What causes bad breath and how to treat it?

Halitosis, medically termed "oral malodor," has numerous causes, which can be primarily summarized as follows:

1. Improper oral care: Incorrect brushing techniques, such as insufficient brushing time or failure to thoroughly remove food debris from between teeth. Poor oral hygiene habits, such as not brushing teeth on schedule or failing to rinse the mouth after meals.

2. Oral diseases: Dental caries, dental plaque, gingivitis, periodontitis, and other oral inflammations. Pericoronitis of wisdom teeth and pyogenic oral inflammations. Tonsil stones can also cause halitosis, as they are covered with bacteria that produce unpleasant odors.

3. Digestive system diseases: Conditions such as diabetes and ketoacidosis can affect hormone secretion and metabolism in the body, leading to distinct breath-related odors.

Treatment for Halitosis

1. Daily care: Brush teeth at least twice daily using fluoride toothpaste, ensuring thorough cleaning of interdental spaces and the tongue coating. Rinse the mouth after meals and use tools such as dental floss or interdental brushes for interdental cleaning. Maintain oral moisture, avoid smoking and alcohol consumption, and drink plenty of water.

2. Medication: For oral infections such as gingivitis and periodontitis, antibiotics like metronidazole tablets or amoxicillin capsules may be used under medical guidance. For halitosis caused by digestive system diseases such as chronic gastritis or gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), medications like hydrotalcite chewable tablets or omeprazole enteric-coated capsules may be prescribed under medical guidance.

3. Surgical treatment: Severe oral conditions such as dental caries or pericoronitis of wisdom teeth may require surgical procedures such as tooth extraction or root canal treatment. Patients with tonsil stones can have the stones surgically removed.