Bad breath caused by many things
December 1, 2006
I am 47 and over the past year or so have had a problem with bad breath. I have tried avoiding onions and garlic, and have had a number of trips to the dentist to check if the problem lies there. But nothing has helped. Do you have any suggestions?
WHILE foods such as garlic can be the culprit, as can a tooth infection, the most common cause of bad breath (halitosis) is an overgrowth of the bacteria which normally live in the mouth or throat. These bacteria break down proteins, which in turn release the smelly sulphur compounds. Other possible causes include a dry mouth, which can sometimes be linked to a medical condition such as an underactive thyroid, or it can be associated with alcohol, smoking, stress or medications such as some antihypertensives (that lower blood pressure). Certain diets can also cause bad breath, including those high in protein or high in sugar. Sometimes a chronic nasal or sinus infection can be the cause, though these will usually be accompanied by other symptoms such as a post-nasal discharge (where you are aware of stuff running down the back of your throat) or sinus pain. It might be worthwhile to check with your doctor to diagnose any of these conditions and treat them. As well as doing this you should also be practising good oral hygiene, including brushing and flossing your teeth, and perhaps adding regular mouthwashes. Increasing saliva flow might also help and to this end you might consider chewing sugarless gum.
My elderly mother is going into hospital shortly to have a hip replacement. She has been told she will have to stop her anti-inflammatory arthritis medication prior to the operation because of the increased risk of bleeding, which she will do. However, she is planning on continuing to take ibuprofen for pain as she insists it is something different. She should cease this too, shouldn’t she?
THE short answer is yes - ibuprofen and aspirin also fall into the anti-inflammatory category and should be ceased prior to a major operation. To be on the safe side they should also be avoided in the immediate post-operative period because of this same risk, although there has been some conflicting data on this. There are plenty of alternatives in terms of pain relief, including paracetamol, which do not affect the bleeding risk, and your mother should discuss these alternatives with her doctor.
My son and his wife are going to Thailand for four months and taking their five-year-old son. They are planning on giving him anti-malarials for the duration of the trip. Is this necessary and is this safe?
FIRSTLY, the issue of whether antimalarials are necessary is one I can’t really answer without knowing where in Thailand your grandson is going, and at what time of year. If they haven’t already done so, your son and daughter-in-law should discuss this with their doctor so they can determine the magnitude of the risk of catching malaria and therefore the necessity of preventative medication. As for safety, antimalarials commonly prescribed for children such as Malarone Junior have been studied in a number of randomised clinical trials (the gold-standard of testing) and found to be very safe, with the incidence of side effects being much the same as that which occurred with a placebo drug. However, once again it depends on the medication and would need evaluation by a doctor. It is important to note that no medication is 100 per cent effective as a prevention against malaria, and it is still important to try and avoid getting bitten by using appropriate insect repellants, clothing and avoiding high-risk activities such as being outdoors at dusk.
Posted by toshko under Skin Care News | Comments (0)
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