HealthTuesday, September 4, 2007 2:52 PM CDT

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Proper dental hygiene can put
a lid on halitosis (bad breath)

By Dr. Dennis Holmes

Do your friends constantly offer you gum or mints? If so, they may be trying subtly to tell you something. That something may be that you have bad breath. You already may know that you have bad breath, so you avoid standing too close to other people when speaking. Mouthwashes, gum and mints may help some but they only mask the problem — usually poorly. Some people cover their mouth when they laugh or even learn to speak without opening their mouth very wide to avoid exhaling toward another person.

You do not have to be embarrassed anymore, because this problem can be treated.

Halitosis is the medical term for bad breath. Many people do not even know they have it. A dentist’s office is the best place to start fixing the problem.

Most bad breath problems are caused by oral conditions, with periodontal (gum) disease being the most common. Bacteria in dental plaque can create a terrible odor and taste in your mouth, in addition to damaging or destroying your gums and bone tissue.

Proper oral hygiene is imperative to treat and prevent bad breath. Food particles that collect and are left between the teeth can rot and then cause a foul odor. Brushing and flossing after every meal is ideal. Brushing or scraping your tongue also is important because bacteria accumulate on the tongue and can smell badly. You can brush your tongue with your toothbrush or you can buy tongue scrapers in most pharmacies. Cavities in your teeth can also be a source of odor.

Foods like onions or garlic are well-known and obvious sources of bad breath. Brushing and flossing won’t rid you of this kind of objectionable odor because these types of food are expelled in the air you exhale from your lungs after the food is digested. Avoiding these foods is the only way to prevent bad breath from food sources. If you have an important date coming up, it is best to order your sandwich or salad without onions for a day or two prior to your engagement.

Sinus problems that result in post-nasal drip are also a significant source of breath odor. Mucous that drips from your sinuses can collect in the back of your throat or tonsils and cause an unpleasant odor and taste. You may notice that you have really bad breath when you are sick or have a flare-up of an allergy problem. Decongestants may help reduce the amount of post-nasal drip but sometimes treatment for a sinus problem is needed.

Other medical problems such as diabetes, lung diseases, and gastrointestinal problems can also be a source of bad breath. If the mouth is ruled out as the source, then your dentist can refer you to another doctor for evaluation and treatment of the problem.

Smoking and chewing tobacco are other common sources of bad breath. Before killing you with lung cancer, smoking will cause you to have a distinctive mouth odor. Chewing gum after that cigarette doesn’t fool anyone either.

A dry mouth which can be caused by certain medications or by continued mouth breathing can also cause oral odors. There are saliva substitutes that can be prescribed by a dentist and they may help with this source of halitosis.

If you want to feel confident about your breath instead of embarrassed, a visit to a dentist office is the place to start.

Dr. Dennis Holmes is with Holmes Dental Associates.

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