Halitosis: Types and Classifications | Bad breath categories.
- The type of breath problem a person has must first be identified before it can be successfully treated.
When a dental professional initiates a patient's treatment, they must first make an assessment of the type of breath condition from which they are suffering. This is important because the needed solution for different types of conditions varies significantly.
This category refers to bad breath that can be readily detected by organoleptic testing (just smelling the person's breath with your nose) or by the use of some type of testing apparatus that can detect the compounds typically associated with bad breath (volatile sulfur compounds).
There's an obvious malodor and it has an intensity that lies beyond what's generally considered socially acceptable. And as such, it tends to affect personal relationships.
The category of Genuine halitosis is further broken down into the subcategories Pathologic and Physiologic halitosis.
This classification refers to a situation where an odor problem does not exist (cannot be detected by smell or scientific testing) but the patient still feels that they have bad breath. Since no real breath problem exists, treatment consists of counseling the patient about their misconception.
A situation where a patient's perception of a breath problem continues to exist despite the successful treatment of their genuine halitosis condition or, in the case of pseudo-halitosis, after receiving counseling. At this point, treatment for the patient's condition needs to be referred to a medical professional who can provide appropriate psychological counseling.
The most common cause of Genuine halitosis is debris on the posterior portion of the tongue.
The subcategories of Genuine Halitosis.
Medical professionals subdivide the genuine halitosis category (see above) into two further classifications, "physiologic" and "pathologic" halitosis.
The person's breath odor is a symptom of a disease or other pathologic condition, or aggravated by it.
The category of Pathologic halitosis is further broken down into the subcategories Oral and Extraoral halitosis.
This category refers to those situations where the person's malodor is attributable to putrefaction processes taking place in their oral cavity, frequently within the white-colored coating found on the posterior portion of their tongue (see illustration).
In most cases this type of condition can be resolved with improved oral home care, especially if tongue cleaning is included.
This classification of bad breath is considered to be transient, in the sense that its presence comes and goes (as determined by temporary localized conditions in the mouth) and that it can be relatively easily resolved.
The subcategories of Pathologic Halitosis.
The "pathologic" halitosis category is further divided into subcategories, based on the location of the disease process that is associated with the patient's breath problem.
This category includes situations where the person's odor problems are caused, or aggravated, by disease or other pathologic conditions associated with tissues inside the mouth.
As a primary example, the level of malodor experienced can be aggravated by the presence of periodontal disease (gum disease). Co-factors (such as dry mouth, smoking or teeth in need of repair) can play a role too.
Sinus discharge can be the cause of breath odors.
The nasal, paranasal or laryngeal areas (upper respiratory tract).
Possible conditions: postnasal drip, chronic sinusitis, acute viral or bacterial infection, tonsillitis, tonsilloliths, deep tonsillar crypts.
The lower respiratory tract (lungs) or upper digestive tract.
Possible conditions: chronic bronchitis, bronchiectasis, hiatus hernia, Helicobacter pylori infection, malabsorption conditions.
Disorders anywhere else in the body. In these cases, compounds produced by the disease process are blood borne and a state of breath malodor is created when they are exhaled from the lungs.
Possible conditions: diabetes, liver cirrhosis, uremia, kidney insufficiency, menstral cycle, internal bleeding.
The patient will need to be referred to a physician or medical specialist for treatment before their breath problem can be fully resolved.
Our next page explains what the odors you smell are and where they come from. Once you know that, you'll know how to cure your problems.