is there any medical instrument that checks the degree of bad breath? why do we not smell our own bad breath?

Question

though i blow out my breath into my cupped hand and smell, it does not smell foul. how can i believe when somebody says i have bad breath? they may be trying to pull my confidence down???

Answer 1

There are medical instruments that can check your degree of bad breath, but your best bet is to consult someone whom you really trust to give you a straight answer. Ask them to give you the "sniff test", ideally more than once because some causes of bad breath can come and go. Also ask them to tell you what kind of bad smell they detect, because the answer may help you figure out what the cause is and how to cure it.

Many different things can cause bad breath:

- smoking (tobacco or anything else)
- too much alcohol ("drunk breath" lasts through a hangover)
- ultra low carb diets (you breathe out byproducts of fat metabolism) and various other nutrition problems
- eating foods with odors that your 'odor consultant' finds offensive (some people don't mind garlic, beer, seafood or cheese odors, others do)
- food particles trapped between your teeth (brush brush brush, floss floss floss)
- gum disease (red puffy areas on your gums) because the bacteria responsible for gum disease make compounds called 'indoles' that smell, well, poopy (see dentist and floss daily)
- tonsil stones (little grayish-yellow hard particles in the crevices of your tonsils, about the size of a peppercorn but irregularly shaped and very stinky - you can sometimes pop them out and get rid of them)
- infections like sore throat, bronchitis, or sinusitis, where the bacteria make bad smells
- bacterial coating on your tongue - brush it (gently) when you brush your teeth
- any condition that makes your mouth chronically dry. Saliva has antibacterial properties and it also constantly washes out the inside of your mouth carrying away the bad smells (except at night - that's why "morning breath" is so awful)

The website below has some suggestions, mostly based on keeping your mouth and lungs clean and healthy. And remember, everyone has bad breath at one time or another. Don't let it pull down your confidence.

Answer 2

I don't think there is any medical instrument to check the foul breath. we can not smell our on bad breath because our olfactory sense buds acclimatized with our own breath. don't loose ur confidence always take some clove& cardemon after eating.

Answer 3

It's not bad that you like that smell but it's important that you brush your teeth at least once a day! I like weird smells too ^_^ but I guess yours isn't really weird, but anyways, no it's not bad but take care of yourself okay? (: random- when my armpits start stinking they smell just like weed x) but that doesn't mean I shouldn't wash myself, I do. and I need too ^.^ and so do you. I hope this helped (:

Answer 4

If somebody is telling you that you have bad breath, it could be true.. What are you doing to combat this situation? And, the reason YOU can't tell is because you are acclimated to it..
A better way than the cupped hand method is to lick your finger.. let it dry, then smell... if it smells bad, guess what..

Answer 5

I'll say just you leak on your wrists which will help you to know that whether you are having bad breath or not.I think you can use your wrist instead any medical instrument..........!

Answer 6

not reliable instrument.

Answer 7

http://youtu.be/byV--AkiGFY
Most cases (85–90%), bad breath originates in the mouth, sinus and throat. The intensity of bad breath differs during the day, due to eating certain foods (such as garlic, onions, meat, fish, and cheese), obesity, smoking, and alcohol consumption. Since the mouth is exposed to less oxygen and is inactive during the night, the odor is usually worse upon awakening ("morning breath"). Bad breath may be transient, often disappearing following eating, brushing one's teeth, flossing, or rinsing with mouthwash.
Causes:
1, Tongue, A common location is the tongue. Tongue bacteria produce malodorous compounds and fatty acids, and account for 60 to 70% of all cases of mouth-related bad breath. Methods used against bad breath, such as mints, mouth sprays, mouthwash or gum, only temporarily mask the odors created by the bacteria on the tongue, but cannot cure bad breath because they do not remove the source of the bad breath.
Cleaning the tongue - Many companies promote tongue scrapers as a bad breath cure however the bacteria on the tongue can’t be removed with a scraper or brush as they live between the taste buds. Use a tongue scrapper to reduce the food source for bacteria but don’t expect it to cure bad breath. The method of stopping bad breath from the tongue involves rebalancing the bacteria load. Once tongue bacteria are in balance bad breath will cease. For this complex procedure you’ll need to consult Oraltech Labs program at http://www.oraltech.com.au
2. Mouth, There are over 600 types of bacteria found in the average mouth. Other parts of the mouth may also contribute to the overall odor, but are not as common as the back of the tongue. These locations are, in order of descending prevalence: inter-dental and sub-gingival niches, faulty dental work, food-impaction areas in between the teeth, abscesses, and unclean dentures. To fix you will need a dentist to examine your teeth and repair any faults found. Or use Oraltech Labs Unusual Causes Of Bad Breath.
3. Gum disease, advanced periodontal disease is a common cause. Waste products from the anaerobic bacteria growing below the gum line (sub gingival) have a foul smell and have been clinically demonstrated to produce a very intense bad breath. To fix remove the tartar or hard plaque and friable tissue with a soft bristle tooth brush angled on the gum line. This has been shown to improve mouth odor considerably.
4. Nose, in this occurrence, the air exiting the nostrils has a pungent odor that differs from the oral odor. Nasal odor may be due to sinus infections, foreign bodies & commonly Post Nasal Drip. To fix this you will need to flush your sinuses with salt water. It’s very difficult. Use Oraltech Labs program to properly clear all sinus cavities.
5. Tonsils small bits of calcified matter in tonsillar crypts called tonsilloliths that smell extremely foul when released and can cause bad breath. To fix use warm to hot salt water mix to break the stones down or use a water pic to dislodge them. This topic is covered in depth in the Oraltech Labs Program.
6. Stomach, very uncommon source of bad breath. The esophagus is a closed and collapsed tube, and continuous flow (as opposed to a simple burp) of gas or putrid substances from the stomach indicates a health problem—such as reflux serious enough to be bringing up stomach contents or a fistula between the stomach and the esophagus. To fix use Oraltech Labs program to cure bad breath caused by GERD & Acid Reflux.
Management:
1. Gently clean the tongue surface twice daily; that can be achieved using a tooth brush, tongue cleaner or tongue brush/scraper to wipe off the bacterial biofilm, debris, and mucus. Scraping or otherwise damaging the tongue should be avoided, and scraping of the V-shaped row of taste buds found at the extreme back of the tongue should also be avoided. Brushing a small amount of antibacterial mouth rinse or tongue gel onto the tongue surface will further inhibit bacterial action.
2. Eating a healthy breakfast with rough foods helps clean the very back of the tongue.
3. Chewing gum: Since dry-mouth can increase bacterial build-up and cause or worsen bad breath, chewing sugarless gum can help with the production of saliva, and thereby help to reduce bad breath. Chewing may help particularly when the mouth is dry, or when one cannot perform oral hygiene procedures after meals.
4. Gargling right before bedtime with an effective mouthwash.
5. Maintaining proper oral hygiene, including daily tongue cleaning, brushing, flossing, and periodic visits to dentists and hygienists. Flossing is particularly important in removing rotting food debris and bacterial plaque from between the teeth, especially at the gum line.
If none of the above works for you just use the Oraltech Program by visiting - http://www.oraltechlabs.ph
To Your good health, Dr Devon, M.D, D.D.S
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