Bad Breath (Halitosis):
Prevention and Cures

The vast majority of bad breath originates from accumulated bacterial plaque and food that coats the back of the tongue.

Besides giving rise to foul breath, this huge accumulation of plague can affect the health of your gum tissues too. Therefore, it is important that your dentist diagnoses your condition to see if gum disease is a contributing factor to your halitosis.

There is a strong connection between smoking and bad breath. Substances like tar and nicotine accumulate on the teeth, tongue, cheeks and other soft oral tissues. Smoking dries the membranes of the mouth, leading to a lack of saliva, which has certain anti-bacterial properties. A lack of moisturizing saliva enhances the growth of bacteria.

Many people have bad breath in the morning. This is primarily due to the growth of bacteria on the back of the tongue during the night. So called "morning breath" can be reduced considerably if one cleans his mouth before sleeping.

When you sleep, your saliva flow slows down. Most people do not clean their tongue before sleep. This means they are going to sleep with a mouthful of nutrition for bacteria. Naturally, this leads to a lot of bacterial growth in the mouth. This is not good.

Cures

The best way to treat halitosis is to practice good oral hygiene. There are a number of products and techniques that help.

Many specialized products like mouthwash, toothpaste, and sprays are available for the treatment of halitosis. However, be aware that some mouthwashes contain very high levels of alcohol, from 8% to 25% - which only make the breath smell worse!

A few do's and don'ts regarding bad breath:

• Do floss or otherwise clean between your teeth regularly.
• Do brush your teeth and gums properly.
• Do clean your tongue all the way back, gently but thoroughly.
• Do drink plenty of liquids.
• Do clean your mouth after eating or drinking milk products, fish and meat.
• Do eat fresh, fibrous vegetables such as carrots.
• Do not ignore your gums - you can lose your teeth as well as smell bad.
• Do not drink too much coffee - it can make the situation worse.
• Do not forget to clean behind the back teeth in each row.
• Do not brush your tongue with regular toothpaste - it is better to dip your toothbrush in mouthwash for tongue cleaning.
• Do not rely on mouthwash alone - practice complete oral hygiene.

For a complimentary examination appointment to see what factors may be causing your bad breath and what treatment would be right for you, please contact us online or call 650-965-1234.

We'll answer any questions you may have, and give you a free written estimate regarding costs and insurance benefits before you leave.

Call us today!

Dr. Burch