INVC,,
Delhi,,
Solobacterium moorei, a gram-positive anaerobic bacillus originally isolated from human feces has been shown to be responsible for chronic bad breath, or halitosis.
Persistent bad breath, is often caused by the breakdown of bacteria in the mouth, producing foul-smelling sulfur compounds that reside on the surface of the tongue.
As per Betsy Clark, at the State University of New York at Buffalo School of Dental Medicine in a study of 21 people with chronic bad breath and 36 subjects without this problem, S. moorei was found in every patient who had halitosis compared with only four control subjects.
Brushing twice a day with antibacterial toothpaste and using a toothbrush with a built-in tongue scraper can eliminate chronic bad breath.
Bad oral hygiene is also associated with increased risk of heart disease said Dr KK Aggarwal, Dr BC Roy and Padmashri awardee and President, Heart Care Foundation of India.
Identifiable cause of bad breath is periodontal disease, gingivitis, postnasal drip, systemic illness.
Oral source of bad breath may be alleviated by:
1. Proper dental care and oral hygiene.
2. Gentle cleaning of the posterior portion of the dorsum tongue with a plastic tongue cleaner.
3. Rinsing and deep gargling with an effective mouthwash. One should extend the tongue while gargling.
4. Eating fibrous foods especially at the breakfast.
5. Brief gum chewing for five minutes if the mouth is dry, or after meals, especially with high protein intake.
6. Sufficient water intake.
Antibiotics, if bacteria are present for temporary relief. One should floss their teeth properly, smell the floss between each passage, and clean the malodorous sites carefully. Flossing should include cleaning the posterior surface of the back teeth as well.
Effective tongue brushing requires access to the deep posterior part of the dorsal tongue; odors often lurk 10 cm or more back from the tongue tip. The basic idea is to sweep away the mucus, desquamated cells, and other debris.
Some mouthwashes contain components that may harm soft oral tissues (eg, alcohol, sodium dodecyl sulfate, strong oxidizing agents). The most efficacious mouthrinses for short-term use are probably those containing 0.2 percent chlorhexidine gluconate.
The best time to use a mouthwash is before bedtime since the residue of the mouthrinse may remain in the mouth for a longer period of time and have a greater effect. Also bacterial activity leading to bad breath is greatest during the nighttime, when saliva flow is practically zero and microbial activity is highest.
