PERIODONTAL

Bad Breath / Halitosis Therapy

Halitosis? Just A Fancy Name For Bad Breath

One common response of activity of bacteria in the mouth is bad breath (halitosis). While it can’t be confirmed for certain, almost all adults probably suffer from periodic halitosis but it has been projected that perhaps 25% suffer from halitosis on a chronic basis. There are actually two types of bad breath. Periodic bad breath is the result of foods such as garlic and onions and usually only lasts from 24-72 hours.

The smell of chronic bad breath results when bacteria in the mouth and on the tongue brings about the formation of volatile sulfur compounds (VSC’s) as hydrogen sulfides. The presence of gum (periodontal) disease can also be caused by persistent halitosis. Brushing your teeth, flossing and the use of mouthwash may not remedy this type of chronic halitosis and expert breath therapy may be needed.

Quite a few people with halitosis are under the impression that their friends, family and co-workers can’t smell their bad breath. That’s simply because they perhaps used a mouthwash earlier in the day and they are oblivious to the fact that the odor-hiding flavoring has abandoned their cause.

This is because the majority of over-the-counter breath “cleansing” mouthwashes do not get rid of foul breath. They can simply hide it temporarily. An independent analysis of fifteen mouthwash products revealed that while each of them covered up bad breath after ten minutes, only a few were still doing the job after a few hours. Additionally, the majority of mouthwash products and solutions have alcohol that dries soft oral tissue and ultimately leads to even quicker formation of odor-causing bacteria.

Mouthwashes are often temporary and do not have a very long lasting result on bad breath. When you have to constantly make use of a breath freshener to cover up unpleasant mouth odor, your condition may be more serious. So if the daily mouthwash routine has not been working for you, and you’re still concerned with bad breath, see North Kansas City Dental’s staff. We can help determine the reason and, in case it is because of an oral condition, create a plan for treatment that can help get rid of it.

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