BAD BREATH
While it is true that disease in almost any part of the body can cause bad breath (halitosis), over 90 percent of cases stem from local conditions in the mouths of otherwise normal people, the Finnish medical journal, Suomen Laakarilehti (40:2309) reports. Most of the remainder have an abnormal lung condition, and only very few have a “general” illness that taints both the bloodstream and breath, such as liver or kidney failure, or diabetes.
To determine whether bad breath is coming from the mouth or from elsewhere, exhale deeply through the nostrils with the mouth shut. If another person can detect an odor on the breath under these conditions, it must be coming from the lungs, the U.S. Pharmacist (10#10:24) reports.
Conversely, bad breath detectable when one exhales gently through the mouth with the nostrils closed must be coming from the mouth. Mouth conditions giving rise to halitosis include poor hygiene with putrefying food particles between the teeth, dental caries or plaque, and inflammation of the gums or gum pockets that harbor rotting food. Bad breath from these causes, of course, can usually be dealt with by dentists.
Older people who take good care of their mouths may nevertheless have bad breath, the Journal of the American Medical Association (254:2473) reports, since they do not produce sufficient saliva. The resulting oral dryness allows odor-producing bacteria to flourish between their teeth. The remedy for this problem is to use a mouthwash or an artificial saliva spray between meals.
Lastly, dryness of the air inside a house may be making a contribution to bad breath since it leads to crusting of mucus and excessive bacterial growth in the nose and mouth, especially in elderly people, who already have some nasal and oral dryness. Dryness of the air, however, can easily be eliminated with a humidifier. Consumer Reports (50:679) recommends the ultrasonic type of humidifier since, unlike the others, it spreads very few bacteria.
*171\143\2*
RelatedPosts:
Tags: General health