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Dental Hygiene - Halitosis (Bad Breath) Treatment |
Halitosis - Basic Causes of Bad Breath
 At least ninety percent of bad breath is of oral origin, that is, it comes from the odour caused by bacterial decay of food particles and other debris in your mouth. Even the cleanest human mouth harbours millions of potentially pathogenic bacteria, and given the right set of circumstances these bacteria decompose food particles left in the mouth.
Poor hygiene also contributes to bad breath when bacteria putrefy blood that oozes from periodontally diseased gum tissues, creating a particularly revolting and easily identifiable stench. Unclean dentures of any kind can cause bad breath in two ways, first by absorbing odor themselves and by helping to retain food particles.
Just as smelly substances are produced in stagnant water, offensive mouth odors result when the saliva becomes stagnant or diminishes. This is the basic cause of morning mouth, that noxious aroma that is observed upon wakening. During the night, salivary glands have slowed their functioning, and fresh saliva is meager, allowing the bacteria in the mouth to overgrow. Morning mouth tends to be most potent among those who snore or breathe through their mouths. Morning mouth disappears when you have rinsed your mouth or eaten something such as an apple or a slice of bread.
 Morning mouth is also associated with hunger odor. This is a distinctive odor that accompanies the sensation of hunger. There is some evidence that hunger breath may arise from the putrefaction of pancreatic juices which pass into the stomach during the fasting state. Hunger breath is very apparent if the morning meal is omitted, even after tooth brushing.
What can you do about it? Below is a little list which summarizes several methods of treating bad breath. |
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Checklist for Halitosis Control |
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Meticulous oral hygiene is essential. Brush, floss & clean the tongue after each meal. If you can’t brush and floss, rinse your mouth with water after eating to dislodge food and moisten your mouth. |
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Increase saliva production by chewing Sugarless gum or sugarless candy mints. |
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Make sure mouth is moist by drinking adequate water. Hold water in mouth for as long as possible, swishing it vigorously. |
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Recognize the effect of stress on bad breath and be able to detect a state of stress in yourself and take appropriate action. |
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Rinse mouth with 50/50 solution of hydrogen peroxide and warm water for one minute. |
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Baking soda is an effective odor eliminator. Try brushing with a mixture of baking soda & water, or toothpaste with baking soda. Vitamin C also helps. |
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Use a portable battery-powered toothbrush or other oral irrigation device to aid in removing particles of food wedged between your teeth. |
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Have teeth cleaned and examined by a dental professional at least twice a year. |
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Chew on raw parsley – it’s a natural breath freshener |
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Avoid mouthwashes that contain alcohol; read the label! Instead, try a mouthwash that contains chlorine dioxide. This compound doesn't just mask odor, it actually eliminates it at the source by attacking the odor-causing volatile sulfur compounds (VSCs). |
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If you wear dentures or a retainer, clean them frequently, and periodically soak them in an antiseptic solution. |
| Bad breath that's resistant to these remedies, or that continues for an extended period of time, should be evaluated by your dentist. |
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Related Articles
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Do you know what causes halitosis? Read this article to read about common bad breath myths. |
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If you smoke, you probably know that smoking puts you at risk for lung disease, cancer and heart disease. But did you know that tobacco use is also harmful to your oral health? |
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