If you do a quick Google search for bad breath, you’ll see a lot of articles with the keyword “coworker bad breath” in the title. “My coworker has bad breath, what should I do?” “Can I talk to her directly?” and so on.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s National Health Information Portal defines halitosis as “an odor that comes from the mouth or surrounding area and is generally unpleasant to others or to oneself.”
There are three types of halitosis: (1) physiological halitosis, which is caused by decreased salivary secretion in the mouth due to aging, (2) pathological halitosis, which is caused by intraoral causes, and (3) pathological halitosis, which is caused by extraoral causes. Extra-oral causes include chronic rhinosinusitis, tonsillitis, digestive diseases, lung cancer, and bronchiectasis. At this point, the average person might wonder if all of these conditions are related to bad breath.
However, there are only two things we do on a daily basis. One is to brush your teeth, tongue, and the inside of your mouth in a “deep scrubbing” motion, and the other is to use mouthwash.
Some mouthwashes have a strong tangy flavor, which makes me feel like I’m getting rid of bacteria in my mouth. Of course, this is a personal preference, and medical results will need to be tested.
The medical term for bad breath is halitosis. The Seoul National University Hospital medical information website defines halitosis as “an unpleasant odor from the mouth caused by volatile sulfide compounds produced when bacteria in the mouth break down proteins.”
It is not a disease per se, but rather a symptom or self-reported unpleasant odor from a variety of causes.
It’s interesting to note that the University of Alabama at Birmingham in the US addressed bad breath last August in its campus newsletter, UAB News.
“Bad breath is most often caused by bacteria in the mouth, but there may be other health issues in the mouth that need to be treated,” said Dr. Nicholas Guth, dean of the university’s dental school, in the news release. The causes of bad breath at the University of Alabama aren’t too different from those of other institutions around the world. First, there are the health causes.
The news article suggested (1) sour breath from stomach acid, (2) fecal odor from bacterial overgrowth in the gut, (3) fruity odor from ketone release from diabetes, (4) ammonia or fishy odor from kidney failure, and (5) a mix of moldy and sweet odors from liver disease.
The news also points out that the odor of your breath can change depending on what you eat. For example, if you eat onions, your breath will smell like onions. Garlic, on the other hand, is absorbed by the body when you eat it and expelled as gas through the lungs, which affects your breath odor.
In addition to this, if food gets stuck between your teeth or tongue, it can also cause odor. In addition to brushing your teeth properly, you should also floss to remove any debris stuck between your teeth.
Brushing and flossing with fluoride toothpaste is necessary
Mouthwashes are made with different ingredients to keep your mouth fresh, prevent cavities, eliminate bad breath, and protect your gums.
Dr. Chris Salierno, chief dental officer at dental company Tend, told NBC in a March interview that mouthwash isn’t necessarily essential.
“Mouthwash is a good supplement, but it complements, not replaces, brushing and flossing,” he emphasized. “Mouthwashes can be used quickly on teeth, gums, and other oral surfaces to eliminate bad breath, prevent cavities, and fight gum disease,” he said.
Journalist Joe Marlin, who wrote the article, also explained the criteria for choosing a mouthwash. First, there’s the dentist’s seal of approval. The article references the American Dental Association (ADA) seal of approval. ADA certification means that the brand has submitted evidence to the organization that it meets certain safety and efficacy standards.
You can also use therapeutic or cosmetic mouthwashes, depending on whether you have bacteria, gum disease, plaque, dry mouth, or tooth decay, and you’ll need professional advice. You can ask your dentist during your appointment and get a simple answer.
You may also want to review whether it contains alcohol. Some mouthwashes contain alcohol, which can dry out your mouth.
Children shouldn’t use mouthwash that contains alcohol, Dr. Matt Messina, an associate professor at Ohio State University College of Dentistry, told NBC. This is because of the risk of swallowing it. Most children’s mouthwashes don’t contain alcohol.
The importance of tongue care is also raised. In April, the UK’s Guardian reported on the importance of tongue care. Your tongue can develop a biofilm, which is different from the bacteria on your teeth.
An overgrowth of these bacteria on the tongue can cause bad breath because the bacteria break down and produce odor-causing compounds, says Luana Dias, a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Florida College of Dentistry. Gently brushing your tongue can help.
If you have bad breath that you can’t manage at home, you may want to seek professional help. Services such as Minish Oral Spa can test your mouth for gas and bad bacteria, as well as clean and scale your teeth. You can also find dentists who specialize in bad breath in big cities like Manhattan, New York.
Writer. Hyuntaek Lee
<A former newspaper journalist who worked for 18 years at JoongAng Ilbo>, <and Chosun Ilbo>. She is currently working as a freelance contributor and planning the second act of her life. In addition to journalism, she has worked in public relations and marketing at JTBC Broadcasting and Edelman Global Advisory in the United States.
