Bad breath is no laughing matter, and it is almost always easily cured. Jerry Massimei, D.D.S., A.P.C., is a dentist who specializes in providing gentle, experienced dental care to residents in Chula Vista, Eastlake and Bonita, California and runs his own practice, Jerry Massimei Dentistry. Here, he discusses why people get halitosis, and what a dentist can do to remedy the situation.
Halitosis can come from many sources. It is important that a patient does see a dentist if he has bad breath to find the exact cause of the problem, and to eliminate possible oral sources. After that, if it is determined that the source of the odor is coming from the lungs or from the stomach, which is the most likely, then the patient will be referred to the appropriate specialist.
Causes of Halitosis
However, most of the time, halitosis emanates from the structures in the mouth, usually due to a periodontal problem, or gum disease, and/or a problem with the irregularities of the surface of the tongue that trap and harbor bacteria and trap food. In fact, the bad odor could be coming from the tongue itself.
Treatment always depends on where and why this is happening. Once you know that, you can let the dentist take care of individual problems. If the problem is a periodontal one where odor is coming from bacteria harbored below the gum line, it is cleansed initially with deep cleaning. Then the patient must continue to practice good oral hygiene at home.
This type of hygiene differs from normal hygiene in preventing decay as it focuses more on the cleansing of the area of the mouth below the gum line. Then it is beneficial to use a water irrigating device, to apply germ killers, and to flush out bacteria below the gum line. Several irrigating devices are on the market that you can try.
Don’t Be Shy
People always are embarrassed about seeing a specialist about halitosis. But they have to realize that a doctor is there for that precise purpose. If you have an emotional problem, visit a psychiatrist; a genital problem go to the appropriate physician; and if you have a dental problem see a dentist, who is a doctor or physician of the oral cavity.
The information in the article is not intended to substitute for the medical expertise and advice of your healthcare provider. We encourage you to discuss any decisions about treatment or care with an appropriate healthcare provider.
