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Traditional causes of bad
breath are:
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tooth decay |
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gum disease |
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lack of
saliva (xerostomia) |
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certain foods
and drinks |
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tobacco |
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medications |
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illness. |
Suggested Treatment Is As
Follows:
Schedule
a dental appointment to find out if your bad breath is being caused by
tooth decay, gum disease, or a medical condition that should be treated by
a physician. If you have a dental problem, your dentist will recommend a
course of treatment to stop any infection, clean and restore your teeth,
and improve the health of your gums. Your dentist may also recommend that
you perform an appropriate evaluation of your daily dental
hygiene. You should be brushing twice and flossing at least once
daily. If your bad breath is not a dental problem, your dentist may
suggest changes to your eating and drinking habits or refer you to a
physician.
To determine if you have bad breath, you can perform
these tests yourself:
Bad
breath, also called "halitosis", is a condition you can have and
not be aware of. Cupping your hands in front of your mouth and
sniffing the the breath you generate will not define for you that
your breath is bad. In reality, the offending odor comes from the
back of the mouth and is expelled only when you speak.
Listed
below are several tests you may wish
to try that could possibly reveal unpleasant breath odor:
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This is primitive, but
effective! Pull your tongue forward with one hand, and using
your other hand, wipe the back of your tongue for approximately 15
seconds with a clean cotton ball. If the cotton ball produces an
unpleasant odor, this is a high indication that you do have bad
breath. |
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Floss several back teeth with a
length of unflavored and unwaxed dental floss. Afterwards sniff
the floss. The odor of the floss you used is likely an
indication of what your breath smells like. |
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If you frequently have a less than
pleasant taste in your mouth, that is a clue that you likely have bad
breath. |
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Consult with a trusted friend or
family member and ask them for a truthful assessment of your breath. |
None
of these suggested tests are foolproof. To find out for sure, a
visit with your Dentist for an examination is the only way to find
out definitively whether or not your breath has an offensive odor. Your
Dentist will determine the health of your gums, test the saliva levels,
and perhaps even measure the levels of volatile sulfur compounds (VSC’s)
in your mouth with a device called a "halimeter" to assess
condition of your breath odor.
"If
a person has persistent bad breath to the point it’s disturbing
themselves and other people, they should see a doctor or dentist,"
said Beatrice Gandara, research assistant professor at the University of
Washington Oral Medicine Clinic. Chronic bad breath is frequently a sign
of periodontal disease, which can lead to tooth loss; it’s been linked
to other health problems, as well. For these reasons, periodontal disease
should never be ignored.
Sources
- The American Dental Association
The University of Washington Oral Medicine Clinic
How to obtain and keep good smelling
breath:
None
of us wants to have bad breath; however, everyone gets it, or at least
worries about it, occasionally. You can use the following guidelines
to keep bad breath to a minimum:
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Eliminate the bacteria and food particles that can cause bad
breath; floss, then brush your teeth, gums and tongue after each meal.
Make this easier by keeping floss, toothpaste and a toothbrush in your
desk, your purse and your car. |
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If you can’t brush and floss,
rinse your mouth with water after eating to dislodge food and moisten
your mouth. |
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Have your teeth cleaned and
examined by a dental professional twice a year. |
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If
you are certain you have bad breath, seek out a dentist that offers
specialized treatment in that area. |
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Learn the proper way to brush, and
practice what you learn. |
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Drink lots of liquids, preferably
water, to keep your mouth moist. |
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If your mouth feels dry, chew
sugarless gum to stimulate production of saliva. |
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You can also chew on raw parsley;
it’s a natural breath freshener. |
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Baking soda is an effective odor
eliminator; if you can handle the taste, try brushing with a mixture
of baking soda and water. Or try a toothpaste that contains baking
soda. |
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Try
rinsing your mouth for one minute with a 50-50 mixture of hydrogen
peroxide and warm water to kill odor-causing bacteria. |
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Avoid mouthwashes that contain
alcohol; read the label! Instead, try a mouthwash that contains
chlorine dioxide. This compound doesn’t just mask odor, it actually
eliminates it at the source by attacking the odor-causing volatile
sulfur compounds (VSC’s). |
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Snack on raw vegetables such as
carrots, celery and red peppers. This stimulates production of saliva
AND some dentists believe it can help to remove plaque from your
teeth. |
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To avoid stress-related dry mouth,
practice "conscious relaxation" in stressful situations:
breathe deeply, visualize peaceful settings, recognize parts of your
body that feel tense and consciously relax them. If you can’t get
past the stress, chew sugarless gum or mints to keep the salivary
glands going. |
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Use an oral irrigation device such
as a Water Pik to remove particles of food wedged between your teeth;
portable models are available. |
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If
your wear dentures or a retainer, clean them frequently, and
periodically soak them in an antiseptic solution. |
Bad
breath that’s resistant to these remedies, or that continues for an
extended period of time, should be evaluated by your Dentist.
It is
not necessary for anyone to live with bad breath. Determine if it
exists, recognize it, treat it, and then get it under control.
Sources
- The Academy of General Dentistry
The American Dental Association |
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