Services / Bad Breath / Halitosis Treatment
Bad Breath Treatment
Chronic bad breath is also referred to as halitosis. Most of the time (85%-90%) bad breath originates in the mouth. It is caused by bacteria in our mouth. This bacteria is breaking down food debris which creates by-products called volatile sulfur compounds (methyl mercaptan and hydrogen sulfide) which emit a smell similar to rotten eggs. Because this bacteria needs an environment free of oxygen, they will live in areas that are difficult to reach-such as pockets around teeth; the grooves in the tongue and especially on the back of the tongue.
Bad breath can be caused by many different factors
- a systemic condition, such as diabetes
- sinuses problems
- troubles with the pharynx, lungs or stomach
- respiratory tract infection
- dieting
- postnasal drip
- chronic bronchitis
- gastrointestinal disturbance
- liver or kidney ailment
- poor dental hygiene Infrequent or improper brushing and flossing can leave food particles to decay
- infections in the mouth – gum disease
- respiratory-tract infections – throat infections, sinus infections, lung infections
- external agents – Garlic, onions, coffee, cigarette smoking, chewing tobacco
- dry mouth- caused by salivary gland problems, medications or by “mouth breathing”
- systemic illnesses – Diabetes, liver disease, kidney disease, lung disease, sinus disease, reflux disease
- psychiatric illness – people may perceive that they have bad breath, but it is not noticed by oral-health-care professionals or others, this is referred to as “pseudohalitosis.”
It is important that the first step you take to solving a bad breath problem is to visit your medical doctor for an examination to ensure that the cause of your bad breath is not from a physical problem. When you have determined that it is not caused by a medical condition you will than need to provide you dentist with a complete medical history and tell your dentist how you determined you had malodor.
Other factors can cause bad breath
Good oral hygiene practices on a daily basis will eliminate many other causes of bad breath. Other factors can cause bad breath, such as:
Routine Dental Checkups
- tobacco
- alcohol
- alcohol containing mouth rinses
- dry mouth
- foods like garlic, onion and spicy foods
- hunger
- morning breath
- poor oral hygiene
- gum disease
- braces
- dentures
- and certain medical disorders like radiation therapy
- ETOH is a ketone produced from dieting
These factors are not the main cause of bad breath, the main culprit is oral bacteria.
TREATMENT OF BAD BREATH
Now, even chronic bad breath can be effectively managed. With routine dental cleanings and your dentis’s recommendations, the freshest possible breath can become a daily reality.
In some instances, chronic bad breath is actually caused by underlying medical conditions like diabetes, sinusitis or emphysema. And in those rare situations, treating the disease could possibly eliminate the cause of the bad breath. Fortunately, we can help diagnose the various types and causes of bad breath.
