Oral Health

Common oral problem: Why does it happen and what can go wrong if left untreated?

Posted on by biolife

Common oral problem: Why does it happen and what can go wrong if left untreated?

Aug 03, 2022

Introduction

When you open your mouth to say something, people nearby you smell an unpleasant breath odor coming from you. Of course, no one wishes this to happen, but the truth is according to statistics 1 in every 3 persons is affected by bad breath. 1

 

Why doesn’t my bad breath go away?

1. Causes of bad breath:

  • Poor oral hygiene
  • Gum diseases
  • Dental caries
  • Dry mouth
  • Unclean dentures

2. Certain food intakes

  • Onions
  • Garlic
  • Alcohol
  • Coffee/Tea

3. Certain medical conditions

  • Sinus
  • Acid reflux
  • Bacterial or viral infection in the throat
  • Lung infections
  • DIabetes
  • Liver diseases

Bad breath is not just affecting your confidence level, but also can cause low self-esteem, poor self- image, and it could affect your friendships, dating, romance, marriage, and employment as well. 4 Sometimes, it can be a signal of an underlying medical condition. Thus, it is imperative to identify the root cause so that we can manage it properly.

Besides, sore throat is another common oral condition that tends to be ignored by many people and they only seek treatment when it gets worse.

Why do I feel dry, irritated in the throat, have painful swallowing, and have difficulty talking?

These are some of the common symptoms of sore throat that can be caused by:

  • Virus (most common) 5, bacterial or fungal Infection
  • Allergens: environmental pollutants, smoking, dust mites
  • Eating too much ‘heaty’ or oily food during festival occasions or durian during fruit season

It is always better to treat it as early as possible to prevent it get worse because untreated sore throat could lead to some serious complications such as ear infections, sinus infections, and pus formation in the tonsils6.

References:
  1. Silva, M.F., et.al., 2018. Estimated prevalence of halitosis: a systematic review and meta-regression analysis. Clin Oral Investig., 22(1):47-55
  2. HealthCanal, 2022. What Causes Bad Breath From The Stomach? How To Treat It 2022? Retrieved from https://www.healthcanal.com/nutrition/bad-breath-gut-health
  3. Porter, S.R., Scully, C., 2006. Oral malodour (halitosis). BMJ, 333 :632
  4. Azodo, C.C., Osazuwa-Peters, N., and Omili, M., 2010. Psychological and social impacts of halitosis: a review. Journal of Social and Psychological Sciences, 3(1):74-91
  5. Karla, M.G., Higgins, K.E., and Perez, E.D., 2016. Common Questions About Streptococcal Pharyngitis. American Family Physician, 94(1):24-31
  6. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2022. Strep Throat: All You Need to Know. Retrieved from https://www.cdc.gov/groupastrep/diseases-public/strep-throat.html
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