Halitosis (Bad Breath) Treatment
Bad breath doesn’t have to be something you live with. In fact, it can be a medical condition known as Halitosis or chronic bad breath. There are ways to prevent halitosis and eliminate bad breath once and for all.
Bad Breath or Halitosis Treatment
The truth is millions of people suffer from halitosis or chronic bad breath. It’s caused by oral bacteria that are left trapped for an extended period of time. The key to dealing with it is to treat the root of the problem by removing the source of the odor. Most over-the-counter remedies like mouthwash, mints, and gum only mask the problem.
We treat halitosis through a professional cleaning and oral cleans to reach the crevices that are not normally accessed with regular brushing and flossing. Occasionally a deep cleaning of scaling and root planning is needed to get bacteria trapped below the gum line, or a tongue scraping if the tongue is the source of the smell.
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What causes bad breath?
Bad breath, also known as halitosis, can result from poor dental health habits and can be made worse by the types of foods you eat. The most common cause of halitosis is poor dental hygiene. If particles of food are left in the mouth, their breakdown by bacteria produces sulfur compounds. If regular brushing, flossing, and hydration doesn’t solve it, the best solution is to see your dentist for deep cleaning.
Bad breath affects 1 in 4 people globally, an estimated 25 percent of people. It can cause embarrassment and anxiety but is relatively easy to remedy.
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What is the best chewing gum for bad breath?
The best chewing gum is sugar-free chewing gum. The sweetness of this gum comes from sweeteners and not sugar, therefore it does not cause tooth decay.
Chewing sugar-free gum helps protect your teeth and gums in-between meals, especially since your teeth are more at risk of an acid attack directly after you’ve eaten. You can reduce the acid attack and it’s harm on your teeth by chewing gum after a meal because it prompts the mouth to produce more saliva, which is the mouths natural defense against acid.
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Does smoking cause bad breath?
Many smokers suffer from bad breath from time-to-time. Heavy smokers are usually more frequently affected, but occasional smokers also get bad breath. Studies suggest that smokers experience a deterioration in sensitivity, so you may not even realize you have bad breath or be able to smell it on yourself.
Bad breath in smokers is caused by the tobacco itself—the lungs retain a measure of the tobacco smoke for a while after the cigarette has been extinguished and these chemicals remain in the mouth, making a greater case for halitosis.
Another side effect of smoking is dry mouth, caused by bacteria in the mouth from tobacco. Dry mouth has a significant correlation to smoking, which is also a leading cause of halitosis. Dry mouth not only affects breath but also affects gingivitis, making an even bigger case for the importance of regular dental checkups if you are a smoker.
What are you waiting for?
We strive to provide high-quality, gentle dental care at The Dentist of Siouxland offices. Explore all of our services or schedule your appointment.
