Dental Monthly
January 2025 edition #42
Do I have Bad Breath, Halitosis?….. or do I suffer from Bad Breath-Phobia or Halitophobia. Try this test.
Let me first clarify a very important concept:
Breath is not the same thing as Taste
A person can have very fresh breath, but at the same time a bad taste
in the mouth. And vice versa a person can have a good taste in his mouth,
but in reality, have a malodorous breath.
This is important information for those who suffer of Halitophobia. Because they are obsessed with other people’s breath, but most of all with their own breath……. They ask everyone do I have bad breath? Can you smell my breath?… and they often make this gesture to smell their own breath in their hand palm. But that doesn’t give the answer, because you smell it all the time and you are used to it.
If you want to have an idea of your breath do this TEST:
1/Take a handkerchief and wipe it on the very back of your tongue.
2/Then let it dry.
3/Use your nose and smell this handkerchief after say 15 minutes, and you will understand if you have bad or good breath.
Usually if you are Halithophobic, you can relax, because you rarely actually have bad breath. And I am sure you guys already did the test😊
Instead, it is bad news when you do have bad breath and you have not been aware of it. Because at the same time you may suffer from SOCIAL ISOLATION
Nobody wants to be close to a person who has bad breath. Bad putrid odours coming from one’s mouth are annoying, disturbing and cause nausea in people who will instantly distance themselves from you and draw back, without really saying why. It is a BIG PROBLEM.
There is a HUGE TABOO about breath and bad breath. Even in my country, The Netherlands, with the most straightforward Europeans you can find: 60% of Dutch people do not talk about bad breath or halitosis. They would never say “You have bad breath!…Do something about it.” And imagine what that percentage would be here in Italy….
I am a Dentist and I help people with their oral health, yet I too have difficulty telling a patient they have bad breath. I do it with great delicacy. And fortunately, because most of the causes of halitosis are found in the mouth, I can also immediately propose the treatment and give the solution.
It will always be:
A/Chronically inflamed and bleeding gums,
B/Bacterial plaque & tartar,
C/Deep cavities and tooth decay,
C/Lack of saliva
D/ White tongue
Yes, the Tongue needs to be cleaned too. Because it has so many fissures, cracks and bumps, so that the real surface of the tongue is as big as an iPad. Imagine how much stuff, how many remains of food, dead cells, blood from your gums, bacteria, fungi, viruses and more can get trapped and will ferment, creating putrid gasses. So brush your tongue.
The stomach is hardly ever the cause. If a person doesn’t fast, doesn’t have to follow specific diets or have any medical conditions like diabetes etc. you can exclude the stomach.
Remember that when you take a mint to have a fresh breath, or you rinse with a mouthwash, you haven’t solved your bad breath. It only veils it temporarily.
If you find this article interesting or you need a consultation, reach out to Dr. Elena Moll at the WIN meetings.
For more information, see these other Dental Monthly articles:
Sense and Non-sense of toothpaste
If you have any questions, do reach out to STUDIO MOLL DENTAL CLINIC (contact details below) or reach out to Elena Moll during the WIN meetings.
BIO
Studio Moll Contact Details and Social Media
Whatsapp: 331-6368628 | Tel: 055-755347
www.dental-studiomoll.com | info@dental-studiomoll.com
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By Dr. Elena Speranza Moll
Studio Moll
Via Amilcare Ponchielli 21B, 50018 Scandicci –Firenze
Tel: 055-755347
WhatsApp: 331-6362682
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