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- $Unique_ID{BRK00171}
- $Pretitle{}
- $Title{What Causes Bad Halitosis?}
- $Subject{halitosis bad breath mouth Respiratory tongue periodontal dental
- plaque decaying teeth food foods oral ulcers ulcer bacteria bacterial
- bacterium salivary gland glands odor odors nose nasal sinuses sinus diet diets
- pulmonary infection infections bronchiectasis gastric reflux hiatal hernia
- esophageal motility hiatus ulcer}
- $Volume{H-11}
- $Log{}
-
- Copyright (c) 1991-92,1993 Tribune Media Services, Inc.
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-
- What Causes Bad Halitosis?
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- QUESTION: My friend is wonderful but her breath is terrible. What causes bad
- halitosis?
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-
- ANSWER: Bad halitosis--severe and persistent bad breath--is usually related
- to periodontal disease. When dental plaque, decaying teeth, food trapped
- under dental restoration such as bridgework, oral ulcers, or other problems
- allow the growth of bacteria that can produce bad-smelling chemicals. Chronic
- infection of the salivary glands can also cause odor.
- Another category of causes of bad breath involves infection or debris in
- the nose or nasal passages and sinuses. Careful examination, including CT
- scanning or magnetic resonance imaging, may detect the source of this problem.
- Medications can cause bad breath, or problems such as kidney disease or
- diabetes. Another possibility is a diet that includes a lot of sugars, fat,
- or milk products.
- If none of these is the cause, it could be a pulmonary infection such as
- bronchiectasis, or gastric reflux from either a hiatal hernia or disturbed
- esophageal motility (digestive movement).
- Mints and mouth washes may improve the situation for short periods of
- time, but eventually only treating the underlying causes will rid the sufferer
- of this embarrassment.
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-
- The material contained here is "FOR INFORMATION ONLY" and should not replace
- the counsel and advice of your personal physician. Promptly consulting your
- doctor is the best path to a quick and successful resolution of any medical
- problem.
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