 Halitosis can be treated Bad breath hinders personal relations. 90% of the cases have quick solutions and the rest could be sign of more serious health problems  By
Mileyda Menendez Davila mileyda@juventudrebelde.cu A CubaNews translation by Giselle Gil. Edited by Walter Lippmann. September 2009 20:28:31  Halitosis
is, in medical terms, the foul smell of the oral cavity. This is a
frequent phenomenon at awakening for most adults. The foul smell is
produced when dryness causes dead cells and bacteria to adhere to the
tongue and the inside of the cheeks. This happens because the structures
of the mouth at rest produce very little saliva. For a good number of people this uncomfortable situation is not only something that happens in the mornings. The worst thing is that some do not even notice their frequent "dragon breath" because their nose receivers are blocked and fail to respond to the constant flow of fetid effluviums. The rest of the people around them, on the other hand, do perceive them and suffer from them. But, this is hardly ever commented on - at least with the person responsible – because of deeply ingrained social conventions. The most common reaction is to separate oneself discreetly to avoid intimate conversations or to greet the person evasively. This affects the person’s image of himself in the long run, because he/she ignores the cause of this social rejection and therefore, cannot solve it satisfactorily. Those who are aware of the problem and have not solved it can have problems relating to others. They end up losing their trust in themselves and feel diminished when looking for a partner. Therefore, in one way or another, this painful matter affects their quality of life. According to the British Medical Journal, between eight and 50 percent of the world population has episodes of bad breath that can be fleeting, recurrent, transitory or chronic. However, 90 percent of the cases can be easily solved. Solution is easy when the bad breath originates directly in the mouth cavity as a result of the bacterial decomposition of left over food remaining between the teeth and mixed with saliva, mucous cells and blood. This combination produces volatile substances like butírico acid, propiónico acid, valeric acid and protein derived sulfurates like putrescina and cadaverina. This type of halitosis is due to an inadequate buccal hygiene or to certain incorrect but avoidable habits like breathing through the mouth, maintaining a prolonged social stress, smoking or drinking alcohol excessively, eating too many candies or depending on medication that dry up the buccal mucous, like antidepressants and anti-histamines. Ten percent of the remaining cases can be a sign of other illnesses that require attention, like polyps, chronic gastritis, rhinitis, sinusitis, stomachaches, gingivitis or faringoamigdalitis. It can even be associated to acute respiratory illnesses, metabolic or hepatic dysfunction and lung cancer. It can also be caused by xerostomía or dry mouth syndrome (frequent in those who use dental prosthesis and in those who remain for long periods of time in closed atmospheres without ingesting food or water). It is also typical in those who abuse hypo-caloric diets for aesthetic purposes, the so called “hunger scent”. A very low carbohydrate intake generates an incomplete use of the body fats to produce energy, a phenomenon called ketosis. To each his scent It’s difficult to relate socially with a person that suffers halitosis and does nothing to avoid it, but it is much more complicated when relations are more intimate. Even in marriages of several years speaking of this subject can be difficult. Some prefer that a doctor breaks the news and they try to take their partner to the doctor under any excuse. Others simply try to adapt to the new situation so as not to hurt the spouse's feelings. But, if they can’t, they grow distant, hurting the other person more. Several readers admitted to Sex Sense that at some point in their lives they may have thought they had found the "ideal person" in many aspects, but they could not establish a long lasting relationship because the sole idea of breathing the other’s breath was unbearable. And so, it was even less imaginable to think of sharing their passion or waking up together every morning. Undoubtedly a rejection of this kind doesn't always imply bad breath. With regards to kisses everybody has their own taste and it may happen that somebody finds that the other person’s breath doesn’t have a positive erotic message for him/her without there being any bad odors involved. Other couples are able to overcome this obstacle and they have an acceptable coexistence enjoying each others bodies although they don't kiss each other. If such a decision is of mutual agreement and it’s not humiliating for anybody, there is nothing to object: each relationship establishes its particular rules and if they are valid for both of them they should be respected by others. Apparently in this world for every hand there is a glove and there are people for whom bad breath is exciting. Others have a low olfactory sensibility typical of whales, so they don’t even notice this uncomfortable quality in their partners. Maybe others are alarmed and opt to hold their breath in these cases, but if they are happy nobody has the right to question their happiness. Suggestions to combat halitosis Go to the dentist immediately to eliminate cavities, treat gum diseases and bacterial plaques. Use dental floss thread before brushing your teeth to remove left over food incrusted between the teeth and use antiseptic mouthwashes available in the market. Brush your teeth after each meal and especially before going to bed at night. Brush all sides of your teeth and your tongue. Use chewing gum or mint pills without sugar between meals to increase saliva production. It helps mask the scent, but it doesn't solve the problem. Drink lots of water, as well as avoid excess smoking, or drinking alcohol or coffee and eating foods with strong flavors like garlic and raw onions. Eat fats and sugars in moderation. Take special care with dental prosthesis because they contribute to increase bacterial plaques. Don’t spend many hours without eating. Eat raw vegetables to protect your gums. Some experts recommend natural yogurt without sugar to combat halitosis. http://www.juventudrebelde.cu/suplementos/sexo-sentido/2009-09-11/halitosis-un-mal-que-puede-curarse/ |
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