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belonging to the Academy of General Dentistry. As one of the 35,000 general dentists in the United Sates and Canada who are member of the Academy, your dentists
participates in an ongoing program of professional development and continuing education to remain current with advances in the profession and to provide quality patient
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Halitosis (Bad breath)
What is halitosis?
More than 90 million people
suffer from chronic halitosis or
bad breath. In most cases it
originates from the gums and
tongue. The odor is caused by
bacteria from the decay of food
particles, other debris in your
mouth, and poor oral hygiene.
The decay and debris produce a
sulfur compound that causes the
unpleasant odor.
therapy may experience dry
mouth. Even stress, dieting,
snoring, age and hormonal
changes can have an effect on your
breath.
An odor that comes from the
back of your tongue may indicate
post-nasal drip. This is where the
mucus secretion, which comes
from the nose and moves down
your throat, gets stuck on the
tongue and causes an odor. Bad
breath
Does bad breath come from
other sources than the mouth?
Bad breath also may occur in
people who have a medical
infection, gum disease, diabetes,
kidney failure, or a liver
malfunction. Xerostomia (dry
mouth) and tobacco also
contribute to this problem. Cancer
patients who undergo radiation
originating in the stomach,
however, is considered to be
extremely rare.
Why is saliva so important in
the fight against bad breath?
Saliva is the key ingredient in your
mouth that helps keep the odor
under control because it helps
wash away food particles and
bacteria,
the primary cause of bad
breath. When you sleep,
however, salivary glands
slow down the production of
saliva allowing the bacteria
to grow inside the mouth. To
alleviate "morning mouth,"
brush your teeth and eat a
morning meal.
Morning mouth also is
associated with hunger or fasting.
Those who skip breakfast, beware
because the odor may reappear
even if you've brushed your teeth.
Do certain foods cause bad
breath?
Very spicy foods, such as onions
and garlic, and coffee may be
detected on a person's breath for
up to 72 hours after digestion.
Onions, for example, are absorbed
by the stomach and the odor is
then excreted through the lungs.
Studies even have shown that
garlic rubbed on the soles of the
feet can show up on the breath.
How do I control bad breath?
It is important to practice good
oral hygiene, such as brushing
and flossing your teeth at least
twice a day. To alleviate the odor,
clean your tongue with your
toothbrush or a tongue scraper, a
plastic tool that scrapes away
bacteria that builds on the tongue.
Chewing sugar-free
gum also may help control the odor. If
you have dentures or a removable
appliance, such as a retainer or mouth
guard, clean the appliance thoroughly
before placing it back in your mouth.
Before you use mouth rinses,
deodorizing sprays or tablets, talk with
your dentist because these products only
mask the odor temporarily, and some
products work better than others.
What is my dentist's role?
Visit your dentist regularly because
checkups will help detect any
physical problems. Checkups also
help get rid of the plaque and
bacteria that build up on your teeth.
If you think that you suffer from
bad breath, your dentist can help
determine its source. He or she
may ask you to schedule a separate
appointment to find the source of
the odor. Or, if your dentist
believes that the problem is caused
from a systemic source (internal),
such as an infection, he or she may
refer you to your family physician
or a specialist to help remedy the
cause of the problem.
Sources: Academy of General Dentistry;
American
Dental
Association;
Dental
Update, 1993 March; The Profitable
Dentist, August
1995.
