A dentist, Dr Shola Adeoye, has said that persistent bad
breath was sign of poor oral hygiene. Ms. Adeoye told the News Agency of
Nigeria (NAN) on Friday in Ibadan.
“Halitosis commonly known as bad breath, affects a lot of
people at one point in their lives. It is an embarrassing odour that emerges
from the mouth and is easily detected by others.
“Although, there are many causes of halitosis, in most cases
people suffer from bad breath due to poor oral hygiene. This results in
bacterial activity in the mouth that releases substances such as volatile
sulphur compounds,” she said.
The dentist said that quite surprisingly, some people with
bad breath might not even know they have a problem until they were told.
“Bad breath is a common problem that can cause significant
psychological distress.
“One way to check if you have halitosis is to lick your
wrist, leave it dry and smell it, if the smell is bad you know that you have
bad breath,” she said.
According to her, other potential causes of bad breath
include smoking, dry mouth, systemic illnesses including throat and
gastrointestinal disorders.
She advised that a person suffering from halitosis should
have their teeth checked and cleaned professionally on a regular basis.
“The tongue is a primary source of bad breath; when food
particles aren’t completely removed from the mouth, they collect bacteria on
the tongue and around the gums.
“Regular professional cleanings can help to reduce bad
breath; the dentist removes bacteria deposits on the teeth above and below the
gum line.
“However, if after a routine examination and cleaning you
still experience bad breath, the cause may be a medical disorder,” she said.
(NAN)
No comments:
Post a Comment