Halitosis or bad Breath is an embarrassing problem that affects millions of people.
To combat it, many people use breath mints, chewing gum, sprays and mouthwashes.
In fact, Americans spend billions of dollars each year on these products - even
though they offer only a temporary fix. Getting rid of persistent foul odors on
the breath in a lasting way requires a little detective work on the part of dental
professionals.
Bad breath can affect anyone temporarily - think of "morning breath," or the way
your mouth smells after eating onions or drinking coffee. Some people, however,
exhale noticeably unpleasant odors throughout the day, every day. That's when it
is important to find the cause of the problem, so a lasting solution can be achieved.
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Causes of bad breath
Most often, bad breath originates in the mouth, from trapped food particles that
are then processed by oral bacteria. The most common location for mouth-related
bad breath is the back of the tongue, where large quantities of naturally occurring
bacteria can thrive on food remnants, dead skin cells and post-nasal drip (mucus
coming down your throat from the nose). The waste products of these bacteria include
volatile sulphur compounds (VSCs), which have a smell resembling rotten eggs. Other
places where bacteria and food particles can be trapped are between the teeth, beneath
the gums, and in oral appliances or dentures. Poor oral hygiene sets the stage for
these problems, as well as for tooth decay and gum disease, which can also cause
foul odors.
It's possible for other health conditions and habits to affect your breath. Halitosis
may occur in people who have a sinus or bronchial infection, an oral yeast infection
(which can be caused by antibiotic use), or even a systemic disease such as diabetes,
kidney failure or a liver malfunction. A chronically dry mouth also known as xerostomia,
which is often a side effect of certain medications, and tobacco use can also contribute
to this problem. Even stress, dieting and hormonal changes can affect your breath.
How Can Dentistry Help?
Since bad breath most often originates in the mouth, the dental office is the best
place to start in your quest for consistently better-smelling breath. After a thorough
examination, any of the following might be recommended:
- Oral hygiene instruction. It might be that you could
benefit from a demonstration of how to brush and floss more effectively, or how
to better clean your dentures. You can also be instructed on how to use a tongue
scraper to clean the back of your tongue if necessary.
- Professional dental cleaning. Food particles, bacteria
and calcified deposits can become trapped where you can't reach them - but special
dental instruments can. Regular professional cleanings are a great way to promote
good oral health in general and good-smelling breath in particular.
- Treatment of tooth decay. Bad breath may be caused by
large, open cavities that need to be filled, or old, defective fillings that need
to be repaired.
- Treatment of gum disease. More advanced forms of gum
disease cause the gums to separate from the teeth, forming pockets in which bacteria
can thrive. If you have gum disease, you may need periodontal (gum) therapy, which
can include a deep cleaning of the roots of your teeth, antibiotics, and, in advanced
cases, periodontal surgery.
- Treatment of infection. Infection that doesn't originate
in your mouth needs to be treated by the appropriate medical professional. Whatever
the cause of your bad breath, we are here to make sure you get the treatment you
need.