Persistent bad breath can be a very embarrassing and make people self-conscious. However, preventable, many people who suffer from halitosis may not even be aware that they have it.
Zandile Msuthwana from Johannesburg South, has been experiencing bad breath since primary school. She says it has affected her life miserably and believes it occurs due to her sinuses.
“Since I was young, kids around me would tell me my breath stinks, and at that time I didn’t understand.”
Impact on self-esteem
Msuthwana says halitosis has affected her relationship with her partner and they hardly kiss due to the smell.
“Naturally, I’m a bubbly person, but I struggle with self-esteem and avoid social situations because I panic knowing that people might smell this rotten smell coming from my mouth or nose. I have researched my breath and found that I can smell it more when blowing my nose, so I think it’s sinuses,” she says.
“I can’t afford to go to the dentist, but I’ve sought to chew gum, even though I sometimes feel like it doesn’t take away the smell, but it helps along cloves here and there, so I always carry lots of sweets and gums.”
A Mpumalanga resident who would like to remain anonymous says she has faced laughter, gossiping, and embarrassment from halitosis.
“I’ve been laughed at a lot and spoken about behind my back because of halitosis. My mouth smelled like a rotten egg, and doing research made me realise a lot of people struggle with it. Luckily, I managed to go to the dentist for assistance, but it has ruined my self-esteem because even after getting help from the dentist, I still don’t have confidence in my breath and speak a lot.”
Bad hygiene and medical reasons
According to Johannesburg-based dentist Godswill Amadi-Ihunwo, halitosis is quite common, and he says poor oral hygiene plays a big role, but there can be medical complications as well as drug-related issues.
“Halitosis is caused by oral hygiene and health-related issues. In cases like diabetes or certain chronic respiratory conditions like bronchitis, halitosis can be an indication of it if the patient is unaware that they have that condition,” he says.
Amadi-Ihunwo highlights that eating foods with a heavy acid content or harsh scents like garlic or fish in excessive amounts more than once per day, can also cause your mouth to stink.
“Effective treatments for halitosis include having a good mouthwash, flossing daily, brushing properly twice a day, and ensuring that your tongue is clean.
“Generally, plaque sits at the back of the tongue and, with build-up, causes halitosis so maintaining a healthy oral hygiene routine is the best thing one can do. Consuming a good amount of water daily helps rinse out any loose sitting bacteria.”
Dentist Dr Godswill Amadi-Ihunwo
If you notice you may have a mouth odour issue, Amadi-Ihunwo states that the smell itself will be quite potent when speaking or breathing out. Also, if one has a good oral hygiene routine but there is still a bad smell, he suggests visiting the dentist for a thorough examination.
“The best thing to do when concerned about your oral hygiene is to book a consultation with your local dentist and have them examine, educate, and inform you of the condition of your oral cavity,” he advises.
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