Halitosis as a medical and social problem
Fifteen to thirty percent of patients who consult doctors of various specialties complain of bad breath. About a quarter of patients with such a complaint actually just fear the possibility of halitosis. The problem of halitosis has not only medical, but also psychological (social) aspects: firstly, the presence of halitosis can be an indicator of the pathology of various organs and systems of the human body; secondly, halitosis and fear of halitosis have a huge negative impact on the social and personal life of a person. The cause of the unpleasant odor lies in the appearance of certain chemicals in the exhaled air. These substances appear in the process of life or are excreted by the patient's body in certain diseases. In almost 80-90% of cases, the occurrence of halitosis (halitosis) is associated with local causes in the oral cavity. There are three fundamentally different conditions that are associated with the perception of bad breath by the patient and others: true halitosis - the presence of halitosis, confirmed by objective research methods (physiologically true halitosis is due to the characteristics of the microflora of the oral cavity; pathological true halitosis is a sign of the disease), pseudohalitosis is perceptible breath, which is perceived by the patient as intense and unpleasant; halitophobia - a persistent belief in the presence of halitosis in the absence of confirmation of its presence. It is very important to determine the nature of the smell, which in severe cases comes not only from the mouth, but from the patient s entire body. In some cases, a special smell allows not only to determine which organ system is affected, but also to establish a nosological diagnosis. Since pathological halitosis is caused, first of all, by diseases of the teeth, oral cavity, laryngotorinological organs, then all patients need to consult the appropriate specialists.