Bad breath: physiology or disease?
Bad breath
in medical language it is called
halitosis
. There are physiological and pathological halitosis. Bad breath often appears in the morning. During the night, bacteria and their metabolic products accumulate in the mouth, which causes a bad odor. This type of halitosis is physiological and can be eliminated by simply brushing your teeth. Physiological halitosis also includes odor caused by eating a number of foods, such as garlic, onions, cabbage. This smell will disappear on its own as soon as the substances that caused it are eliminated from the body. But it also happens that an unpleasant odor is not eliminated using hygiene procedures; in this case, most likely, it is of a pathological nature.
What will help solve the problem?
If you have gastritis, you need to seek help from a specialist.
If this problem is not related to the regime and the digestive process, but is a disease, treatment and prevention of diseases is needed under the supervision of a doctor.
With such diseases, it is very important to consult a doctor for help, since prolonging the disease can lead to more serious consequences. In such situations, diseases require long-term treatment.
It is also worth remembering that not all medications can be taken without consulting a doctor and a full examination. Most often, for gastritis, medications are prescribed that reduce acidity and help in the regeneration of the mucous membrane.
There may be cases when antibiotics and painkillers are needed, it all depends on the disease itself and the stage.
Bad breath: causes
The most common cause of unpleasant odor is the active activity of pathological bacteria in the oral cavity. Diseases such as caries, periodontitis, pulpitis, periodontitis, gingivitis, stomatitis, as well as the formation of tartar can lead to persistent bad breath.
The second place among the causes of unpleasant odor is dry mouth (the medical term is xerostomia
). Mica, which moisturizes our mouth, has bactericidal properties. It kills bacteria, neutralizes their waste products, rinses and cleanses the oral cavity. If there is not enough saliva produced, bacteria are activated, resulting in an odor. Dry mouth can be a consequence of illness or taking a number of medications. It can also be caused by age: over time, the salivary glands begin to work less intensively, the composition of saliva changes, and its antibacterial properties are lost.
The smell can also be caused by ENT diseases: sore throat, chronic tonsillitis, sinusitis, runny nose.
Another cause of unpleasant odor is diseases of the internal organs. It can be:
- renal failure;
- liver failure;
- gastric diseases (gastritis, stomach ulcer);
- lung diseases.
Smoking is also a cause of persistent bad breath. The smell is caused by substances contained in tobacco smoke and deposited in the oral cavity. The only way to eliminate the unpleasant odor in this case is to quit smoking.
Causes of the problem
Why bad breath occurs due to the stomach: gastritis - an inflammatory process that affects the mucous membrane of the organ - causes a deficiency of enzymes necessary for the complete digestion of food, it stagnates in the stomach, and putrefactive processes develop. They are the cause of bad breath.
Dysbacteriosis (deficiency of beneficial microorganisms involved in digestion) also causes insufficient quality of breakdown and absorption of beneficial substances entering the stomach along with food - the oral cavity smells unpleasant in the morning. Eating “heavy” food that is difficult to digest can cause the problem. Fried, fatty foods or large portions put an increased functional load on the organs of the gastrointestinal tract, as a result of which the digestion process is disrupted and halitosis occurs.
Important! Gastritis, peptic ulcer, acid reflux, biliary dyskinesia, helminthic infestations are the main “provocateurs” of halitosis.
So, what diseases can be accompanied by a strong foul odor from the mouth:
- Ulcerative lesions, inflammation of the gastric mucosa (gastritis). As a result of the fact that the sphincter located in the lower part of the esophagus is weakened and does not close properly, a putrid odor enters the oral cavity.
- Inflammatory process in the intestines (the body tries to get rid of toxic substances not only through the digestive, but also the respiratory and excretory systems).
- Malfunctions of the liver and pancreas (including enzymatic deficiency).
What is bad breath like?
Peculiarities of odor can indirectly indicate the source of problems.
Hydrogen sulfide smell
(the smell of rotten eggs) indicates rotting protein substances. This smell is typical for digestive problems. A persistent hydrogen sulfide odor may indicate gastritis with low acidity or a stomach ulcer.
Sourish smell
and a corresponding taste in the mouth is noted with gastritis with high acidity. This smell may appear at an early stage of the disease, when other symptoms are not yet present.
Bitter smell
and the taste in the mouth is typical of liver and gallbladder diseases. An additional symptom is the appearance of a yellow coating on the tongue.
Smell of acetone
and the accompanying sweet taste in the mouth is a characteristic symptom of diabetes.
Urine smell
from the mouth indicates a disease of the genitourinary system (primarily the kidneys or bladder).
Stool smell
from the mouth can occur due to intestinal diseases (dysbacteriosis, intestinal dyskinesia, intestinal obstruction).
Putrefactive
bad breath is typical for dental diseases (inflammatory processes of teeth and gums).
general information
In 80% of cases, the cause of the development of the inflammatory process with high acidity of the stomach is the microorganism Helicobacter pylori, which disrupts the natural protective properties of the stomach and leads to damage to the epithelium of the organ. Gastritis with high acidity can develop in people regardless of age, including children.
Other factors predisposing to the development of this condition include:
- Regular exposure to stress on the body.
- Poor nutrition, predominance of fried and fatty foods in the diet, as well as deep-fried dishes.
- Abuse of so-called snacks.
- Long-term or uncontrolled use of drugs from the group of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. Frequently eating food that is too hot or too cold. In addition, people with thyroid diseases, diabetes mellitus and gout have a high predisposition to the development of hyperacid gastritis.
Why is high acidity dangerous?
Gastric juice contains hydrochloric acid, which is necessary to break down food components. To prevent the acidic environment from damaging the walls of the stomach, protective mucus is produced. With increased acidity of the stomach, destruction of the mucous protective layer is observed, followed by the formation of an inflammatory process, the formation of erosions and ulcers.
Clinical symptoms
Inflammatory damage to the organ with increased secretion of gastric juice often worsens during the off-season, in the autumn or spring months. Symptoms of high stomach acidity include:
- Drawing or cramping pain in the epigastric region, which often intensifies after eating. In the acute course of the inflammatory process, the pain may be accompanied by vomiting, which brings temporary relief.
- Heartburn, which is caused by acidic stomach contents refluxing into the esophagus.
- Belching sour.
- Bad breath.
- Stool disorders such as constipation or diarrhea.
Other symptoms of increased stomach acidity during gastritis include weakness, dizziness, increased sweating, excessive gas formation in the intestines (flatulence), increased salivation, increased or decreased appetite, and the appearance of a white or gray coating on the surface of the tongue. Reduced stomach acidity is accompanied by symptoms such as decreased appetite, a feeling of heaviness in the epigastrium, and rotten belching.
Bad breath: what to do?
The fight against bad breath begins with careful adherence to good oral hygiene. If the source of the odor is bacterial activity, proper brushing of your teeth will help. Teeth should be brushed not only from the outside, but also from the inside, and also treat the chewing surface of the teeth. The brush angle should be 45°. Using dental floss, hard-to-reach areas between teeth are treated. If your teeth are in poor condition, simply brushing your teeth will not solve the problem. You will need to visit a dentist and remove tartar, and if your teeth have caries, cure them. It is recommended to visit the dentist at least once or twice a year.
It is also necessary to combat dryness of the oral mucosa. If you feel dry mouth, take a few sips of water and rinse your mouth. However, it should be remembered that frequent dry mouth can be a symptom of serious diseases. However, like the unpleasant smell itself. Therefore, if you have persistent bad breath, you should definitely see a doctor and undergo an examination.
Prevention
To prevent gastric halitosis, it is recommended:
- take medications to normalize the condition of the mucous membrane, control the production of acid in the stomach (as prescribed by a gastroenterologist);
- give up bad habits, adjust your diet, adjust your diet;
- drink more fluids throughout the day;
- monitor oral hygiene;
- avoid stress and other forms of emotional turmoil.
So, bad breath can have different etiologies. The culprits of halitosis are both dental problems and serious disruptions in the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract (up to stomach and intestinal cancer), and respiratory disorders. Sometimes an unpleasant aroma is a consequence of poor nutrition; discomfort also appears in suspicious patients (it has no pathological background). In any case, if such a problem arises and “haunts” you on an ongoing basis, you need to consult an endocrinologist, undergo an examination and, if necessary, undergo treatment.
