Bad breath can be a lingering problem

Every few years a newspaper, magazine, radio or TV station features a dentist or physician that has found a "new" treatment for bad breath. I eagerly sift  through the pages of sports, weather and many commercials to see what's new. Well, I'm almost always disappointed because there's really nothing new under the sun. All the effective techniques for correcting bad breath have been around for many years. 

Bad breath has many causes and understanding this is critical for successful treatment  Bad breath can arise from the mouth and any of its structures such as the gums, teeth and tongue. It can also come from the throat, lungs, nose, sinus and lungs. Tracing the exact origin of the odor is essential if you want to stop it.

Some diseases cause bad breath. Diabetes causes a sweet fruity odor or a kind of chemical smell called ketone breath. Consumption of garlic caused an odor that emanates from both sweat glands in the skin and your lungs. Sinusitis, infected tonsils or a sore throat can cause bad breath. Certain digestive problems cause the -gastric content to rise into the mouth and cause bad breath. Each of these medical conditions takes a different kind of treatment to solve the bad breath problem.

Dental disease can also cause bad breath. Deep decay can cause an odor. So can gum disease. In fact most odor that comes from the mouth is caused by gum disease. Food trapped in between the teeth or areas of tooth decay can rot and cause bad breath. Other infections, such as a root canal abscess can also cause bad breath. So can too many bacteria on the teeth, gums or tongue.

All of these oral problems are similar in that the bacteria living in the mouth are the direct cause of the odor. Breath mints and mouthwashes are designed to mask the odor with another scent. They do little or nothing to kill the bacteria that are causing the bad breath. They last for a short while and then the bad smell returns.

Some drugs can cause bad breath. These drugs may act like garlic and be excreted through the skin and lungs or they can case a dry mouth. Excessive dryness of the mouth changes the environment for the bacteria that live in the mouth. A dry environment favors certain kinds of odor producing bacteria.

Generally, bad breath can be controlled once the source is found. Oral odor is best controlled by effective tooth brushing and flossing. For some patients, care needs to be paid to brushing the tongue as well. The filaments on the tongue can trap bacteria and lead to bad breath. Prescription mouthwashes and antibiotics can be used to control bacteria and eliminate bad breath.

Frankly, many people with bad breath just don't know how to properly maintain their mouth to prevent bad breath. They swear that they brush and floss regularly and frequently. However, when the dentist uses a stain to show where the bacteria are in the mouth it is easily seen that the patient isn't doing the job right.

Some people need real help in controlling bad breath. Because for them even great brushing and flossing doesn't work well enough. They need to be evaluated first by a dentist and then perhaps by a physician as well to see if a specific disease is the source of the problem. If you need help with you breath, call your dentist. It may take a while and some effort on your part but most breath problems can be solved.

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Dr. Raymond M. Klein.
Copyright © 2000 [Raymond M. Klein DMD] All rights reserved.
Revised: July 15, 2000 .