BAD BREATH (HALITOSIS)
Bad breath, or Halitosis, comes in many forms and may be due to one
of many causes. Halitosis is an extremely embarrassing problem for
many people, and is usually caused by poor dental hygiene or the presence
of food that gets stuck in the teeth. Halitosis or bad breath is caused
by the presence of volatile sulfur compounds on the breath, principally
methylmercaptan and hydrogen sulfide compounds. In most dental patients,
it is the millions of bacteria in the mouth and on the tongue that
cause bad breath. Unpleasant odors from the mouth can strike periodically
or be continual depending on the cause.
Contact our office immediately if you have bad breath with painful,
swollen gums that bleed
easily or loose
teeth. This vexing problem can be broken down into three
main sources, external, intraoral, and extraoral. Either way, your
first stop to address persistent breath problems should be visiting
your dentist/our panel Periodontist office. If gum disease is found
to be present, a treatment plan can be developed by our panel Periodontist
to combat this common source of embarrassment.
Gum disease
must be treated promptly as it is the leading cause of tooth loss
among adults!
Possible causes for bad breath (halitosis) are:
Poor
Oral Healthcare
Without proper and consistent brushing and flossing, and routine examinations
by your dentist, food remains in the mouth, which is a breeding ground
for bacteria, which, in turn, causes odorous breath. Food that is
allowed to collect on the teeth, gums, and tongue may cause the gums
and tooth decay, emanating an unpleasant odor and bad taste in the
mouth.
Improper cleaning of dentures:
Dentures
that are not cleaned properly may be collecting bacteria and remaining
food particles which cause bad breath.
Periodontal
(Gum) Disease
One of the primary symptoms of this irritated gums/periodontal disease
is foul, odorous breath, and an unpleasant taste in the mouth. This
condition requires immediate care by an oral health professional.
Disease /medical condition:
Bad breath may be an indicator or symptom of any of the following
conditions. However, each individual may experience symptoms differently.
In the absence of gingivitis, tooth decay, oral cancer, your dentist
may even refer you to a physician for a diagnosis of a respiratory
infection, infection of the nose, windpipe or lungs, chronic bronchitis,
postnasal drip, chronic sinusitis, diabetes, etc.
Xerostomia
(dry mouth):
This condition is often a large contributor to halitosis. Some prescription
drugs and medicines can cause dry mouth as a side effect, especially
treatments for depression and high blood pressure. Also, certain medical
conditions affect the salivary glands, so they don't produce as much
saliva and the mouth tends to be more dry, or by continuously breathing
through the mouth, instead of the nose.
Tobacco products:
Not only do tobacco products such as cigarettes, cigars, smokeless
tobacco, chewing tobacco, and snuff stain the teeth and put the body
at risk for a host of diseases, they also contribute to bad breath.
Tobacco users also are at an increased risk for these reasons.
Treatment for Halitosis:
Your physician or dentist will determine the specific treatment for
halitosis based on: 
- The health of your mouth
- The cause or origin of the condition
- Extent of the condition
- Your tolerance for specific medications, procedures, or therapies
- Your opinion or preference
A periodontal cleaning often helps to remove the bacterial and plague
that has accumulated and is wearing down the gumline. Regular
dental cares like properly brushing, flossing, a good OTC
antibacterial mouthwash or anti-microbial mouthrinse as may be recommended
by the periodontist to killing bacteria and slowing its re-growth,
is paramount to controlling bad breath. Otherwise, Halitosis will
never disappear in the presence of periodontitis
or gingiviti.
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