harbor bacteria.

“I don’t recommend scrapers, use a brush. You can’t rub it here and there, it’s just gentle stroking from the root of the tongue to the tip,” explains Adéla Šonková, dental hygienist from Dental Office H33. The movement could be compared to combing hair.

There are also other problems related to oral hygiene that can cause bad breath, although these will only become apparent after a longer period of time. An unpleasant odor can be caused by tooth decay, gingivitis or periodontal disease. The dental hygienist points out that people often have a tendency to attribute it to heredity, while in the vast majority of cases the patients themselves are to blame.

Another reason for the smell can be dryness in the oral cavity. Most people experience it in the morning when their mouth smells. During the night, the production of saliva decreases, but there is no need to worry about it, it is a natural process. “However, certain medications, such as hypertensive drugs or antidepressants, can also be to blame,” points out Adéla Šonková. Instead of using mouthwashes, it’s a good idea to try to find out the cause with a doctor and advise whether to try something else.

Although 85-90 percent of the causes can really be found in the oral cavity, the problem can also be hidden elsewhere. Some diseases from the field of ENT or gastroenterology are also associated with bad breath. It can concern, for example, inflammation of the tonsils, inflammation of the gastric mucosa, reflux of the esophagus, stomach ulcer and, in some cases, a malignant tumor. That is why bad breath needs to be addressed with a dentist. He first rules out that the problem is related to the oral cavity, and then sends the patient for further examination.

Is it OK to use chewing gum to eliminate odor? And what should we choose toothpastes for and what should we say to our neighbor if we feel that his mouth smells, but we don’t want to touch him? Listen to the entire MUDr.ování podcast in the player at the beginning of the article.