Breath Odor

Question 1

“A persons mouth odor is not constant” Explain what this means.

Answer 1

Odor caries hourly, daily, with age, menses, food, etc.

Question 2

How does hunger / starvation contribute to halitosis?

Answer 2

Increased time between eating - oral flora has no readily available food so they break down human tissues (blood, epithelial cells, etc). Food also helps to cleanse the oral.

Question 3

Why is it that we cannot smell our own breath?

Answer 3

olfactory epithelium adapts to our own breath odor.

Question 4

When an individual suspects that they have bad breath, what are some of the resulting behaviours?

Answer 4

• increased us of mouthwash, mints, gum, etc.
• Behaviours that are avoiding direct interactions (covers mouth while speaking/watches distance)
• neurosis -repeated dental visits (requests for full mouth extractions)

Question 5

What is the best way to evaluate the prescence of mouth odor? What terms are used to identify intensity of breath odor? Quality?

Answer 5

Intensity: mild, moderate, objectionable
Quality: fruity, sour (more in elderly), sweet (children), uremic (ammonia-like)

Question 6

What causes halitosis? (3)

Answer 6

1. Oral Cavity:
   - Volatile sulfur containing compounds (VSC) by gram negative bacteria, putrefaction of saliva and amino acids
   - Food retention / bacterial accumulation
   - Lack of saliva
   - Increased leukocytes and/or blood as a substrate for bacteria
2. Nasopharyngeal Origin:
   - Chronic sinusitis
   - Rhinitis (cold)
   - Tonsillitis
   - Malignancies
3. Airways and Lungs:
   - Disease of lungs, excretion of aromatic metabolites, uncontrolled diabetes and emotional crisis. ex: bronchitis, abscesses, tuberculosis

Question 7

Discuss the treatment of mouth odors that arise from a condition within the oral cavity

Answer 7

-Improvement of self care
-Professional DH and dental care (treat for perio/decay if present)
-Use of gum, mints, etc.
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Question 8

Explain why halitosis is less during the day than first thing in the morning.

Answer 8

• No food for cleansing
• Hormones
• Illness/Disease