Bad Breath

At times, everyone suffers from what we call transient or temporary incidences of bad breath (also known as  ”halitosis”). This may be caused by the foods we ate that day, being hungry, dry mouth or even forgetting to brush that day. It’s not that serious, and usually a mint or brushing followed by a good swish of mouthwash can resolve it. Those who suffer from a more chronic case of bad breath, however, may have underlying causes such as signs of a more urgent dental problem, or a symptom of a medical condition, not directly related to bushing and flossing.

For many people, they are the last to find out that they have chronic bad breath. Usually, everyone else around them, are aware of it before the person suffering from halitosis realizes they have a problem. This can be embarrassing, and socially and professionally awkward. To check if your breath is bad, try this simple test:

  1. Lick the back of your wrist, transferring some of the saliva to it and let it dry (usually this takes less than 30 seconds) OR
  2. Using a spoon, “scrape” the area of your tongue at the back of your mouth and let dry.
  3. After it is dry, smell it. This will provide you with a better image as to what the people around you are experiencing when in close proximity to you.

If you are flossing and brushing at least twice a day, especially after meals, and cleaning your tongue with a scraper, in most cases, your bad breath should not be a real issue. Even things like mouthwash and anti-bacterial toothpaste can help!

If the problem persists, it’s a wise idea to get it checked out by a Dental Professional, to eliminate the possibility of a more serious underlying health problem. Dr. Jennifer Bartlett has years of experience treating patients who have had chronic bad breath and has helped to restore their overall dental health.   She will thoroughly examine your teeth to make sure that there are not prevalent signs of gum problems or other dental issues contributing to the problem, and advise a course of action, or treatment plan designed to get your bad breath issues resolved, and experience the benefits of better oral health.