Definition:
Halitosis, oral malodor (scientific term), breath odor, foul breath, fetor oris, fetor ex ore, or most commonly bad breath are terms used to describe noticeably unpleasant odors exhaled in breathing – whether the smell is from an oral source or not.
Diagnosis:
Scientists have long thought that smelling one's own breath odor is often difficult due to habituation, although many people with bad breath are able to detect it in others.
Treatment:
Mouthwashes often contain antibacterial agents including cetylpyridinium chloride, chlorhexidine, zinc gluconate, essential oils, and chlorine dioxide. Chlorhexidine and Zinc provide strong synergistic effect. They may contain alcohol, which is a drying agent and may worsen the problem.
Symptoms and Signs:
There are a few systemic (non-oral) medical conditions, which may cause foul breath odor, but these are extremely infrequent in the general population. Such conditions are:
Fetor hepaticus: an example of a rare type of bad breath caused by chronic liver failure.
Causes:
In most cases (85-90%), bad breath originates in the mouth itself. The intensity of having a bad breath differs during the day, as a function of oral dryness, (which may be due to stress or fasting), eating certain foods (such as garlic, onions, meat, fish and cheese), obesity, smoking and alcohol consumption. Due to the mouth is dry and inactive during the night, the odor is usually worse upon awakening ("morning breath"). Bad breath may be transient, frequently disappearing following eating, brushing one's teeth, flossing, and rinsing with specialized mouthwash.
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