HALITOSIS ( BAD BREATH)
#### The oral cavity/mouth is the gateway to the body. The functions of the mouth range from communication between two or more people as speech, food intake, taste and sensory response to food, digestion of carbohydrates and for romantic interaction in form of kissing.
Halitosis is also referred to as foetor-oris or bad breath. It is a relatively common condition although the course is related to various disease conditions of the respiratory tracts (foreign bodies in nose, enlarged infected tonsils, sinusitis, pneumonia, abscesses) which make up 10% of the cause and major percentage of it from cavity takes 90%.
#### This means that the dental surgeon/dentist is at the receiving end of treating patients with halitosis.
Factors associated with halitosis include
#### 1. Food stagnation in a tooth that has a hole or decayed tooth.
2. Stasis of food and survival in the oral cavity.
3. Diet from food in the garlic family.
4. Neglected mount those who do not brush the mouth.
5. Disease condition in the oral cavity.
Eg dental carriers, periodontal disease.
Halitosis can be said to be caused by the production of VSC’s (Volatile Sulphur Compounds) by germs that rest on the back of the tongue and breakdown food debris into substances like, Hydrogen Sulphide, methyl mercaptan and Dimethyl sulphides which present with bad breath and mouth odour.