Bad breath

Bad breath is not fate but a case for the dentist

"An artist of life begins the day by kissing something beautiful," the actor Marcello Mastroianni said. Beauty is one thing, but anyone who enjoys with all their senses tastes and smells their partner – and that should certainly be a pleasant experience. It is not always, however. Bad breath is an issue for more than a third of Germans, even if hardly anyone talks about it. Bad breath is a taboo subject with massive effects on relationships, on working life and on social life

The taboo subject of bad breath

Bad breath can make you lonely: most of those affected only notice their bad breath (halitosis) later, namely when the people around them keep their distance. That often creates an embarrassing situation for both sides. The causes of bad breath can, however, be removed. Very few people will voluntarily tell someone that their breath smells. If you have doubts about the freshness of your breath, only one thing helps: ask someone you trust, or a dentist. The causes of bad breath are normally not difficult to remove. It is not always possible to find them straight away, however

Popular belief is wrong: the source is usually in the mouth, not in the stomach

Scientific studies have shown that in up to 90 per cent of cases the unpleasant smell comes from the mouth. Hundreds of species of bacteria in the mouth break down food remains and deposits on teeth and tongue. Where mouth and tongue are cared for irregularly, foul-smelling metabolic products arise. The thought is certainly unpleasant: these are hydrogen sulphides that smell of rotten eggs, or compounds that give off the "scent" of faeces and sweaty feet. No wonder, then, that one's breath sometimes offends the nose of the person opposite. When the teeth and gums are healthy: your dentist has looked closely in your mouth, has even taken X-rays for a better view, and the diagnosis is that everything is fine and the dental care commendable. Wonderful, you think – but where does my bad breath come from? In that case the main source is often to be found on the tongue, more precisely on the back of the tongue. In its countless small furrows and grooves, bacteria can hide perfectly and go about producing the foul-smelling substances undisturbed (they live, incidentally, on nasal secretions and other residues that stick to the tongue)

Oral hygiene is sometimes not ideal

If the deposits are not removed daily and completely, the bacteria multiply quickly and produce unpleasant smells. They can also cause inflamed gums or even disease of the tooth bed. That in turn creates new places for the culprits to live, so that their number grows continuously. The bad breath increases further – a vicious circle. Here too the dentist and the dental assistants can as a rule bring back fresh breath by means of a professional tooth cleaning. The person affected also receives detailed, individual information so that they can continue the necessary care at home with suitable aids

Further causes of bad breath

Occasionally inadequate dental work is to blame for bad breath. Bridges and partial dentures may, for instance, have such an unfavourable shape, or be damaged, that bacteria find excellent hiding places. During the examination the dentist establishes whether possible causes are to be found here. Bad breath occurs less often with infected tonsils or sinuses or with metabolic disease. A dry mouth can also make the situation worse, as the rinsing effect of the saliva is then missing and the bacteria and their chemical products stick to the tongue. Possible causes of a dry tongue include fasting, talking for a long time, stress and smoking. Garlic, onions, alcohol or cigarettes also create bad breath. That passes, however, and is entirely harmless

And incidentally: many unnecessary gastroscopies to investigate bad breath have already been avoided in this way