Curing bad breath: What approach do dentists take with their patients when treating halitosis?

Since the most common cause of bad breath (halitosis) is the odorous waste products (volatile sulfur compounds) created by anaerobic oral bacteria, the most important message a dentist can convey to their patients is that they must clean their mouth in a manner which helps to:

Minimize the amount of food available to these bacteria. Minimize the total number of these bacteria that exist. Minimize the availability of the types of environments in which these bacteria prefer to live. Make any environment in which these bacteria do live less hospitable.

On a second front the patient can:

Use products that help to neutralize volatile sulfur compounds.

Minimize the food supply available to the bacteria that cause halitosis.

The volatile sulfur compounds that cause bad breath are actually waste byproducts created by anaerobic oral bacteria when they digest proteins. This would imply that those persons who maintain a vegetarian diet (a diet composed mostly of fruits and vegetables) should have fewer breath problems, as compared to people who have diets that are high in protein rich foods such as meat.

It is important for a person to clean their mouth thoroughly after eating, and especially after eating foods that are high in protein content. This is because even after we have finished a meal minute particles of food still remain in our mouth. Much of this food debris ends up lodged between our teeth and incorporated into the coating found on the posterior part of our tongue. Since these are precisely the same locations in which the anaerobic bacteria that cause bad breath live, if a person does not clean their mouth thoroughly a food supply is provided for these bacteria over an extended period of time.

How cleaning your teeth and gums can help to cure bad breath.

Some of the oral bacteria that create the waste products that are responsible for causing bad breath live in the dental plaque that accumulates on and around a person's teeth, both at and below the gum line. Thorough brushing and flossing technique is needed so to effectively remove this plaque and also any food debris that is left in the person's mouth after eating that could serve as a food supply by these bacteria.

Take notice of the fact that we have used the term "brushing and flossing" here. It is not realistic to think that a mouth odor emanating from the areas around the teeth can be diminished unless flossing is an integral part of a person's daily cleaning routine.

Make an appointment with your dentist.

If your bad breath problem persists, even after a period of following all of the tips and suggestions we make on this topic's pages, you should schedule an examination and cleaning appointment with your dentist so you can discuss your problems with them. During this visit the following can be accomplished:

1) Sometimes effective brushing and flossing technique can be difficult to learn. After examining you your dentist can provide you with instructions, tips, and pointers that will be helpful for your specific situation.

2) Tartar (dental calculus) accumulation can interfere with effective brushing and flossing. Your dental cleaning will remove this debris from your teeth.

3) A part of your dentist's examination will include a periodontal evaluation. Periodontal disease ("gum disease") can cause significant damage to your gums and the bone that lies underneath them. This damage can result in the creation of deep spaces between your teeth and gums called "periodontal pockets." These pockets are often impossible for you to clean effectively and therefore make an ideal environment for the bacteria that cause bad breath to live. If a periodontal problem is found your dentist can outline the treatment that will be needed to get this condition under control.

4) During your examination your dentist will check to see if there are any untreated dental conditions that could be causing or aggravating your breath problems.

5) Your dentist can help to determine if it is unlikely that oral conditions are the cause of your bad breath and that a referral to a doctor for a medical evaluation is indicated.