Halitosis can be embarrassing, but patients should understand that it can also be a symptom of a greater health concern. For this reason, it’s important to seek treatment from a qualified dental professional if your halitosis persists. The dentists at Fennell, Yoxthimer, and Associates understand the various causes for dry mouth or halitosis and can develop an effective treatment plan for you.
What is Halitosis?
Halitosis is commonly called “bad breath.” A variety of oral health issues can cause bad breath, like persistent dry mouth, gastroesophageal reflux disease, or kidney disease. Poor food habits can make you more prone to dry mouth, tonsil stones, and periodontal disease that result in foul odor. Some simple habits, such as improving poor oral hygiene by flossing, using a tongue scraper, and brushing your teeth regularly, can resolve halitosis. However, more persistent halitosis should be reviewed by a qualified dentist, who can recommend a suitable treatment for chronic bad breath.
How can Halitosis Be Treated?
Halitosis or bad breath can be treated through the use of proper oral hygiene, eating healthy foods, and lifestyle changes. Your dentist may recommend a mouth rinse or specialized antibacterial toothpaste to keep the mouth clean and free of food particles. They may recommend that you brush your teeth with a soft bristled toothbrush after every meal to fight bad breath and kill harmful bacteria and bacterial infections in the gum tissue. Additionally, you may be encouraged adjust your diet, floss more frequently to make sure no food particles remain, or carefully brush a coated tongue to reduce bad breath smells.
Halitosis may be caused by various dental diseases as well. Patients with gum disease may experience halitosis due to pockets between the gums and teeth, which can harbor odor-causing bacteria, for example. Treatments for gum disease or professional cleanings can relieve halitosis in these cases. Similarly, faulty tooth restorations can lead to bacteria. In these cases, replacing the restoration and professionally cleaning the teeth and gums may improve chronic bad breath-causing bacteria more than good oral hygiene can on its own.
Because there are so many causes of halitosis, be prepared to answer questions about your medical history, including what your oral hygiene routine is like, what your eating habits are, whether you breathe through your mouth or have sinus issues, and what health conditions you have. These will help your dentist determine the cause of your halitosis and a suitable treatment.
Who Should Seek Halitosis Treatment?
Patients who have persistent halitosis which is not remedied by simply improving their at-home dental hygiene routine should seek treatment from a qualified dentist. Halitosis may be a symptom of a greater health concern, so it’s important to schedule an appointment with a dentist to maintain your health.
Halitosis FAQs
1. What causes chronic bad breath (halitosis)?
Poor oral hygiene, dry mouth, gum disease, tobacco use, and underlying conditions like GERD or sinus infections are primary culprits.
2. How do I permanently cure bad breath?
Address root causes: improve brushing/flossing, use antimicrobial mouthwash, treat gum disease, stay hydrated, and eliminate tobacco.
3. Can halitosis indicate serious health issues?
Persistent bad breath may signal diabetes, liver/kidney disease, or respiratory infections. Consult a doctor if oral hygiene adjustments fail.
4. Why does morning breath occur?
Saliva production decreases overnight, allowing odor-causing bacteria to thrive. Brushing before bed and staying hydrated minimize this.
5. Do tongue scrapers help with bad breath?
Yes—scraping removes bacteria and debris from the tongue’s surface, reducing volatile sulfur compounds that cause odors. Let me know if you’d like further refinements!
Schedule an Appointment
To seek treatment from a dentist for your halitosis, schedule an appointment with Fennell, Yoxthimer, and Associates, DDS by calling our Cincinnati office at (513) 631-6600. You may also request an appointment online.
