Halitosis \u2013 also known as \u201cbad breath\u201d \u2013 is an unpleasant smell originating from the air exhaled from the mouth. Its origin can stem from poor oral hygiene, a strong-smelling food you have ingested, or a health problem, generally related to your digestive system.<\/p>\n
To better understand what halitosis is, we can classify it \u2013 according to the Breath Institute, in Spain \u2013 in the following ways:<\/p>\n
Genuine<\/strong> Clearly identifiable as an unpleasant odour, stronger than normal.<\/p>\n Persistent<\/strong> A pathological symptom that considerably affects the life of the sufferer.<\/p>\n Imaginary<\/strong> When a bad smell is perceived despite its absence.<\/p>\n Temporary:<\/strong> Physiological, occurring on the sides of the tongue in the morning and not requiring medical treatment.<\/p>\n Whether we like it or not, bad breath is the cause of negative effects that can impact your life, regardless of the problem's origin. To such an extent that, at times, the foul smell emanating from your mouth could lead others to reject you.<\/p>\n We are talking about a condition that will certainly affect your personal, social, and professional life, potentially becoming a serious and extremely important problem, having a direct impact on your self-esteem and undermining your confidence.<\/p>\n Of course, you can make provisions by distancing yourself from people around you, covering your mouth, communicating with gestures and signs, avoiding small spaces, and so on. Nevertheless, no matter how many mechanisms you put in place, nothing will be sufficient because bad breath has quite negative consequences that affect your entire environment.<\/p>\n Psychological effects<\/strong><\/p>\n A study conducted by researchers at the Institute of Breath determined that people suffering from halitosis exhibit certain behaviours directly related to bad breath. Let's look at some of them:<\/p>\n - Irritability, bad temper and nervousness \u2013 which triggers a psychological reaction to insecurity.<\/p>\n -Stress, anxiety, depression, and low self-esteem \u2013 you lack confidence and, consequently, become a more withdrawn person.<\/p>\n Halitophobia - that is, an obsessive personality concerning brushing and caring for one's teeth (due to not accepting one's condition).<\/p>\n Whether for dental specialists or stomatology experts, halitosis should be classified as \u201cimportant\u201d due to the implications it carries for the lives of those who suffer from it.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/strong>Social effects<\/strong><\/p>\n The consequences of bad breath are undeniable, leading people to distance themselves from their close social circle and avoid socialising with others, to the point of reducing intimate contact. Among other things, halitosis can even cause panic attacks, and as it is a taboo subject, people will be inhibited from talking about their bad breath.<\/p>\n Work effects<\/strong><\/p>\n Remember that if you suffer from halitosis and do not seek treatment from specialists, it could have consequences in your work environment to the point where you could miss out on a promotion.<\/p>\n It not only affects your interpersonal relationships \u2013 making it difficult to interact with others and work as a team \u2013 but it also increases your intolerance and rejection of your work colleagues.<\/p>\n