Today I’m very excited to have an amazing expert with me for our interview series. What’s exciting about this interview is that we’ll end up accumulating quite some helpful Dental advice & information from our Dental Expert that’ll aid us in our understanding of a Dental condition that is very common but is usually left unaddressed.
I’m so excited to have Dr. Wajeeha Rashid with me here today. She did her BDS from NUST (AMC) & is presently practicing her expertise in the private sector. She is an amazing Dental Expert & today she’ll guide us through her knowledge about ‘Halitosis’.
Thank you so much Dr.Wajeeha for providing me with your precious time. How are you & how are things around you these days?
Dr. Wajeeha:
Thank you so much for having me. Things are good, pretty much in place; cherishing time with my little toddler who keeps me a lot busier.
Question 1:
So, as discussed with you earlier about our topic for today, I would like you to give a basic understanding of the word ‘Halitosis’ to our readers & how commonly prevalent it is?
Answer:
‘Halitosis‘, in the most general sense is bad breath or unpleasant smell coming out of your mouth which can also be detected by others. It is also known as ‘fetor oris‘ & it’s a very common occurrence.
Question 2:
What are the symptoms?
Answer:
The most common symptom is a noticeable odor coming from the mouth detectable by others & the patient himself too.
Question 3:
What is or are the main reasons behind this condition? What are the causes?
Answer:
– The most common cause is Anaerobic Bacteria (that don’t need oxygen rather grow better without oxygen) present in the mouth that produce Sulphur as a by-product & cause a bad smell.
– Plaque (a biofilm, whitish paste-like layer which gets deposited on teeth if not brushed properly) where these bacteria are mostly present.
– Gingivitis (inflammation of gums) produces a bad smell too. [Also see answer to Question 4 for further reasons causing Gingivitis]
– Presence of abscess or pus in gums or teeth.
– Caries (cavity) where food gets impacted & food getting impacted (stuck) in between the teeth as well.
– It could be because of a recently extracted tooth socket.
– If tongue not cleaned properly during brushing.
– Faulty Dentures or Restorations etc.
– Eating strong-smelling foods.
– Oral Ulcers, Throat Infection or Tonsil Stones.
– Stomach issues especially GERD (gastroesophageal reflux disease).
– Lesser common causes include liver or kidney problems.
Question 4:
Wow! That’s quite some information! I think now it won’t be altogether right to say that only bad oral hygiene is a reason behind ‘Halitosis‘?
Answer:
Yes, there could be multiple reasons but the most common cause is Stomach Disorders & Oral Infections. Gingivitis is a common ailment & can also be caused by other conditions leading to bad breath e.g. Vitamin C Deficiency, Oral Cancers, Ulceration, certain drugs and even hormonal changes e.g. during pregnancy gums get swollen & puffy causing a bad smell. Sometimes, a Sinus Infection can also be a cause.
Question 5:
When seeing a Dentist becomes a requisite?
Answer:
You should visit your dentist when you have tried to rule out all the causes you think are causing a bad odor but still it persists.
– If you’re maintaining good oral hygiene but the plaque has converted to calculus & you need scaling.
– When you don’t know proper brushing & flossing technique.
– When a cavity or caries is present (get it filled).
– When you have got a gum infection & you need medicines.
You must first get checked by your Dentist. Even in systemic causes your Dentist may evaluate & refer you to the concerned specialist.
Question 6:
It is usually believed that bad oral health is related to heart health & some other chronic illnesses? Is it just a myth or does it has some reality to it?
Answer:
Yes, multiple systemic causes are possible. Most common are GERD, Throat, or Sinus Infection. Diabetes, lung infections, liver failure (fetor hepaticus), kidney failure, carcinoma especially oral cancer which causes dry mouth and hence ‘Halitosis‘.
Question 7:
Does professional cleaning like scaling or other procedures help? When medical intervention becomes mandatory?
Answer:
If calculus is present, scaling is mandatory, it won’t go away with brushing only. If an infection is present you need a course of antibiotics & other causes must be ruled out too. Seeing a Dentist on regular basis does help.
Question 8:
How often to change your toothbrush?
Answer:
It’s recommended to change every 3 months or when it gets hardened. But don’t use it for more than 3 months.
Question 9:
Is there any standard way of cleaning the tongue? Do we need any special tongue cleaning tool?
Answer:
There are toothbrushes with indentations on the back. You can use them. You can just gently brush your tongue with the soft bristles of your toothbrush too. Just position your toothbrush/or indentations at the back of the tongue, brush lightly forward & backward along your tongue.
You can also buy tongue cleaners/scrapers available in the market. They work differently, you try to scrape the deposited film by gently putting it against the tongue & slowly pulling it forward towards the tip of the tongue, never push the scraper from the tip to the back of the tongue. Wipe the scraper with a washcloth/tissue after each scrape.
The key is to clean your tongue as often as you brush your teeth.
Question 10:
What should one be looking for while buying teeth products?
Answer:
Many products are available in the market & different Dentists prescribe different products & brands. You must use a SOFT toothbrush, it doesn’t matter which company/brand you’re using. It should be soft & easy to clean & use.
Any good company dental floss will work well too. You just need to follow the proper technique of flossing.
Use any brand’s normal/regular toothpaste (non-medicated) in routine. DO NOT use medicated toothpaste until & unless prescribed by your Dentist & that too for only 2 weeks. Avoiding medicated tubes of toothpaste for regular use is neccessary as they have medicine & show side effects on long-term use.
Question 11:
Everyone quests for home remedies; do you suggest any to curb/cure this problem?
Answer:
Yes, maintaining a proper toothbrushing schedule & technique is imperative. Most important are Saline Rinses that act as a natural mouthwash (add a pinch of salt in 1/2 glass lukewarm water & gargle as many times as you can).
[NOTE: hypertensive patients must avoid adding salt, just use lukewarm water or regular mouthwashes].
‘Miswak‘ in addition to toothbrushes especially Neem tree is proven effective & most importantly, don’t forget to clean your tongue while brushing. Flossing after each meal is also very important.
Question 12:
Last but not the least, we would love to have some expert tips on maintaining a good oral hygiene?
Answer:
Oral hygiene can be maintained easily, you just need to give yourself some time.
– Giving time to tooth brushing at least 5 minutes.
– Properly cleaning all surfaces using a SOFT toothbrush (never use a hard one), rub slowly in circular motions until all the plaque on your teeth is removed.
– Brush 3 times a day but twice is mandatory (after breakfast & before sleeping).
– Using saline gargles/mouthwash twice or thrice a day (hypertensive patients must AVOID saline gargles).
– Cleaning your tongues properly.
– Never use a medicated toothpaste or mouthwash until & unless prescribed by your Dentist & don’t prolong the use for more than 2 weeks.
– Use dental floss with proper technique if food gets deposited or impacted in between your teeth.
– Visit your Dentist regularly.
‘Halitosis‘ can be kept under control through proper oral hygiene and healthy eating choices.
Thank you so much Dr. Wajeeha once again for putting in your time & effort for my readers today. I’m really grateful to you for taking the time for this interview & I’m sure it was, without a second thought, very facilitating & benefitting for us all.
Dr. Wajeeha:
Any time! It has been my pleasure being interviewed by you here today & I’m glad my talk about ‘Halitosis’ here did bring some help.
Disclaimer
This Interview is a not-for-profit initiative. It was conducted to create a general awareness about ‘Halitosis’ through the expertise of the interviewee. The interviewee is not liable for any discrepancy. The content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. With any questions you may have regarding a medical condition, seek medical advice of your physician/health care provider. Never overlook professional medical advice/delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this Blog.
[Images taken from various sources]
~ QuratulAin Hamza
QuratulAin Hamza 