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HALITOSIS

Halitosis otherwise known as "bad breath" may be described as an unpleasant odour coming from the breath that is exhaled through the mouth or nose.


Bad breath is a social taboo and as a result sometimes psychological or social problems can develop for example social anxiety, depression, reluctance to speak and being withdrawn.

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Bad Breath


Most of the time the unpleasant odor may be caused by conditions inside the mouth example:

  • Odors released by bacteria present below the gum line and on the back of the tongue.

  • Tooth decay

  • Gum disease

  • Sores inside the mouth

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About 10% of the time halitosis may be caused by conditions outside of the mouth for example.

  • Disorders in the nasal cavity

  • Sinuses

  • Throat

  • Lungs

  • Esophagus

  • Stomach

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Other times halitosis may be a symptom of a serious underlying medical condition for example:

  • Liver failure

  • Kidney disease or failure

  • Diabetes

  • Lung infection

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Halitosis can be categorized by the character of the odour into three groups.

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1. Sulfurous or fecal

Commonly caused by volatile sulfur compounds most notably methyl mercapton,hydrogen sulfide,and dimethyl sulfide.

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2. Fruity or Sweet