Q: My husband has terrible breath. He doesn’t think he has a problem, but I do. I am sure it upsets other people as well. What causes this and what should he do about it?
A: Halitosis, which is the proper name for bad breath, is most often caused by problems in the mouth, and is actually a dental disease rather than a medical one.
The first thing to do is make sure he brushes his teeth and tongue twice a day. The teeth should also be flossed as small particles of food caught between the teeth can lead to bad breath. If he wears dentures, make sure they are cleaned regularly. Some people have partial dentures that they tend to leave in and forget about. Occasionally, the problem is due to gum disease known as periodontitis, and this requires treatment by a dentist. Dental cavities should also be seen to.
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Of course, everyone knows that eating garlic and onions can cause a distinctive odour, so I expect you have told him about this. The smell from these foods can last a long time, as the body takes a while to process them, and the odour can get into the sweat glands from the blood stream.
People who diet may have a smell of ketones on the breath from not eating enough carbohydrates relative to protein, as in the Dr. Atkins type of diet. Ketones smell a bit like nail polish remover. Diabetics may also notice this smell on the breath if they let their blood sugar levels get dangerously high. Other medical conditions, such as liver ailments or chronic sinusitis, should also be looked into.
One of the common causes of halitosis is a dry mouth. Saliva is necessary to clean and rinse the mouth of food particles. If your husband suffers from dry mouth, the dentist may prescribe artificial saliva. Certain types of sour tasting candies are good at producing saliva. Contrary to what most people think, chewing gum does not do much good. Some medications, such as tricyclic antidepressants, can cause dry mouth.
Tobacco, whether smoked or chewed, can be a major culprit.
To eliminate this problem, I
suggest you first book your husband an appointment with his dentist. If the dentist does not find a cause, then your husband should get a medical checkup for diabetes, liver and kidney disease and sinusitis. If everything is fine, then an antiseptic mouth wash is the best temporary solution.
Do not bother with expensive anti-halitosis products. They do not work any better.
