Bad Breath? Putting Money Where Your Mouth Is

Halitosis is the technical term for bad breath and, unfortunately, you'll know it when you smell it.  Halitosis is a condition that is estimated to affect 50-65% of the population but it's not always the easiest thing to point out to people.  In fact, the most polite way to go about the problem is typically to pop a lozenge in your own mouth and then ask, "Would you like a mint?" We have probably all pulled that trick at one time or another in our life.  Right?  You just have to hope that you're not the one being offered the mint.  Yikes!

The reality though is that bad breath can be connected to more serious things than just a bad case of post-dinner onions.  Although up to 90% of cases are thought to originate from poor oral hygiene, impacted food in the teeth, faulty dental apparatuses, or infections, there are some links to halitosis to other more serious diseases.  These would include such things as peptic ulcers, mouth sores such as lichen planus, lung infections, liver or kidney disease, diabetes mellitus, and cancers. 

The mouth produces gases, one of which happens to be sulfur.  When a person opens their mouth and the sulfur escapes, the aroma quickly changes.  It's the gas that gives halitosis a bad name...or should I say, bad smell. Examples that can increase the sulfur vapor coming from the mouth include: accumulation of food within pockets around the teeth, small pockets around the back of the tongue and tonsils, or something as simple as reduced saliva production.  A dry mouth tends to correlate more with bad breath.  This explains why bad breath is worse in the morning and between meals.  The gases can actually lead to peridontitis (inflammation of the gums surrounding teeth) and damage the tissues in the mouth so good oral hygiene is critical in halting the smell and in halting mouth disease.

Outside of regular dental visits, here's some healthy tips to keep you within whispering distance to others without the bad breath police arresting you. 

1.  Regularly brush and floss teeth
2.  Use a tartar removing toothpaste and have your hygienist regularly clean the tartar from the teeth.
3.  Chew sugarless gum and drink plenty of water.
4.  Avoid alcohol containing mouthwashes.  Alcohol dries the mouth, so read the ingredients.
5.  Clean the mouth after eating sulfur rich foods. (dairy, garlic,fish, meat, onions, sour cream, eggs)
6.  Brush the tongue using a tongue scraper. The bumpy areas on the tongue are a great target.
7. Use a nasal rinse regularly.  We promote the Naso-Pure system and stock it regularly.  It's similar to a neti-pot but much easier to manipulate without twisting your head around like a contortionist.
8.  Avoid anti-histamines, some antidepressants, and diuretics that can cause dry mouth.
9. Regularly use a mouthrinse or toothpaste containing zinc.
10. Folic acid is often recommended by doctors to help prevent and treat periodontitis and has been shown to reduce the severity of gingivitis when taken as a mouthwash.
11. Selenium is often recommended by doctors to help prevent and treat periodontitis

If you have ongoing problems with halitosis, get started on these tips and treatments.  I sense that people don't give enough attention to good oral health and routine dental visits.  Did you know that peridontal disease is linked to infections and can be particularly harmful to the heart if left unattended?  That's the reason why some patients require an antibiotic before their dentist will ever work on their teeth.  Stirring up the bacteria can be dangerous and detrimental to their heart and health.  People with mitral valve prolapse and other significant heart conditions should always talk with their doctor or dentist before having any work done in their mouth.

I hope you see that it's more than just using a mint to mask the smell when it comes to bad breath.  Taking extra steps to have a healthy mouth are extremely important.   These tips are necessities for those struggling with bad breath.  It's really putting your money where your mouth is.  You have to spend some time and money on oral hygiene to prevent halitosis.

Okay, that's all for today.......BTW did you know that we customize therapies in the lab to help with mouth sores, infections, and diseases?  If you have a special need give me a call.  417.777.7455

To your good health,
Dr. Sonja