Bad breath, bad body odor... Why do we get more stinky as we age?

As we age, we tend to smell not only from various parts of our body but also from our mouths.

It's called "old man smell," but what causes this unpleasant change?

 

The reason why your body smells like old books and cheese as you age is because of the excessive production of a substance called nonenaldehyde. Nonenaldehyde is a substance created when fatty acids in sebum oxidize. It accumulates in pores, creating a musty odor.

Nonenaldehyde is not produced when you are young, but it starts to be produced due to aging from your 40s.

▲Decrease in beneficial skin bacteria and increase in harmful skin bacteria

▲Skin acidification

▲It is created due to changes in lipid composition, etc.

 

As we age, our ability to eliminate nonenaldehyde also declines. This is because our metabolism slows, activity levels decrease, and nervous system deterioration leads to decreased sweat production. As we age, consumption of alcohol and tobacco also increases nonenaldehyde production, resulting in more body odor. Drinking promotes nonenaldehyde production, while smoking inhibits its breakdown. Drinking and smoking can cause not only body odor but also bad breath. To reduce the odor caused by nonenaldehyde, lifestyle changes are essential.

 

First of all, it is good to reduce the intake of oily foods. Older people have difficulty digesting oily foods, so metabolic substances accumulate on the skin and promote the production of nonenaldehyde.

 

Underarm odor is particularly severe during this time. Wash thoroughly with soap or detergent, and if possible, soak in water at least twice a week.

 

It's effective in removing oxidized substances by stimulating the skin. Additionally, drinking plenty of water, taking walks in the sun, and changing your underwear frequently are recommended.

The reason bad breath gets worse as we age is because saliva production decreases due to aging.

 

The main cause of bad breath is a lack of saliva. Saliva plays a role in washing away food debris and bacteria in the mouth. When saliva is insufficient, foreign substances cannot be properly washed away, building up in the mouth and causing odor.

 

Therefore, to reduce bad breath, you need to keep your mouth moist by promoting saliva secretion.

 

To do this, you need to drink small amounts of water frequently to moisten your mouth. When drinking water, drink slowly as if wetting your entire mouth.

Eating sour fruits like lemons and oranges is also good. Eating sour fruits increases saliva production.

 

Massaging the area under the chin or doing 'oral exercises' such as placing the tip of the tongue against the inside of the lips and pressing firmly in a clockwise or counterclockwise direction is also effective.

 

 

=================

 

Although aging can cause odor,

Usually oily food or

Drinking water is still a good habit