CosBeauty Magazine #81

Wellness
Everyone has
bad breath
sometimes, but
for a small few it
can be a chronic
condition. We
look at the
causes, symptoms
and treatment
options for
halitosis.
Most people are familiar with
waking up with heavy breath
in the morning. However for
a small minority, bad-smelling breath
lasts long into the day and can become a
chronic condition.
Known as halitosis, lingering bad breath
affects an estimated 2.4 per cent of the
Australian adult population, and is mostly
caused by sulphur-producing bacteria
that live within the surface of the tongue
and throat. Although this is normal, in
someone who suffers from halitosis, these
bacteria start to break down proteins at a
very high rate, releasing odorous volatile
sulphur compounds (VSC) at the back of
the tongue and throat.
While those who suffer chronic bad
breath can spend hundreds of dollars on
so-called ‘breath freshening’ mouthwashes,
chewing gum and mints, these products
tend not to eliminate the odour.
Mouthwash, for example, simply masks
it with its core ingredient – alcohol – and
can even perpetuate the smell; while
mints simply hide rather than rid the
mouth of the odour.
To understand why mouthwashes
containing alcohol not only don’t work,
but can actually exacerbate bad breath, it’s
firstly important to understand the causes
of bad breath.
While transitory bad breath is short
lasting and usually comes from eating
foods heavily laced with garlic, onions and
spices, halitosis is longer lasting and can
have a number of causes.
Failure to remove food particles from
the mouth, through inadequate tooth
brushing and flossing, can often lead to
bad breath. Dental problems such as
gum disease (gingivitis) and infection
around the teeth (periodontal disease)
will also mean patients harbour more
bacteria than is usual.
Up to 90 per cent of unpleasant oral
odour originates from the bacteria that
accumulate at the back of the tongue. This
can be compounded by sinus problems,
which can lead to a stream of mucous
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