Halitosis (patient information)

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Halitosis
ICD-10 R19.6
ICD-9 784.9
DiseasesDB 5603

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Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]; Associate Editor-in-Chief: Alexandra M. Palmer

Overview

Halitosis, or bad breath, is unpleasant, distinctive, or offensive breath odor. Breath odor is the scent of the air you breathe out of your mouth.

What are the causes of Halitosis?

If previously normal breath turns into halitosis, causes could include:

Who is at highest risk?

  • Smokers
  • Alcoholics

How to know you have Halitosis?

The air you breathe out has an unpleasant odor. Bad breath is frequently diagnosed by people in close proximity to you.

When to seek urgent medical care

Treatment options

Home care Use proper dental hygiene (especially flossing), and remember that mouthwashes are not effective in treating the underlying problem.

Fresh parsley or a strong mint are often effective ways to fight temporary bad breath. Avoid smoking. Otherwise, follow prescribed therapy to treat the underlying cause.

Diseases with similar symptoms

Some disorders will produce specific, characteristic odors to the breath.

A fruity odor to the breath occurs as the body attempts to get rid of excess acetone through the breathing. This is a sign of ketoacidosis, which may occur in diabetes. It is a potentially life-threatening condition.

Breath that smells like feces can occur with prolonged vomiting, especially when there is a bowel obstruction. It may also occur temporarily if a person has a tube placed through the nose or mouth to the stomach to drain the stomach contents (nasogastric tube) in place.

The breath may have an ammonia-like odor (also described as urine-like or "fishy") in people with chronic kidney failure.

Where to find medical care for Halitosis

Directions to Hospitals Treating Halitosis

Prevention of Halitosis

Good oral hygiene is essential. Brush twice a day and clean between your teeth daily with floss or interdental cleaners. Brush your tongue, too. If you wear dentures, be sure to remove them at night and clean them thoroughly before replacing them the next morning.

What to expect (Outlook/Prognosis)

Your doctor will take a medical history and perform a physical examination.

You may be asked the following medical history questions:

  • Is there a specific odor?
  • Is there a fishy smell?
  • Does the breath smell like ammonia or urine?
  • Does the breath smell like fruit or is there a sweet-chemical smell?
  • Does the breath smell like feces?
  • Does the breath smell like alcohol?
  • Have you recently eaten a spicy meal, garlic, cabbage, or other "odorous" food?
  • Do you take vitamin supplements?
  • Do you smoke?
  • Does good oral hygiene improve the odor?
  • What home care measures have you tried? How effective are they?
  • Is there a recent sore throat, sinus infection, tooth abscess, or other illness?
  • What other symptoms do you have?

The physical examination will include a thorough examination of the mouth and the nose. A throat culture may be taken if you have a sore throat or mouth sores.

In rare cases, diagnostic tests that may be performed include:

Antibiotics may be prescribed for some conditions. For an object in the nose, the doctor will use an instrument to remove it.

Sources

http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/003058.htm http://www.ada.org/public/topics/bad_breath_faq.asp

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