Fresher Breath

Signs of Bad Breath

Floss between upper and lower back molars with unflavored dental floss, examine the floss and wait a moment. Smell it. Is there a bad odor? Wipe the furthermost back portion of your tongue 2-3 times with a piece of clean gauze or white washcloth. Smell it. Is there a bad odor?

Causes of Halitosis

Medical conditions (respiratory infection, sinusitis, gastro-intestinal disorder, systemic disease, chronic dry mouth) • Medications (side effects) • Foods (garlic, onion, dairy products, coffee) • Smoking • Mouth sources (dentures, partials, & other appliances, deteriorating dental work, tooth & gum abscesses, oral yeast infections, decay, bacterial plaques, decomposing food particles on the back of the tongue).

Causes of Rotten-Egg Breath

The rotten egg smell is caused by release of hydrogen sulfide gas – “volatile sulfur compounds” (VSCs) – and methyl mercaptan as the mouth’s bacteria aids in protein digestion.

Do mints help?

Popping mints in your mouth can increase dental decay dramatically, especially if the mints contain sugar. Using mints to mask bad breath provides short-term relief while creating a long-term problem.

Treatment

Medical history and medications, oral hygiene routine and dental products, gum tissue during an oral examination, oral screening of your mouth and tongue, and current x-rays determine whether you need treatment.

Alter odor-causing sulfides with daily use of oral care products that oxidize volatile sulfur compounds without leaving an after-taste or odor. Most toothpaste and mouthwashes mask odors for only ten minutes. Mouthwashes with alcohol can worsen bad breath because they dry the mouth out, preventing saliva from washing away sulfur compounds. When you visit our Clinic, ask us about oral care products that will eliminate the sulfur compounds of halitosis.

Scrape away the tongue’s white-plaque coating.

A teeth-cleaning with our dental hygienist will personalize your treatment with techniques to help reduce bacteria and minimize future gum infection. Regularly visit our office to monitor your progress.