In this modern civilized world, everyone gives much importance to cleanliness, perfection and fragrance in everything. Bad or offensive breath i.e., Halitosis in medical terminology hinders this going on trend. Bad breath is a social and cosmetic related sensitive problem which makes persons avoids close relationship and gatherings. It is regularly noted when others turn when we speak or when they complain, and not by self-identification, since we get used to persistent odors. Generally, smell can reflect the quality of the substance. One can notice the fragrance of flowers, smell ripe fruits, but they later turn to putrid smell when they decompose. These are all due to bacterial or fungal or yeast action on the flowers and fruits. Similarly, everyone has their own individual odor due to their normal secretions. People are smellier typically due to abnormal secretions or ulcer or necrosis or decompositions or decayed foods in the holes of the teeth, infection in sinuses or tonsils, etc. Frequently, moist places act as bacterial or fungal or yeast harbors. So the mouth defenses first due to its moisture.

Pathology

Habitually, our body secretions give protection by forming a slimy covering. It protects us from acidic things, bacterial invasion, abrasions, etc. Saliva is also one of the protective secretions, which is absolutely necessary to neutralize the food, to clean the mouth and to remove particles that may cause odor. The odor occurs due to the action of bacteria and chemical changes that take place in our body due to composition differences or decompositions. Normally, the odors differ in intensity according to the site and type of infection and substances which get putrefied.

Causes

The anaerobic bacteria digest the food particles, producing sulphur compounds which give the offensiveness. Sulphur compounds are nutrients which help our body metabolism. These are present in all fruits, vegetables, etc. Cabbage has its peculiar odor from its presence of sulphur compounds. Usually these offensive sulphur compounds get absorbed during digestion and enter the bloodstream. Blood, while getting oxygenation in the lung, expels or spreads this smell during exhalation. Likewise, blood spreads the same through sweat and urine. This may be due to a generalized reason or due to a local pathology. Most of the time, offensive breath originates from the mouth, due to the action of anaerobic bacteria. But it may also be from sinuses, nose, lungs, stomach, liver and blood circulation.

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