Bad Breath

There's an embarrassing problem nearly everyone knows about, yet few care to talk about...it's bad breath, or halitosis.

Bad breath has numerous causes: odor-causing foods, tooth decay, gum disease, bacteria growing on the tongue, dry mouth, use of tobacco products, sinus or respiratory infections, some medical disorders, improperly cleaned dentures, inadequate oral hygiene or some medications.

Our office can help you get to the bottom of this common source of embarrassment. We can help identify the cause of bad breath and if it's due to an oral condition, we can develop a treatment plan to eliminate this problem. Treatment may be easier than you imagine.

Here are some quick tips for preventing bad breath:

1. Schedule regular dental visits for a professional cleaning and checkup. Keep a log of what you eat. Avoid constant use of breath mints and other hard candies that contains sugar. They will only temporarily mask bad breath and can lead to tooth decay.
2. Make a list of over-the-counter and prescribed medications that you take. Some may play a role in causing bad breath.
3. Look for oral hygiene products that display the ADA Seal of Acceptance, a symbol of safety and effectiveness.
4. Brush twice a day with an ADA-accepted fluoride toothpaste to remove food and plaque. Brush your tongue, too. Once a day, use floss or an interdental cleaner to clean between teeth.
5. If you wear removable dentures, take them out at night. Clean them thoroughly before replacing them the next morning.
6. If you feel you must constantly use breath freshener or mouthwash to hide unpleasant breath, see me.

Until we meet again, in our next blog, take care of yourself and your dental health. If you have questions feel free to email me at dr.janisse@sunsetvalleydental.com. Also don’t forget about the American Dental Association website ADA.org, it has great information.

Dr. Jedidiah Janisse