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Welcome toMilton Keynes Dental CareBad Breath (Halitosis) FAQ |
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What causes bad breath? What you eat affects the air you exhale. Certain foods, such as garlic and onions, contribute to objectionable breath odour. Once the food is absorbed into the bloodstream, it is transferred to the lungs, where it is expelled. Brushing, flossing and mouthwash will only mask the odour temporarily. odours continue until the body eliminates the food. Dieters may develop unpleasant breath from infrequent eating. If you don't brush and floss daily, particles of food remain in the mouth, collecting bacteria, which can cause bad breath. Food that collects between the teeth, on the tongue and around the gums can rot, leaving an unpleasant odour. Dentures that are not cleaned properly can also harbour odour-causing bacteria and food particles.    |
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What causes bad breath? If you don't brush and floss daily, particles of food remain in the mouth, collecting bacteria, which can cause bad breath. Food that collects between the teeth, on the tongue and around the gums can rot, leaving an unpleasant odour. Dentures that are not cleaned properly can also harbor odour-causing bacteria and food particles. 
One of the warning signs of periodontal (gum) disease is persistent bad breath or a bad taste in the mouth. Periodontal disease is caused by plaque, the sticky, colorless film of bacteria that constantly forms on teeth. The bacteria create toxins that irritate the gums. In the advanced stage of the disease, the gums, bone and other structures that support the teeth become damaged. With regular dental checkups, your dentist can detect and treat periodontal disease early. Bad breath is also caused by dry mouth (xerostomia), which occurs when the flow of saliva decreases. Saliva is necessary to cleanse the mouth and remove particles that may cause odour. Dry mouth may be caused by various medications, salivary gland problems or continuously breathing through the mouth. If you suffer from dry mouth, your dentist may prescribe an artificial saliva, or suggest using sugarless candy and increasing your fluid intake. Tobacco products cause bad breath, stain teeth, reduce one's ability to taste foods and irritate gum tissues. Tobacco users are more likely to suffer from periodontal disease and are at greater risk for developing oral cancer. If you use tobacco, ask your dentist for tips on kicking the habit. Bad breath may be the sign of a medical disorder, such as a local infection in the respiratory tract (nose throat, windpipe, lungs), chronic sinusitis, postnasal drip, chronic bronchitis, diabetes, gastrointestinal disturbance, liver or kidney ailment. If your dentist determines that your mouth is healthy, you may be referred to your family doctor or a specialist to determine the cause of bad breath. Eliminating periodontal disease and maintaining good oral health is essential to reducing bad breath. Schedule regular dental visits for a professional cleaning and checkup. If you think you have constant bad breath, keep a log of the foods you eat and make a list of medications you take. Some medications may play a role in creating mouth odours. Let your dentist know if you've had any surgery or illness since your last appointment. Brush twice a day with a fluoride toothpaste to remove food debris and plaque. Brush your tongue, too. Once a day, use floss or an interdental cleaner to clean between teeth. If you wear removable dentures, take them out at night. Clean them thoroughly before replacing them the next morning. Mouthwashes are generally cosmetic and do not have a long-lasting effect on bad breath. If you must constantly use a breath freshener to hide unpleasant mouth odour, then let us know. If you need extra help in controlling plaque, your dentist may recommend using a special ant microbial mouth rinse. A fluoride mouth rinse, used along with brushing and flossing, can help prevent tooth decay. Back to Top of Page Regular checkups will allow us to detect any problems such as gum
disease, a dry mouth or other disorders that may be the cause. Maintaining good
oral hygiene, eliminating gum disease and scheduling regular professional
cleanings are essential to reducing bad breath. Regardless of what may be the cause, good oral hygiene is essential. Brush twice
a day and clean between your teeth daily with floss or interdental cleaners.
Brush your tongue, too. If you wear dentures, be sure to remove them at night
and clean them thoroughly before replacing them the next morning.
What is the treatment for bad breath? If we decide that your mouth is healthy and that the odour is not of oral origin, we will refer you to determine the cause of the odour and for treatment. of course, if the odour is of oral origin, as it is in the majority of cases, then we can treat the cause of the problem. If the odour is due to gum disease, we can either treat the disease or refer you to a Periodontist, a specialist in treating gum tissues. Gum disease can cause gum tissues to pull away from the teeth and form pockets. When these pockets are deep, only a professional periodontal cleaning can remove the bacteria and plaque that accumulate. Sometimes more extensive treatment is necessary. If you have extensive build-up of plaque, an invisible layer of bacteria, your dentist may recommend using a special antimicrobial mouth rinse. Your dentist may also recommend that when you brush your teeth, you also brush your tongue to remove excess plaque.
Where can I get products that will be useful in treating bad breath? After determining the cause of your halitosis, we will be able to prescribe or recommend those products that can be helpful for you. How Effective Are "Halitosis Kits" and Other Products That Claim to Treat Bad Breath? Many antiseptic mouth rinse products, however, have been accepted for their therapeutic benefits in reducing plaque and gingivitis and also have breath freshening properties. Instead of simply masking breath odor, these products have been demonstrated to kill the germs that cause bad breath. You may wish to ask about trying some of these products. |
MYTH 1:It's Easy For People to Tell if Their Own Breath Smells Many believe they can smell their own breath odour by cupping their hands between their mouth and nose. Unfortunately, we can not tell if our breath smells because we become accustomed to our own odours. Additionally, in many cases, we do not produce bad breath until we talk. This is because bad breath often originates near the back of the mouth and is propelled forward and out of the mouth only when we speak. How can we tell if our breath smells ? One of the best ways is to have a trusted friend or loved one smell it for you. If you don't want to do this, wipe near the middle of your tongue with a cotton ball or gauze pad. Then smell the cotton ball or gauze pad for odour. A more accurate assessment of bad breath can be performed by a dentist using a device called a halimeter. The patient blows into a straw like tube attached to the halimeter and the machine measures the amount of volatile sulphur compounds (VSCs) in the breath. These volatile sulphur compounds are what give breath its bad smell. MYTH 2: Bad Breath Comes From the Stomach A common misperception is that bad breath arises from the stomach. While an extremely small percentage of bad breath problems may be due to stomach and digestive problems, the overwhelming majority of bad breath arises from the back of the mouth. Here bacteria feed on mucus and food particles creating odourous sulphur compounds. MYTH 3:Good Dental Hygiene (Tooth Brushing and Flossing) Will Always Eliminate Bad Breath Good dental hygiene (brushing and flossing) helps eliminate bad breath. Unfortunately, most people do not properly brush their teeth. It takes nearly three minutes to completely brush all tooth surfaces yet most people spend only 30 to 45 seconds brushing their teeth. Consequently, they consistently miss tooth surfaces where bacteria are allowed to proliferate and create odourous volatile sulphur compounds. People can brush and floss properly, however, and still be unsuccessful at eliminating bad breath. The problem is that odour causing bacteria often hide deep within the crevices of the tongue under a protective layer of mucus and proteins. Cleaning the tongue with a tongue cleaner (also called a tongue scraper) can remove this layer of mucus and proteins exposing bacteria and freshening breath.MYTH 4:Mouthwashes Are Effective in Treating Bad Breath People believe mouthwashes can treat bad breath. Unfortunately, most conventional mouthwashes only temporarily mask bad breath and are relatively useless at treating bad breath. In fact, most conventional mouthwashes can actually contribute to bad breath formation. This is because mouthwashes contain a high percentage of alcohol which tends to dry out the mouth. Bacteria responsible for creating bad breath grow much better in drier mouths. A new breed of mouthwashes, however, are very effective in treating bad breath. These mouthwashes contain chlorine dioxide which actually attacks the volatile sulphur compounds on the molecular level. MYTH 5:To Prevent Bad Breath We Should Focus on the Foods We Eat It is true that temporary bad breath comes from the foods we eat. Many foods like onions and cabbage contain high amounts of sulphur compounds. When these foods are digested the sulphur compounds are absorbed into the blood stream and carried to the lungs. Here the sulphur compounds are exhaled as we breathe causing our breath to smell. Chronic bad breath , however, is not caused by the foods we eat. Instead, chronic bad breath results when bacteria in the mouth break down left over food particles creating odourous sulphur particles. The primary goal in this case is not a change in diet but a reduction in the number of odour causing bacteria in the mouth. This can be done with proper brushing, flossing, and cleaning of the tongue with a tongue cleaner (tongue scraper). |
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Special Promotional offers At the moment we have special promotional offers for Bleaching
The cost of Tooth Whitening also known as Tooth Bleaching starts at £175 with most patients paying £225 for a full mouth home bleaching tray system. We also do the 'Advanced In Surgery Rapid Bleaching System' which normally starts from £275 but is now included free. We offer a full range of Cosmetic Dentistry Choices including Dental Veneers. |
| Contact Information for your Milton Keynes Dentist | |
Dentist | Dr David Gilmartin |
Postal address |
Milton Keynes (MK) Dental Care, 159 Ramsons Avenue, Conniburrow, Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire, MK14 7BE, England. |
Phone |
01908 690326 |
Fax |
01908 676880 |
Electronic mail | |