Symptoms of Bad Breath and a Quick Test for Self Diagnosis

Have you ever been haunted by the feeling that you have bad breath but can’t confirm if you truly have one? That’s just normal. Remember that our body gets accustomed to its own smell that even the attempt of smelling your breath through your cupped hands would do you no good.

 

 

Is there a way to know if you have bad breath then? Of course there is.

• Most dentists have the device called the halimeter which by principle, measures the amount of sulfur level in your mouth. Why measure the sulfur compound in your mouth? Simple. Because practically, most people with halitosis have their rooted problems on the over production of volatile sulfur compounds in the mouth. If left uncontrolled, these compounds would cause the foul odour to emanate.

Volatile sulfur compounds are the by product of the workings done by the anaerobic bacteria which are helpful in the disintegration process occurring in the food and the decomposition of dead tissues in the mouth. Without the bacteria, this debris would cause infections in the mouth. Thus, the bacteria are important in the mouth’s general maintenance. However, these are the very bacteria that create the bad odour.

Thus, the major symptom and one that creates the distinction between a healthy mouth from what is not is the unpleasant odour that it creates. Apart from the anaerobic bacteria thriving in the mouth, you could also find other culprits such as those with non-oral origin. Some good examples are:

• Acidity due to certain medical conditions and certain chemical reactions of the body towards medications.
• Some of the medical conditions, on the other hand, are liver cirrhosis, green discharges and stored mucus in at the back of the throat and tongue and in the nose and kidney problems.
• Another good symptom to use as a basis for self diagnosis of bad breath is the observance of yellow film covering the surface of the tongue. As you might have already presumed, a healthy and clean tongue is marked with the absence of this materials and can observably show pinkish to reddish surface. This residue from the accumulation of food materials could be good breeding places for certain bacteria that would further aggravate the condition of bad breath.
• Dry mouth is also a symptom that you must watch out. This is basically due to mouth breathing and certain medical conditions. It could be resolved by practicing nasal breathing, both during unconscious and conscious states.

With foul odor in the breath, the mouth could also be marked with sour, bitter or metallic tastes. This is especially true when you have just finished eating ingredients that have odour-producing properties such as garlic, onion, tea and coffee.

With the adaptation of the body with its own smells though, it can still recognize what is bad odour from that of the pleasant.

Without making the trips with your dentist, you can try the following test to see if you have symptoms of bad breath.

• One of the common exercises is through licking your tongue into your clean wrist. Smell the trace of smell after 45 seconds. If you have noticed bad smell then it might be due to bad breath. But, remember that this would not be able to test if the problem originates from the back of the tongue.
• Dental flosses could also be used in testing if you have the symptoms of bad breath. Check your used floss for discoloration and sniff the used part after 45 minutes. If you notice an objectionable odour, it could be that you have bad mouth odour.
• Next – hold the tip of your tongue with a clean wash cloth, while rubbing the back portion of your tongue with another white wash cloth. Wait 45 seconds and then smell the portion of the cloth that you used on the back of your tongue (dorsum). Does it smell?