Halitosis is all around you – its at the office, at the mall, and even in your home. What is halitosis? Bad Breath. Nobody likes having bad breath, but we hate when other people have bad breath even more. So, what are the possible causes of halitosis, and how can we combat the condition?
What is Halitosis?
Halitosis, according to Wikipedia, is:
…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.
Halitosis is often worse in the morning than at any time during the day due to dryness and inactivity at night. For most people, halitosis is transient, as it will “often disappearing following eating, brushing one’s teeth, flossing, and rinsing with specialised mouthwash(Wikipedia).” However, a more severe case of halitosis, known as chronic halitosis is not easily treated.
Halitosis Causes
- Stress
- Fasting
- Eating certain foods(such as garlic, onions, fish, meat, cheese, etc.)
- Obesity
- Smoking
- Alcohol consumption
Halitosis Sources
- Gum disease
- Nose
- Tonsils
- Stomach
- Systemic Diseases
Preventing Halitosis
Tammy Davenport from About.com Dentistry notes several ways to reduce the chances of acquiring halitosis. She suggests “regular dental check ups & cleanings, flossing daily, and brushing your teeth & tongue twice a day can greatly reduce and possibly eliminate halitosis.” It’s important to note that you may not be halitosis-free even if you follow all of these suggestions, rather the odds of acquiring halitosis will drop dramatically.
So, do yourself, your co-workers, family, and humanity a favor by following Dr. Davenport’s advice. If you’re not already after reading this post, you might want to go brush your teeth for good measure.
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