Is bad breath the same as halitosis?

Wearing a mask seems to be a common thing now. I wonder if you have noticed that after wearing a mask, I found that my mouth has a bad smell when I talk. I really didn't pay attention to this problem before. Is there something wrong with my mouth? For this reason, I specially consulted a professional dentist friend, and I will share with you below.

01. Bad breath does not mean halitosis

The main cause of bad breath is oral microorganisms. Often, we think that the oral cavity is relatively clean, but in fact, the oral cavity contains a large number of microorganisms. According to research, there are about 700 kinds of microorganisms in the oral cavity. These microorganisms are of various types, including bacteria, fungi, viruses, and some protozoa. The microbial ecology of the oral cavity is very complex. Various microorganisms have different ecological niches. Some gather in the oral mucosa, and some exist on the surface of the teeth.

The picture below is a genomic study of oral microorganisms, which shows the great diversity of microorganisms in the mouth.

These microorganisms are also very meaningful to the oral cavity. Studies have confirmed that these microorganisms are important in maintaining the stability of the oral environment, protecting the oral cavity, and preventing the occurrence of diseases. As the saying goes, "diseases enter the mouth", these microorganisms are a line of defense for the oral cavity.

Of course, these microorganisms themselves will produce some odor, which is an important source of bad breath and the reason why many people have a slight odor after wearing a mask. However, if the odor is very strong, it is not normal.

02. Bad breath: Extreme oral odor, the microbial balance is destroyed

Under normal circumstances, there will be a slight smell in the mouth, but if the smell in the mouth is very strong, which is what we call bad breath, it means that there is a problem with the microbial balance in the mouth.

In fact, compared with intestinal microorganisms, oral microorganisms have always lived in hard mode because they are too easily exposed to foreign objects. Many factors can affect the balance of oral microorganisms. For example, our eating habits, our daily habits, and even our age can affect the ecological balance of oral microorganisms.

(Possible consequences of oral microbial imbalance)

Therefore, if you do not pay attention to oral care, the microbial balance will be continuously destroyed, resulting in many problems, ranging from bad breath to gum problems and even other problems.

03. How to take care of your oral cavity

In fact, dentistry is a very mature discipline, and there are many studies on oral care. Common oral care methods are also familiar to everyone, but there are still some important steps to pay attention to:

1. Brushing teeth. This is the oldest and most classic method of oral care. In ancient times, people used salt to brush their teeth. Now there are a variety of toothbrushing products, including various toothpastes and toothbrushes. Brushing teeth is very important for oral care. It can remove food residues from teeth. The use of water during brushing can also remove oral residues.

Therefore, brushing your teeth regularly is a good habit.

Of course, there are some things to pay attention to when brushing your teeth. There are some correct guides to brushing your teeth that you can check out.

In addition, some toothbrush accessories, such as dental floss, are also good ways to clean teeth. It should be noted that you should brush your teeth before meals and not immediately after meals, otherwise it will easily affect your teeth.

2. Mouthwash products. Rinsing with water cannot kill bacteria, and many mouthwash products on the market that freshen breath do not have a bactericidal effect. Professional mouthwash products are another major choice for toothpaste. Nowadays, mouthwash products can be divided into two types: medicinal and non-medicinal health care products. For daily oral self-maintenance, it is recommended to choose non-medicinal mouthwash products, which are divided into conventional mouthwashes and new mouthwash foams on the market.

Mouthwash is a product that many people are familiar with. It generally contains some cleaning ingredients and oral maintenance ingredients, in addition to some ingredients for freshening breath.

The other category is a more convenient, faster and more effective mouthwash foam product that can replace mouthwash. It is used to clean food residues in the mouth and also contains some bactericidal ingredients to kill microorganisms that are not suitable for survival in the mouth and maintain the ecological balance of oral microorganisms. People who often use facial cleansers and hand sanitizers know that the more popular products now are foam products instead of pastes or water. One reason is that the bubbles increase the surface area of ​​all active ingredients by 10 times compared to traditional liquid mouthwash or water, and the cleaning power is stronger and faster. The second reason is that it is more convenient and there is no need to use external force to turn solids or liquids into foam for cleaning. Therefore, mouthwash foam products are more popular and loved by everyone.

Especially if the mouthwash foam has a better cleaning power and faster cleaning speed, it will be more friendly to lazy fat people like me. I recommend everyone to try it.

Of course, it should be pointed out that although there are many ways to maintain the oral cavity, the oral cavity is a huge problem. We still need to eat a reasonable diet on a daily basis and do regular oral examinations to best maintain oral health.