CosBeauty Magazine #81

Wellness
dripping down the back of the throat
onto the tongue. As this mucous is
broken down by bacteria, more odour
is produced.
Saliva is key to keeping the
odour-causing bacteria in check, and
therefore a dry mouth, or xerostomia,
often results in halitosis. This is
why many people wake with socalled
‘morning breath’ – as saliva
production is lower overnight,
allowing bacteria to proliferate. A dry
mouth can be caused by medicines,
stress, or an underlying medical
condition, and is also a result of
consuming alcohol. This is why
mouthwash formulations containing
alcohol don’t tend to work.
Rather than eliminating the odour,
alcohol-based mouthwashes are
counter productive, drying the
soft tissues in the mouth leading
to the faster formation of odourproducing
bacteria.
These mouthwashes have also been
shown to cause irritation, and to alter
oral tissues; so it is recommended
children, diabetics and pregnant
women in particular opt for an
alcohol-free mouthwash.
As well as causing bad breath, a
dry mouth can lead to tooth decay
and gum disease, as the saliva helps
shield the mouth and teeth, keeping
them clean.
Even after the smell of stale smoke
has left a smoker’s breath, regular
cigarette consumption can also lead
to halitosis. By starving the mouth
of oxygen, smoking affects the fl ow
of saliva in the mouth, which leaves
the odour-producing bacteria free
to form unchecked. As the chemicals
contained in cigarette smoke damage
the oral tissues, these bacteria are
also able to move more freely, further
compounding the problem. In the
long term, smoking can also lead
to gingivitis, which is also a cause
of halitosis.
Although much less common,
halitosis can also be an indication of
another underlying medical condition
– including infections of the lungs,
throat or nose, kidney and liver
problems, and the infl ammation of
the lining of the stomach.
Recently, certain fad-diets have
also claimed bad breath as an
unfortunate side-effect. Crash
dieting, fasting and low-carbohydrate
diets such as the Atkins Diet, cause
the body to break down fat, which
leads to the production of chemicals
called ketones that can be smelt
on the breath.
Many medications are known to
cause bad-breath. These include:
nitrates, which are used to treat
angina; some chemotherapy drugs;
and tranquillisers. Medicines used
to treat diabetes can also result in
dry mouth, and therefore cause
bad mouth odour.
Effectively treating halitosis
depends on its underlying cause.
Avoiding dehydration, smoking,
alcohol and maintaining good oral
hygiene (including regular brushing
and fl ossing) can all help. Gentle but
thorough scraping of the tongue may
also be required, from the back of the
tongue towards the front. Ultimately,
however, it is important to speak to
a doctor or dentist to determine the
cause of halitosis, and fi nd the most
suitable solution. CBM
5
STEPS
TO FRESH
BREATH
1.
Maintain good dental hygiene:
Brushing your teeth morning and
night will help rid the mouth of stray
food particles. Use floss to get in
between the teeth for a thorough
clean. Scraping the back of the
tongue will help keep bacteria, and
therefore odour, in check.
2.
Stay hydrated: Drinking eight
glasses of water a day will help
ensure you can make enough saliva
to keep your mouth healthy. To help
stay hydrated, remember to keep
your consumption of alcohol, coffee
and cigarettes to a minimum.
90 www.cosbeauty.com.au