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You no longer need to suffer in silence rather than admit to what is essentially a medical condition. At last help is at hand for those who suffer with bad breath (Halitosis) – one of the last social taboos of the 21st Century.

The following is an excerpt from the Dental Tribune dated March 30 – Apr 5. 2009 (Vol. 3 No.

“Poor dental hygiene is putting a dampener on romance, according to Dentyl pH, the mouthwash experts. Their Kiss and Tell study, found that more than a third of respondents said they would avoid someone of the opposite sex with bad breath, while over a quarter would think such a person was generally unclean or unhygienic and one in 10 thought bad breath might be a sign of illness.

More than a quarter had avoided a potential partner because of that person’s bad breath and nearly three quarters said they wouldn’t let a person with bad breath kiss them. While nearly a third had backed away from a snog in the past for that reason.

The Kiss and Tell study also showed that poor health hygiene caused bad breath and bad teeth in millions of adults in the UK and triggered killer diseases such as stroke, heart disease and birth defects.”

How Halitosis can affect your life.

• You lack confidence
• You avoid conversation
• You move away when in close proximity to people
• You cover your mouth with your hands
• You speak sideways
• You avoid sitting close to people
• You avoid kissing and intimate contact

How to tell if you have a problem with bad breath

Bad breath is almost impossible to self detect and is not something people would normally tell you, but there are a couple of self checks you can try.

• Lick your tongue along your wrist and leave to dry for 30 seconds, then smell it.
• Using unwaxed floss, pass the floss through the upper and lower back teeth. Wait 30 seconds and smell the floss.

If there is a smell from either of these tests, it may be worth getting checked out by a dental professional or visiting our Fresh Breath Clinic.

Causes of Halitosis

Contrary to popular belief, Halitosis is rarely influenced by stomach problems and is infrequently related to a medical problem, the simple fact is that the overwhelming cause of bad breath is due to what is happening in the mouth.

In 90% of cases, the primary cause of bad breath is a result of Volatile Sulphur Compounds (VSC’s) and these compounds are the by-products of plaque bacteria living in the mouth – they are highly toxic to tissues in the mouth and may contribute to gum disease.

Other possible causes of Halitosis are:

• Smoking – all smoking reduces saliva flow which causes dry mouth and then Halitosis.
• Diet – low carbohydrate diets, a low tolerance to dairy products, a high consumption of acidic foods, a high intake of alcohol or coffee can all cause dry mouth and lead to Halitosis.
• Age – older people and young children are more prone to Halitosis.
• Medication – many tablets can cause a dry mouth which leads to Halitosis.
• Dental decay – cavities in the mouth can harbour bacteria and lead to Halitosis.

How to prevent Halitosis

The most recommended treatment for bad breath is a proper dental hygiene programme. A dentist or hygienist can recommend ways to keep your mouth clean and how to eliminate the Volatile Sulphur Compounds. In 95% of cases, improving dental health and eliminating the Volatile Sulphur Compounds will eliminate bad breath.

Tips –

• Brush teeth twice per day and clean in between teeth once per day with floss or inter-dental brushes.
• Use a tongue cleaner to clean the back of your tongue surface.
• Chew sugar free gum – this stimulates saliva and prevents dry mouth.
• Drink plenty of water.
• Use a chlorine dioxide mouthwash e.g. Retardex mouthwash as this will neutralise the volatile sulphur compounds.
• Eat a healthy diet and avoid excessively spicy foods.
• Avoid high coffee and alcohol intake.

Avoid mouthwashes with alcohol in them.

At Cleveland Cosmetic and Dental Implant Clinic, a Fresh Breath Clinic is available, using Halimeter technology to measure Halitosis – visit www.creatingbeautifulsmiles.org.uk for further information.

 

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