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Halitosis
Choose a cure, not a cover-up
Chronic bad breath is a problem for over 90 million people. The culprit?
Typically, halitosis is caused by poor oral hygiene that leaves decaying
food particles and bacteria in the mouth. Or, it may be due to other oral
debris. In either case, decay and debris produce sulfur compounds just
like the kind found in rotten eggs, resulting in foul-smelling breath.
Less commonly, bad breath may result from a systemic problem such as
a medical infection, gum disease, diabetes, kidney failure, or liver malfunction.
Radiation treatment for cancer may produce a dry mouth that leads to halitosis,
as well. And several simple, non-medical conditions can occasionally have
a temporarily negative effect on your breath: stress, dieting, snoring,
advancing age, and hormonal changes. Regardless of the source, it's important
to realize that bad breath is treatable and take steps to correct it.
Hygiene, Diligence & Special Rinses
Although many people try breath mints, over-the-counter mouth rinses
or sugar-free gum as a means of controlling bad breath, these products
only temporarily relieve the symptoms without treating the cause. Instead,
the first step in controlling bad breath is to practice good oral hygiene:
twice daily brushing, daily flossing, and tongue cleaning. In fact, a
plastic tool called a tongue scraper will actually allow you to clean
away bacterial build-up on your tongue and significantly alleviate odor.
And good hygiene must include regular dental check-ups, since professional
cleanings do a much more thorough job of eliminating bacteria and plaque
build-up. A second step to note, is that if you have dentures or a removable
retainer or mouth-guard, you must also practice excellent hygiene each
time you remove the appliance, cleaning it thoroughly and according to
proper instructions.
Finally, if your hygiene is meticulous but you can't eliminate the problem,
discuss your concerns about bad breath with us. Chances are, we can recommend
a specially-prepared rinse or toothpaste designed to actually break the
odor-causing sulfur bonds that cause bad breath. We may also suspect a
systemic or internal problem such as an infection or underlying condition,
in which case we may recommend a visit with your family physician or specialist
to identify the cause.
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