HALITOSIS- BAD BREATH

Dental Infographics showing main causes of Halitosis or bad breath

Halitosis (Bad breath) or Oral Malodor : Main Causes : Dental Infographics PERIO-GRAPHICS, PERIO-CHECKLIST

Halitosis or Bad Breath can be defined as any disagreeable odor in expired air, regardless of whether the odorous substances originate from oral or non-oral sources

Oral malodor is closely associated with Periodontal disease, poor oral hygiene, tongue coating, dry mouth, dental caries, oral carcinoma, and several forms of stomatitis.

Halitosis (Bad breath)

HALITOSIS- BAD BREATH

HALITOSIS CAUSES INFOGRAPHIC

DENTAL INFOGRAPHICS SHOWING MAIN CAUSES OF HALITOSIS OR ORAL MALODOR OR BAD BREATH

Diagnosis of Halitosis

  • Oral malodor can be assessed using direct and indirect methods

A. DIRECT METHODS

  • Organoleptic method (whole-mouth breath test, spoon test, floss odor test, salivary odor test and self perception of odor)
  • Gas chromatography
  • Sulphide monitors
  • “Electronic nose”

B. INDIRECT METHODS

  • Bacterial culture and smear
  • Enzyme assay

TREATMENT OF ORAL MALODOR

  • The treatment of oral malodor (thus of intraoral origin) should preferably be cause related.
  • Because oral malodor is caused by the metabolic degradation of available proteins to malodorous gases by certain oral microorganisms, the following general treatment strategies can be applied:

1. Mechanical reduction of intraoral nutrients and microorganisms

2. Chemical reduction of oral microbial load

3. Rendering malodorous gases nonvolatile

4. Masking the malodor