Does your colleague always have bad breath? Here's why

After a nap or a good night's sleep, bad breath is a normal and natural phenomenon.

A phenomenon, scientifically called halitosis, which can be extremely annoying if it persists throughout the day.

Bacteria produce gases

The cause? The proliferation of bacteria in the mouth, which, as reported by the Belgian media RTBF, hosts more than 600 different species. These bacteria primarily feed on dead cells from the oral mucosa and food debris on the tongue and teeth. An oral population that's perfectly normal, just like the result of their digestion, which leads to the production of gases. At night or during a short rest phase, the bacteria accumulate a lot of gas, resulting in bad breath.

Saliva plays a role in reducing the development of microorganisms and the associated gas production. However, when we sleep, we secrete less saliva and consequently, promote the growth of bacteria.

Other responsible factors

But why, in some people, does halitosis not disappear after a good brushing of teeth and persist even throughout the day? While there are many causes, here are the most common:

• smoking and drinking can dry out the oral cavity;
• lack of hygiene promotes the formation of tartar, which bacteria love;
• gastroesophageal reflux and gastric acidity are also responsible for bad breath. Note that halitosis in this situation can be a sign of a more serious health problem, such as oesophageal cancer. It's therefore essential to consult quickly if the bad breath persists;
• cryptic tonsils: if you have repeated tonsillitis, the healing of inflamed tissue of the tonsils, located at the back of the throat, can lead to the formation of small cavities, according to RTBF. These small holes in which dead cells accumulate, eventually form foul-smelling cysts. In this case, an ENT doctor will be able to solve the problem.

(MH with Raphaël Liset - Source: RTBF - Illustration: ©Unsplash)