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Beating Bad Breath
              
 

        Bad breath (halitosis) is a common problem which often comes from the activity of bacteria in the mouth.  Although there is no way of knowing for sure, most adults probably suffer from bad breath occasionally.

Is bad breath always treatable?
        In the past, bad breath was often considered to be an incurable affliction. However, in recent years it has become increasingly evident that bad breath is usually treatable once a proper diagnosis is made.

        The main problem is knowing whether we have it or not, because we are poor judges of our own breath odor. Some people suffer from bad breath without knowing it, while others build up exaggerated fears about breath odor even though they do not have it. The best way to find out whether we have bad breath is to ask for someone else's opinion. If we don't ask, other people are unlikely to tell us. And since bad breath can sometimes - fortunately rarely - be a sign of a significant general health problem, we should not be reluctant to tell people dear to us that they have a bad breath problem.

What should I do if I have bad breath?
        If you have reason to believe that there is a problem, then see your dentist first, since bad breath often comes from the mouth itself.  Try to go with someone who is familiar with the problem, to help give us an objective picture of how bad the odor really is, how long it has been going on, etc.

Where does the odor come from?
        Most cases of bad breath appear to be due to the breakdown of proteins by a variety of micro-organisms. Several of the breakdown products are foul smelling gases. In people with healthy teeth and gums, the odor usually comes from the far back region of the tongue, and grows stronger when the patient starts talking.  Although we do not know why, the very back of the tongue is an important source of bad breath, possibly as a result of postnasal drip, which can get stuck on the tongue and is then broken down by bacteria on the tongue surface.

        If the back of the tongue is the problem, then we can recommend a method of cleaning the area, either with a toothbrush, or a specially designed tongue scraper.  It takes time and patience to overcome the gagging reflex. But, eventually, tongue cleaning becomes easy.

Can gum disease cause bad breath?
        In some people, bad breath is associated with gum disease, especially if rubbing the areas between the teeth and gums yields a foul odor. We can help prevent and treat gum diseases in various ways, depending on the type and extent of the problem, but your own daily home care is very important.  Cleaning of the spaces between the teeth is of great importance. One home tip to healthy gums (and less bad breath) is to smell the odor coming from the dental floss, and to work to clean those areas more carefully. People with gum disease often have higher levels of odor coming from their tongue, as well.

What type of treatment is there?
        We may recommend dental treatment, if there are other areas in which bacteria and food can become trapped and cause odor. We may also suggest daily rinsing with one of several available mouthwashes which have been scientifically shown to reduce bad breath over time.