Bad breath: more bacteria in our mouths than in our toilets, dentists warn

THERE are more bacteria living in our mouths than in our toilets, dentists warned yesterday.

Experts reveal it is a continuing preoccupation with dieting, and the increase in the number of people maintaining their natural teeth, that is leading to increased instances of ‘bad’ oral bacteria and persistent bad breath.

The Irish Dental Association (IDA) also reported a marked increase in the number of people using breath freshening products. Furthermore, there has been a large increase in people seeking professional advice in relation to bad breath. However, reportedly, it is more a case of what people fail to put into their mouths, than what they put in, that causes the problem.

Those on strict diets, such as the Atkins Diet, tend to suffer from breath odour problems as their body adapts to decreased levels of protein and carbohydrate. The condition is known as ketosis, which leads to persistent bad breath or halitosis.

Dentists also believe that bad breath has increased with people holding onto their natural teeth later into life. There is a good reason for this as the surface of natural teeth provides a better breeding ground for bacteria than that of dentures.

According to the IDA, every square centimetre of the mouth contains over one billion bacteria and there are around 500 different types of bacteria present in a healthy mouth.

Bad breath is caused by a shift in the balance between ‘good’ and ‘bad’ bacteria and 85% of halitosis suffers experience a build-up of bad bacteria.

Saliva acts as a defence to bad breath as it flushes the mouth of ‘bad’ bacteria. To avoid halitosis people should drink water and keep hydrated so as to continually flush the mouth of bacteria.

Dr Pat O’Reilly of the IDA said the whitish coating of plaque on the tongue, which is stronger towards the back where most bad breath stems from, is the key problem for halitosis sufferers. He said the body needs a balanced diet, not only to maintain general health, but to avoid diet-induced ketosis.

Dr O’Reilly pointed out that regular tooth and tongue brushing, essential to general oral health, would help to reduce the bacteria that causes bad breath. Over 80% of the population — those on PRSI, with a medical card and under-16s — are entitled to a free annual oral examination and polish.

“This provides a great opportunity for people to have their teeth cleaned and to ensure that plaque build up is monitored.”

Bad breath, however, can also be a symptom of a more serious illness — such as oral cancer, diabetes, gastro-oesophageal problems or kidney or liver disease — and Dr O’Reilly advised people with persistent bad breath to consult their dentist immediately.