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Prescribed Oral Treatment for Halitosis

Halitosis is a technical term for bad breath and it affects an estimated 50% to 65% of the population. Halitosis can be a source of embarrassment and can create social discomfort. While 90% of those afflicted suffer halitosis because of sulfur gases produced by bacteria in the mouth, 10% is due to disorder such as peptic ulcer, diabetes, kidney and liver disease. Many factors contribute to halitosis: poor oral hygiene, bacteria buildup on the tongue, food accumulation between teeth or around gum, dry mouth, and mucus in the throat or sinuses. Your dentist will prescribe treatment based on the cause.

  1. Oral Hygiene

    • According to the American Dental Association, your first line of defense is conscientious oral hygiene. Keeping your teeth and mouth clean will eliminate odor-producing bacteria. Brush your teeth at least twice a day and floss or use interdental cleaners (dental picks) to get rid of food particles between teeth. Schedule regular cleaning to get rid of tartar (hardened plaque) build-up and to check for signs of periodontal (gum) disease.

    Tongue Cleaner

    • The tongue is often overlooked as a source of bad breath. However, halitosis experts agree that bacteria on the tongue are the main cause of bad breath. These bacteria thrive on the ridges and valleys of the tongue, particularly in the back of the tongue, to generate foul-emitting sulfides. Although you can use a brush to gently brush the buildup away, you may gag if you try to reach into the far ends of the tongue. Most dental professionals recommend a tongue cleaner to thoroughly clean your tongue.

    Artificial Saliva

    • Dehydration, certain medication, constantly breathing through the mouth and radiation therapy can decrease saliva in the mouth. Dry mouth increases bacteria concentration, which in turn generates bad breath. To increase saliva production, simply drink more water/sugar-free liquids or chew sugarless gum. According to drymouth.info., recent studies show that Pilocarpine (SalagenTM ) and Cevimeline (EvoxacTM ) can relief oral dryness. These drugs are usually taken three to four times a day, after meals.

      Ironically, some commercial mouthwashes formulated with alcohol can dry your mouth and actually works against fresh breath. Instead look for mouthwashes and toothpastes containing stabilized chlorine dioxide, as it can break down sulfur-producing substances in your mouth.

    Scaling and Root Planning

    • Progressive gum disease can also cause halitosis. Bacteria often hide inside pockets caused by gum disease. Scaling will remove plaque and tartar (causes of gum disease) from below the gums, inside the pockets. Since tartar tends to adhere to rough surfaces, root-planing removes any remaining tartar and smooths it out to allow the gum to reattach itself to the root surface. In some cases, the dentist may prescribe antibiotics to prevent infection after the procedure.

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