How does Periodontal Disease (gum disease) affect bad breath (halitosis)? Before you answer that question, you should identify what causes bad breath (halitosis).

What causes bad breath?

More than 400 different kinds of bacteria lurk in your mouth at any given time. Most of these are harmless and have no noticeable taste or odor. In fact, many of them are helpful in the process of breaking down food in the mouth. However, dental experts have identified at least 14 of these oral bacteria that can be the triggering factor for halitosis. While breaking down food particles, sulfur compounds are released by these bacteria, which then cause the offensive odor.

The nose is used for breathing but it has another important function as well and that is filtering the air that goes into your lungs. It filters out the dust particles, bacteria and other pollutants on a daily basis. This is collected by the fine hair in your nose called cilia and then along with nasal mucus, goes into the back of the throat. In the stomach the bacteria is destroyed by acid. This is a normal bodily function and most people do not even pay attention to it because the mucus is virtually unnoticeable.

Is it possible that Periodontal Disease (gum disease) can cause halitosis? Firstly, you should identify the causes of bad breath.

Bad Breath (Halitosis):

All people have more than 400 different types of bacteria in the mouth, of which approximately fourteen of them cause bad breath by releasing sulfur odors. Halitosis (bad breath) is stimulated by volatile sulfur compounds, which are released by the break down of proteins by bacteria. Most of the odor contributing to bad breath is brought about by anaerobic bacteria, which grow on the back of the tongue. The anaerobic bacteria have beneficial effects also as they aid in digestion by breaking down proteins.

In many social circles, having bad breath is a disgrace in itself, but what’s even worse is not being aware that you do have it. This can lead to extremely embarrassing situations. To avoid such circumstances, you should always perform a freshness test each time you are planning to attend a party or any social function.

There are new treatments for people who have halitosis, otherwise known as chronic bad breath. These treatments can help people gain control of their lives and help improve the quality of it.

Halitosis can be a very influential factor in an person’s life. If you’re single, it can make dating very difficult. If you’re job-hunting, it can dissuade prospective employers from hiring you. It can even make some of your friends begin to move away if you don’t do something to remedy the situation quickly. To prevent these things from happening, you can try looking at the new treatment options that have recently been developed for halitosis.