Bad Breath during Pregnancy

Many first time mothers-to-be are surprised when they experience bad breath or unpleasant tastes in their mouth. While there can be deeper issues at stake, many times pregnancy-induced halitosis is a common issue that upon additional care, can be resolved.

 

 

Why do Pregnant Women Experience Bad Breath?

Changes in Hormones
Pregnancy, particularly in the first trimester, is a period of rapid changes in estrogen and progesterone levels. One consequence of these fluctuations is additional plaque in teeth. This plaque contains bacteria, which leads to halitosis and possibly gum disease.

Dehydration
Women tend to be more than willing to eat for two, but when it comes to drinking, sometimes adequate levels don’t get met. When supporting a growing fetus, women should drink more water to support the systems that are hard at work in their body. A lack of hydration causes dry mouth, or xerostomia. This is a huge culprit in bad breath, and if this is the cause of your halitosis, a simple remedy is to drink more water.

Calcium Deficiencies
Similar to the need for additional water, a pregnant woman needs additional amounts of calcium to support her body and the body of the fetus. When proper calcium levels are not met, calcium from the bones or teeth will be used. The deterioration of the teeth in this way causes bad breath.

Morning Sickness
Morning sickness is experienced by more than half of pregnant women and generally occurs from the 6th-12th week of pregnancy. Morning sickness generally involves feelings of nausea and vomiting. Needless to say, this can be a huge source of bad breath. The mix of stomach acids and partially digested goods creates a smell that is unpleasant for the person as well as people they may come in contact with.

Upon vomiting from morning sickness or another cause, it is wise to brush your teeth and rinse your mouth. This will help remove bacteria and create more pleasant breath.

Lifestyle Changes
Being pregnant may also change your daily routines and natural tendencies. For one, sugary snacks or late night cravings can lead to plaque build-up. During pregnancy it is more important than ever to take care of your mouth and practice superior oral care. You should continue visiting the dentist every six months.

What are Some Remedies for Pregnancy-Induced Halitosis?

Many women would happily sacrifice a few months of bad breath for the safety of their developing baby. As it is generally wise for expecting mothers to stay away from antibiotics, many women feel helpless.

Fortunately there are a number of household remedies and home treatments for pregnant women.

• Practice Superior Oral Care – Brush at least twice a day with a Sonicare Sonic Toothbrush, floss daily and rinse mouth
• Use breath mints or BreathGemz Bad Breath Pills
• If you notice your mouth is dry, try our products for dry mouth
• Speak with your dentist or a bad breath specialist to try and remedy your halitosis
• Eat right and drink plenty of water.

About the Author: Dr. Anthony Dailley is a specialist in curing bad breath and helping patients who suffer from moderate to severe halitosis. Dr. Dailley has a degree in Cell & Molecular Biology from San Francisco State University and a dental degree from the University of the Pacific School of Dentistry. Among various halitosis treatment kits that The Center or Breath Treatment offers, in-patient visits are also welcome.

Cases of an Unhealthy Tongue

90% of halitosis cases deal with problems related either directly or indirectly to the tongue. This makes sense as this is the first site for incoming, undigested down foods. Under certain conditions such as oral neglect, the tongue can be a breeding grown for bacterial growth. Problems of the tongue aren’t always attributed to poor oral health. Sometimes it can be a reaction to antibiotics, a sign of a more serious medical condition, or problems with the actual tongue anatomy.

The good thing is, many times your tongue will tell you what is going on in your mouth. In a healthy state, your tongue will be a pink color. On the surface there are small nodules called papillae.

White Tongue
Sometimes the tongue turns a white color either completely or in a patchy pattern. There are a few explanations for this:

Oral Thrush: Oral thrush is a yeast infection of the mouth. This occurs when there is an overgrowth of candida (yeast) in the mouth. The overgrowth results in white patches on the surface of the tongue. It is most commonly found in infants and the elderly, particularly denture users. Generally, anti-fungal drugs can be used to combat oral thrush. An HIV infection or AIDS may cause oral thrush.

Leukoplakia: Leukoplakia occurs when there is an overgrowth of cells in the mouth that form white patches on the tongue, gum, and sides of mouth. These patches cannot be easily scraped off and are generally caused by use of tobacco products. Sometimes leukoplakia can be a precursor to cancer. If you feel your case may be cancerous, it is advisable to seek a doctor and have a biopsy performed.

Oral Lichen Planus: If you have a network of white hairs that have a lace-like appearance in your mouth, you may have oral lichen planus. This condition may create a burning or painful sensation. This condition is most commonly found in middle-aged women. It may create painful lesions that can be treated.

Strawberry Tongue

In certain cases, the tongue will turn a bright red color. This is known as a strawberry tongue.

Scarlet Fever: Scarlet Fever is a clinically diagnosed disease that causes sore throat, fever and a bright red tongue. It is very similar to strep throat and can be cured with antibiotics. Scarlet fever can be fatal if medical treatment is now sought.

Kawasaki Disease: This is an autoimmune disease that affects children under 5. The exact cause is unknown, but when it is discovered, the child should be hospitalized and treated immediately.

Hairy Tongue

Hairy tongue is what occurs when the papillae of the tongue become overgrown and result in a hair-like appearance. As the papillae grow, the tongue becomes a breeding ground for bacteria. This can occur in people with poor hygiene, but may also be the result of taking antibiotics or chemotherapy. Hairy tongues are also more common in people with diabetes. Sometimes people can have hairy tongue syndrome without any type of pathology at all.

As any breath health specialist will tell you, proper oral care and lifestyle can keep your tongue as healthy as possible. For extra special oral care, you can use a HydroFloss Oral Irrigator. For extreme halitosis cases come visit us at the Center for Bad Breath Treatment. If you can't make it to our clinic office you can try some of our halitosis treatment kits.

About the Author: Dr. Anthony Dailley conducts research pertaining to halitosis bad breath treatments. He has a degree in Cell & Molecular Biology from San Francisco State University and a dental degree from the University of the Pacific School of Dentistry. He offers many products such as Breath Gemz and teeth whitening pens to keep you looking your best.

Medical-Induced Halitosis

 Many people that have halitosis don’t understand where it comes from. They practice superior oral care, have no oral conditions or diseases, stay away from odorous foods and abstain from smoking. In cases like these, many times the halitosis can be explained by medical conditions or diseases the individual has completely unrelated to their mouth.


According to the Mayo Clinic, approximately 10% of halitosis cases are rooted in issues not involving the mouth whatsoever. These cases are known as extra-oral halitosis. Sometimes odorous breath is actually a warning sign that there is a deeper medical issue at stake.

Metabolic Diseases
Metabolic disorders occur when the normal metabolizing process is disrupted by unusual chemical reactions in the body. There are a number of metabolic disorders that would cause bad breath. Certain metabolic diseases that create bad breath are diabetes, liver failure and kidney disease. This is because the equilibrium of electrolytes and other bodily chemicals is imbalanced. Diabetes generally creates an acetone or fruity smell, while liver failure tends to have a sweet or musty smell. In liver conditions such as cirrhosis, it may result in a urine-like odor.

Trimethylaminuria is a relatively rare condition that may produce fish odor as it creates an improper production of the enzyme Flavin containing monooxygenase 3.

Autoimmune Diseases
There are a handful of autoimmune diseases that may also cause bad breath. Sjögren's syndrome is an autoimmune disease that causes Xerostomia, or intense dry mouth, which can cause worsening of breath odor. Other autoimmune diseases like Hashimoto's thyroiditis and lupus can cause bad breath.

Carcinomas
Odorous breath may also be a symptom of cancer. Cancer of the lungs, esophagus, tongue, mouth, pharynx or larynx can all cause foul odors when breathing. If you are experiencing pain in these areas, bleeding from the mouth, coughing or difficulty swallowing, you will want to see a doctor with your conditions.

Chronic Sinusitis, Post Nasal Drip & Allergies
Many times people with chronic sinusitis, sinus infections, post nasal drip or allergies are affected by bad breath. Problems with your sinuses generally causes inflammation in the nasal passages. The inflammation creates a narrowing of the passages disallowing the healthy flow of mucous and bodily matter. The trapped matter attracts sulfur-excreting bacteria that lead to bad breath.

Medications that Induce Halitosis
Some of the most frequently used prescription drugs have side effects related to bad breath, dry mouth or taste disorders. While the issue the medication is solving may be more important than minor bad breath, identifying what is causing your oral malodor may help you make a better decision for yourself. A few of the common medications that cause bad breath are:

• Blood pressure medication - Zocor
• Anti-deppresants – Prozac, Zoloft
• Antihitamines – Claritin
• Cold medications

If you or a loved one suffers from medical-induced halitosis, there are solutions for you. You can visit the bad breath clinic to isolate the problem and find a solution. You may interested in home care solutions. The Center for Breathcure has a variety of products from dry mouth remedies to Sonicare sonic toothbrushes!


About the Author: Dr. Anthony Dailley has been practicing dentistry since 1981. In addition to helping patients find a cure for bad breath, he conducts research pertaining to bad breath solutions and treatments at the California Pacific Lab. He founded the Center for Breath Treatment as well as NovaBay Pharmaceutical, a publicly held biopharmaceutical company. Visit Dr. Dailley, the bad breath dentist with a 99% success rate.

Halitophobia, Average Malodor & Clinical Halitosis

Every year, clients come to the Center for Breath Treatment and explain the frustration and embarrassment they have been suffering from due to their bad breath. They claim to have tried everything under the sun, and yet nothing will cure their bad breath. In some cases, I inch a bit closer, only to discover there is nothing wrong with their breath whatsoever! This is what is known as imaginary or delusional halitosis. Other times, the patient’s bad breath is slight and it appears to be strongly correlated with dairy, spicy foods or just when they wake up. And, of course, I have a large portion of patients who have long-suffered chronic bad breath that interferes with their social life and professional career. These three groups make up the majority of my patients... individuals with halitophobia, average malodor issues and chronic or sever clinical halitosis.

Bad breath can be a sensitive subject for many people, because it carries the weight of both stigma and embarrassment. The truth of the matter is halitosis is a real condition that many people around the world experience. The unwarranted, often irrational fear that one has terrible breath (halitophobia) is more common that you would think! And it can have a significant impact on a person's quality of life as they modify their behavior and live in fear of offending. On the converse side, the actual presence of bad breath is known as halitosis and can be broadly broken into average malodor and clinical halitosis. Average malodor is fairly easy to treat, while patients struggling with severe halitosis often spend many years of their life trying to cure the condition.

Diagnosing Halitosis
First you should get an accurate diagnosis as to whether or not you have halitosis. This can first be done by asking a trusted friend or family member for an honest opinion concerning your breath. Make sure to do this on a normal day while staying away from particularly odorous food such as onions, garlic, coffee, etc. Ask if they have noticed your breath in the past and reassure them that you want an honest assessment. It is possible that they will say your breath is fine and they’ve never noticed anything outside the norm. This may be an indication that you are unjustifiably worried about a breath problem you don’t actually have. If the response confirms your suspicion, there are things you can do to correct the situation.

Determining the Degree of Halitosis

• Find the root of the problem: Does your bad breath stem from a medical or dental issue?
  Medical Issue: Bad breath can form as a result of a particular disease, such as kidney or liver disease, blood disorders, tonsil infections or diabetes. Bad breath is also a known side effect for several popular prescription medications such as Prozac, Zantac, Prilosec and many others.
  Sinus Issue: Bad breath can also stem from chronic sinus issues. If you suspect allergies or sinusitis is the root of your problem, consult your doctor about medical treatments and invest in a quality nasal irrigator & saline rinse to help flush out lingering mucus and bacteria.
  Dental Issue: Many times, bad breath is a dental issue due to tooth decay, gum disease, oral cancers or xerostomia. Decay and gun disease can lead to strong, offensive odors.

• Identify when it occurs: Is your bad breath chronic, occasional or situational?
  If your breath is consistently odorous - and is not purely influenced by habits or food - chances are you have chronic, clinical halitosis. If you have occasional or situational bad breath, your bad breath can likely be remedied with simple bad breath home treatment kit. Perhaps you wake up with bad breath, or after eating certain food your breath worsens. Remedies for this situation include brushing with a sonic toothbrush, drinking more water, using an alcohol-free mouthwash and taking a bad breath pill like BreathGemz in the early afternoon. 

• How severe is your bad breath?
  If your bad breath doesn’t seem to draw attention or affect the way you live your life, it is likely a case of average malodor or even halitophobia. If it is something nearly everyone notices and your routines are affected by your breath, it is more likely you have clinical halitosis.

By identifying some of these issues, you can understand your situation better and decide if you have clinical halitosis or average malodor of the mouth. In cases of clinical halitosis, I strongly urge you to seek out medical assistance from a bad breath specialist. At the Center for Breath Treatment, we assist patient with chronic halitosis every day utilizing medical diagnostics to clearly pin point the root cause of the bad breath, which is the key to curing chronic bad breath.


About the Author: Dr. Anthony Dailley has been practicing dentistry since 1981 and conducts research pertaining to bad breath solutions and treatments at the California Pacific Lab. Dr Dailley specializes in curing bad breath. He founded the Center for Breath Treatment as well as NovaBay Pharmaceutical, a publicly held biopharmaceutical company. Visit Dr. Dailley, the bad breath dentist with a 99% success rate.