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Bad news breath
Halitosis is an oral problem that needs your immediate attention. If your friends take a step back after you open your mouth or flinch when you laugh in their direction, it might not be because they are blown away by your sparkling wit or explosive personality. It could be due to bad breath. Most people with bad breath (the common name of oral malodor or halitosis) don’t know they have a problem. If you have a clue that your breath is contributing to local air pollution, see a dentist immediately! But what causes bad breath anyway?
A Slice of Orange is a newsletter designed to help clarify basic health information and offer juicy tips on uplifting your health.
Editorial team Alvin Delfin Christine Llenes Orange de Guzman, MD
Poor dental hygiene is detrimental to your breath, and bad breath can be detrimental to your confidence and self-esteem. Love yourself by taking care of your oral health.
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Halitosis culprits The most common causes of bad breath are due to mouth (oral) problems, but you may be surprised that other health disorders can also cause halitosis.
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1 Food intake - Without a doubt, certain types of food contribute to unpleasant breath. When you eat these kinds of food, such as garlic or onions, the food is absorbed into your blood, transferred to your lungs and then expelled as bad breath. The odor remains until you eliminate the food offender. 2 Improper dental hygiene - Thinking about skipping toothbrushing or flossing? If you don’t clean your teeth properly, food particles can remain and collect between your teeth, on your tongue or around the gums. These ‘leftovers’ can subsequently collect bacteria or rot, which can lead to tooth decay and, eventually, foul breath. This is also why you should clean dentures properly: dentures that aren’t cleaned regularly can harbor odor-causing bacteria and food particles. 3 Gum disease - One of the symptoms of gum (periodontal) disease, which is caused by plaque (an aggregation of bacteria), is persistent bad breath. Plaque-filled pockets can form between your teeth and gums (periodontitis), worsening your breath. Remember: untreated gum disease does not only cause halitosis, it can also lead to tooth loss. 4 Dry mouth - Xerostomia (dry mouth) develops when the amount of saliva isn’t enough to keep your mouth moist; saliva helps remove food particles that may cause bad breath. Dry mouth may be caused by some medications, salivary gland problems or frequent mouth breathing. 5 Tobacco products - Aside from staining your teeth, irritating gums, reducing the ability to taste and endangering overall health, tobacco can also make your breath stink. 6 Infrequent eating - Dieters beware! You may be sacrificing sweet breath for your slim body. 7 Medical disorders - If nothing is wrong with your oral cavity, then the source of bad breath may be from another sickness. Diseases such as pneumonia and other respiratory infections, postnasal drip, sinusitis, diabetes, and liver, kidney or gastrointestinal problems can contribute to halitosis.
Eliminating bad breath It is of utmost importance that you visit your dentist regularly. It would be useful to note the kinds of food you eat often and the medications you take. Your dentist will help figure out the cause of your halitosis or refer you to other specialists who can manage your other conditions. Mouthwashes, breath sprays, mint candy or chewing gum all provide temporary relief from oral malodor but cannot cure the condition. The main ways to eliminate bad breath that is caused by an oral problem are: • Good dental hygiene • Regular professional dental cleaning and treatments • Elimination of gum disease
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Back to basics You brush and floss every day, but are you sure you’re doing it the right way? Here are some of the American Dental Association’s recommendations: Brushing • Place your toothbrush at a 45degree angle against the gums. • Gently move the brush back and forth in short strokes over the outer and inner tooth surfaces, and all the chewing surfaces. • Brush your tongue. Flossing • Break off enough floss that you can wind most of it around one of your middle fingers and wind the remaining floss around the same finger of the opposite hand. Hold the floss tightly between your thumbs and forefingers. • Guide the floss between each tooth using a gentle rubbing motion.
• When the floss reaches the gum line, curve it into a C shape against one tooth. Gently slide it into the space between the gum and the tooth. • Hold the floss tightly against the tooth. Gently rub the side of the tooth with up-and-down motions. • Don’t forget the back side of your last tooth.
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What exactly is good dental hygiene anyway? Here are a few tips to set your oral routines straight. • Brush your teeth with a soft-bristled toothbrush after eating (or at least twice a day). Use a fluoride toothpaste. Change your toothbrush every 3 months. • Don’t forget to brush your entire tongue – you can use commercial tongue cleaners also. • Floss (or use an interdental cleaner) at least once a day. • If you wear dentures, take them out nightly and clean them thoroughly. • If you were prescribed a special mouthwash, use it just before sleeping unless otherwise instructed.
Other anti-halitosis practices you can try include: • Drink lots of fluids, but avoid coffee, alcohol or soda. • Quit smoking. • If your mouth feels dry, you might want to chew gum. • Add more fresh, fibrous vegetables to your diet.
A slice of trivia What T word refers to hardened or calcified plaque on the teeth? Once this funny-sounding dental concern forms on your teeth, only professional dental cleaning can remove it. Freshen up on your researching skills, e-mail us the answer at orange@activelink-consult.com and win a prize! The following prizes from 1-Worldwide Health Inc will be given to the winners (randomly chosen from those who will submit the correct answer):
• 10 gift certificates for oral prophylaxis (transferable to dependents) • 10 gift certificates for composite light cure filling for one surface only (transferable to dependents) • 5 gift certificates for pediatric fluoride treatment Winners can avail of their prize from Dental Care Asia. We’ll include the answer in the next issue of A Slice of Orange.
Answer to last issue’s question: What B word is actually the trade name of the toxin produced by Clostridium botulinum bacteria into facial muscles to make wrinkles relax and smoothen out fine lines.
Botox is actually a toxin produced by Clostridium botulinum bacteria. When small amounts of this toxin are injected into facial muscles, the muscles cannot contract
Looking to enhance your corporate healthcare benefits? E-mail us at benefits@activelink-consult.com. The information in this newsletter is not intended as a substitute for professional medical care. Consult a doctor for all matters relating to your health, particularly for symptoms that may require diagnosis or medical attention. © 2007 ActiveLink Employee Benefits Made Better
ActiveLink Insurance Brokers, Inc. 104 VA Rufino Street, Legaspi Village, Makati City, 1229 Philippines T: +632 817 4606 / 817 7900 www.activelink-consult.com
anymore – this is how botox makes wrinkles relax and fine lines smoothen out. Botox is commonly used on forehead lines, crow’s feet (the lines around eyes) and frown lines.
The Orang e wants to h ear from you!
Dying to ask us your health related questio ns? Itching to share your pe rsonal health tips? Want to sugg est topics for future issues? Feel fre e to contact us . You can e-mai l our team at orange@activ elink-consult.co m.