Bad Breath

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.