The document discusses halitosis or bad breath, noting that over 50% of people experience it at some point, with 90% of cases originating from the mouth rather than stomach, and that it can impact social and professional relationships; it describes the different causes of halitosis including physiological, pathological oral factors, and extraoral sources; and provides recommendations for treating and preventing halitosis through improving oral hygiene and health.

1. MISSION
ORAL HEALTH
Between 50 and 60% of the adult population has, or
has had, halitosis at some point in their lives.
90% of all bad breath originates in the oral cavity
and not in the stomach.
Halitosis affects daily life and can have an impact
on friendships and emotional and professional
relationships.
Children may also suffer from halitosis.
Barcelona, April 27, 2011. Halitosis is a very common condition
that is characterised by a bad or unpleasant odour emanating
from the mouth that a ects more than 50% of the population at
some point in their lives. Approximately 30% of patients over 60
years of age have, or have had, halitosis at some point. In 90% of
all cases, its origin is in the mouth and not in the stomach; in
order to prevent this problem, oral health and hygiene are very
important. A lack of information and the psychological barrier
that it creates for those who have it, makes halitosis one of the
oral conditions that most greatly impacts daily life and the
relationships we have, whether they be social, emotional or
professional.
What are the di erent types of halitosis?
a. Physiological halitosis (non-pathological oral factors)
- Morning breath. During sleep saliva ow decreases, making it easier for bacteria that produce
foul-smelling gases to grow uncontrollably.
- Age: the quality of breath changes with age. Elderly people tend to have more intense and unpleasant
smelling breath.
- Saliva: xerostomia, or dry mouth, after long conversations, as a side e ect from certain medications, or due
to nasal breathing, can also contribute to this bad odour.
- Smoking: causes a distinct smell. Sometimes it is done to hide halitosis. Passive smokers can also have
smoker’s breath.
- Hunger: fasting can cause halitosis. Patients who skip meals or who are on hypocaloric diets have a
tendency to have more halitosis.
- Food: Certain metabolites that come from digestion can be absorbed through the stomach and enter the
circulatory system; they are then metabolised by the intestinal mucosa and liver and are expelled by the
lungs, as is the case with onions, garlic and alcohol.

2. MISSION
ORAL HEALTH
b. Pathological Halitosis
Oral Causes:
- De cient oral hygiene: any place where bacterial
build-up occurs can be the origin of halitosis,
such as the tongue, interdental spaces,
subgingival areas, abscesses.
The tongue is bacteria’s favourite place to be.
- Deteriorated dental reconstructions (bridges,
dental prostheses, prosthetic materials)
- Periodontitis and gingivitis are the most frequent
causes; in ammatory processes and
haemorrhaging accentuate bad breath.
- Ulcerative causes: traumatic ulcers or infectious
aphthas
- Oral candidiasis: usually is caused by chronic use
of antibiotics or inhaled corticosteroids.
- Pharynx: viral, bacterial or fungal infections.
- Acute tonsillitis
- Medications
Extraoral causes:
- Nasal: odour emanating from the nose can indicate infections such as sinusitis, mucosa secretions,
presence of foreign bodies in the nostrils (typical in children and in mentally disabled patients) i.e. bones,
nuts, toy parts, etc. that cause an in ammatory response and a tendency for superinfection.
- Digestive diseases
- Respiratory diseases: pulmonary or bronchial infection
- Systemic diseases. Poorly handled diabetes, kidney failure, autoimmune diseases, etc.
Treatment:
First, any existing oral pathologies must be treated: caries, xed prostheses and over contoured restorations,
gingivitis (professional dental cleaning and polishing) and periodontitis via scaling and root planing.
Treatment protocol will include carrying out a professional dental cleaning and polishing, as well as giving
the patient oral hygiene instructions, including brushing instructions. For this, we have HALITA toothpaste,
interdental cleaning with dental oss and tape or interproximal brushes depending on each patient’s
individual needs, and tongue cleaning two times/day (morning and night) reaching the back part of the
tongue with the help of the HALITA tongue cleaner.
Lastly, gargling with a speci c mouth rinse – HALTIA Mouthwash – (in order for it to reach the back portion
of the tongue), two times per day (morning and night) during the active phase of treatment (between 15
and 30 days). Once the problem has improved, mouthwash can be used once per day (at night) during the
maintenance phase (6 months or longer, depending on each case). However, in situations that require
on-the-spot attention to improve bad breath, HALITA spray can be used.

3. MISSION
ORAL HEALTH
Advice for ghting halitosis
Take care of oral hygiene by e ectively brushing and cleaning
interproximal spaces; don’t forget the importance of keeping
your tongue clean.
Drink lots of water, especially between meals to prevent dry
mouth, which causes halitosis.
Reduce smoking and co ee and alcohol intake.
Try to avoid spicy foods and foods that contain garlic and
onion...
Bad breath in children
Halitosis is a problem that can also a ect children. On occasion it can
be caused by a lack of oral hygiene, and at times it can be a warning
sign for an organic disorder.
The origin of bad breath in children can be in di erent organs or
systems, such as the oral cavity, the pharynx, the respiratory system
and the digestive system, or due to a systemic disease, a ecting
various organs at the same time.
Also, it can be a transitory sign in the evolution of certain acute
infectious conditions, such as stomatitis, gingivitis, pharyngoamigdalitis,
rhinitis, sinusitis, or it can persist for long periods along with undiagnosed
chronic conditions.
Recommendations:
• If a child is healthy, consider the possibility of a foreign object in the nostrils. If we verify that it
does exist, do not try to remove it, but rather go to the doctor.
• Try to make tooth brushing a daily habit. Get him/her used to not eating after brushing.
• Pay a visit to the dentist to rule out any possible oral diseases.
• If the dental exam rules out oral alterations, go to the paediatrician for a subsequent diagnosis
and the most appropriate treatment application.
For more information:
Ana García – Inforpress- aggavino@inforpress.es
Lara Guirao – Inforpress lguirao@inforpress.es 93.419.06.30