Oral Malodor Affecting Our Social Life

“Oral Malodor” or “Breath Odor” or “Bad Breath” is a very common among dental problems. Technically it is called as “Halitosis”. It’s an unpleasant condition that also becomes a source of embarrassment for the sufferer. It is estimated to affect 50 to 65% of the population. The major drawback of this problem is that sometimes people with bad breath aren’t even aware there’s a problem. They got a clue from others reactions as People used to avoid or try to make a distance when the person with the problem speaks. So it has a significant effect on the sufferer both personally and socially.

Causes Of Oral Malodor:
Halitosis (Oral Malodor) occurs due to excessive volatile sulphur compounds (thiols) production. There may be a number of reasons behind this condition like

• poor oral hygiene
• smoking
• food containing volatile sulphur compounds (onion, garlic etc)
• smoking
• due to dry mouth
• due to bacterial coating on the tongue
• due to some other illness like kidney problem etc o
• due to some dental problem.

Treatment Options:

• The main treatment of bad breath is to maintain proper oral hygiene.
• Regular brush your teeth twice daily.
• Use mouth washes containing chlorine dioxide which neutralize sulphur compounds.
• Cleanse your tongue.
• Drink a lot of water to avoid drying of mouth.
• Avoid tobacco.
• Regularly visit your dentist to rule out any dental problem as fresh breath can lead to more enjoyable interactions with others.

Different Causes Of Mouth Ulcers And Their Treatment Protocol

“Mouth ulcers” or “Oral Ulcers” are the open sores inside the mouth due to break in the continuity of the mucus membrane that lines the inside of the mouth. They are extremely common. They cause a lot of discomfort or pain. They occur either singly or in clusters.

Factors Causing Mouth Ulcers:

• Accidental biting of the cheek
• Injury from a toothbrush (such as slipping while brushing)
• Constant rubbing against misaligned or sharp teeth or dentures or braces
• Due to very hot and spicy food
• Irritation from strong chemicals in toothpastes, mouth washes etc. For example Sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS), one of the main ingredients in most toothpastes, has been implicated in causing oral ulcers in certain people
• Due to viral, fungal or bacterial infections like in tuberculosis, chicken pox, syphilis, oral thrush etc.
• Due to allergy
• Dietary deficiency like deficiency of Vitamin B, C etc
• In immunodeficiency syndromes like AIDS, Diabetes Mellitus
• In oral cancers

Treatment Options:
The best treatment for curing oral ulcers is to remove their cause. However the pain can be reduced by avoiding spicy foods, doing gargles with warm saline water, keeping the mouth clean. There are also sprays or ointments available to reduce the pain. They usually heal with in 7- 10 days if the problem still persists or the pain is unbearable then consult the dentist.