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.
Treatment
When the provoking factors are eliminated, the taste of iodine in the mouth disappears quite quickly. If it occurs after taking medications, you should immediately stop taking them.
If the cause of this symptom is any disease, then you need to consult a doctor who, after examination, will prescribe the necessary treatment. If you have stress and overexertion, it is also recommended to consult a specialist .
Medicines
- Antidote sodium thiosulfate, calcium chloride are drugs used by doctors in hospitals for poisoning with iodine-containing products.
- Enterosgel, Polysorb are sorbents that remove excess compounds from the body.
- Thiamazole, Carbimazole, Propylthiouracil - antithyroid drugs used for hyperthyroidism, help reduce the hormonal function of the pancreas.
- Afobazole, Mexidol, Teraligen are antioxidants that eliminate anxiety and nervousness.
- Azafen, Sibazol, Paxil are antidepressants prescribed for prolonged depression.
It is not recommended to select medications on your own, as this can lead to complications and deterioration of health. All medications must be selected by a doctor in accordance with the diagnosis and condition of the patient.
Traditional methods
To lavage the stomach at home, use water with starch or flour dissolved in it , which act as a kind of indicator: the vomit will be blue as long as it contains iodine.
Also, to remove iodine, you can drink milk, water mixed with oil, as well as beet juice, which has absorbent and astringent properties, making it recommended for poisoning.
Decoctions of medicinal herbs are used to remove iodine.:
- 20 grams of elecampane are poured into 1 glass of boiling water and left to steep for 20 minutes. Take 1 tablespoon 4 times a day.
- Add 2 tablespoons of knotweed to 0.5 liters of boiling water and leave in a thermos for 1-2 hours. Then strain the broth and take half a glass 3 times a day.
- 2 tablespoons of dried chamomile flowers are dipped in 0.5 liters of boiling water, infused, allowed to cool and then filtered. Drink half a glass of the decoction throughout the day.
In case of iodine vapor poisoning through the respiratory tract, it is recommended to rinse your mouth, nose and throat with a 2% soda solution.
Treatment with homeopathic remedies
The following homeopathic preparations are used to detoxify the body:
- Ubiquinone compositum is a homeopathic remedy that has antioxidant, detoxification, and anti-inflammatory properties. The drug is administered subcutaneously; a burning sensation may occur during administration, since it contains B vitamins. The product is used for all types of injections. It can also be taken orally, 1 ampoule of 2.2 ml once a week. Prohibited for use during pregnancy.
- Nux vomica-Homaccord is a homeopathic medicine intended for cases of discomfort in the gastrointestinal tract and inflammation of the liver. Apply 30 drops per day in 3 doses under the tongue. Before use, it must be diluted with 1 teaspoon of boiled water. Contraindicated for pregnant women. An allergic reaction may occur due to individual intolerance to the components of the drug.
- Chitosan is the strongest sorbent of natural origin. Its composition consists of sprouted grains of wheat, oats, and corn. It also contains plant enzymes, proteins, vitamins and phytohormones. Being a completely natural remedy, this drug does not cause allergies or side effects. It should be taken in a course of 30-45 days, in the morning an hour before meals and in the evening 2 hours after meals.
You should not ignore the iodine odor in your mouth, especially if it appears suddenly and persists for a long time. Such a symptom may indicate a disease or malfunction in the body. In such cases, it is better not to self-medicate, but to contact a specialist who will conduct an examination and, if necessary, prescribe the necessary treatment.
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.
Preventive measures
If your baby's mouth smells like iodine, this condition can be prevented. Parents must monitor the child’s health: be sure to wash their hands before eating food using hot water, ensure the cleanliness of vegetables and fruits (they must be thoroughly washed), give the baby only purified drinking water, monitor the condition of the food that is intended for the child’s consumption.
If alarming symptoms appear that may indicate pathologies in the body, consult a doctor in a timely manner to find out the condition in which they appear.
Chief author and editor-in-chief: Makarskaya S.E., 29 years of experience.
Last revision: 01/07/2018
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).
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.
Why does iodism develop?
Iodism is a pathological condition during which negative reactions occur due to an excess of safe concentrations of iodine in the body. According to experts, negative reactions can also occur in case of iodine poisoning. For children, the daily intake of the substance should not exceed 200 mg. The child's health and immune system should also be taken into account. In the first years of children’s lives, natural protective functions are still immature and are exposed to external negative factors.
When a baby is transferred to artificial feeding or adult food, a large number of different minerals enter his body, sometimes in too high concentrations. Among these microelements, iodine is also present. The main reasons for the development of iodism include:
- prolonged stay near the sea;
- taking certain medications that contain iodine;
- dysfunctions in the functioning of the digestive system, caused by bacteria called Klebsiella;
- a large amount of seafood in the diet.
Cases of the smell of iodine can also occur if its vapor is accidentally inhaled, for example, if a bottle of medicine is broken or spilled. Also, a small child may accidentally drink the contents of the bottle. In this case, you will need to drink a large amount of water and take sorbents. This will help prevent dangerous consequences.
