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Each year Americans spend over $1-billion dollars for mouthwashes, sprays, and mints to treat halitosis. But these products only cover-up the bad breath with a stronger, yet more pleasant odor that lasts only a short time. This FAQ will give you some basic information about the causes and cures for halitosis.
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- Q) What are the causes of halitosis? (top)
- While medical conditions, drugs, tobacco, and offensive foods cause a small part of the problems with bad breath, the primary causes are the conditions in the mouth. Simply put, halitosis occurs when bacteria create sulphur compounds from the debris in the mouth and the food we eat. These sulphur compounds are partly in gas form and are exhaled with our expired air. That is the odor of bad breath.
Q) What are the medical and drug causes of halitosis? (top)- Remember, oral causes account for 90% of halitosis. While there are some medical conditions which can lead to bad breath, it is best to see a dentist to determine where the odor is coming from. Here are a few possible medical conditions: gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD); tumors; malabsorbtion; overgrown tonsils; and, mouth breathing.
Q) Why don't people know when they have halitosis? (top)- To protect our sense of smell (and taste) our body undergoes a process called "adaptation". This adaptation prevents us from being overwhelmed by many different smells at one time as well as very strong and persistent ones. When we "adapt" to a particular smell, we are aware of it for a time and then we unconsciously turn off that recognition of it. That, of course, explains why people with bad breath rarely know they have it.
Q) How do I know if I have bad breath? (top)- Unless a close friend or relative will do you the courtesy of telling you of the problem, you must discover it yourself. There are two self-tests that can help. First, take a piece of dental tape, floss between all your back teeth, wait a minute, and then smell it. (It's important to wait a minute to eliminate the adaptation process). A second test is to wipe your tongue, as far back as possible, with a gauze, wait a minute, and then smell it. Remember to wait a minute once again. These tests will give you an idea of whether or not halitosis may be a problem. However, it must be noted that halitosis can be transient, depending on the activity of the bacteria and may not be noticeable at the time you do the test. So it is best to repeat the test periodically. In addition, if you see discoloration on the gauze but cannot smell anything, place it in a small plastic bag and seal it for an hour or two. Then try again or ask a friend or loved one to smell it.
Q) Are there any tests for halitosis? (top)- Yes. Some dentists are now equipped to professionally diagnose and treat halitosis. The diagnostic part consists of measuring the level of sulphur compounds with an instrument called an Halimeter. This will give the dentist an idea of the severity of the problem. Since halitosis is intimately associated with gum disease, another invaluable tool to professionally diagnose halitosis measures the amount of disease in the gum pockets. This instrument, called a periodontal probe, can tell the dentist when inflammation caused by bacteria is present as well as whether there is any bone loss from gum disease.
Q) Does everyone with halitosis have gum disease? (top)- While not everyone with halitosis has gum disease, the research shows that these two problems are intimately linked. In fact, before the breakdown process of the bone can begin, these same sulphur compounds must invade the gum tissue.
Q) How does one know if they have gum disease? (top)- A) The only way for someone to know if they have gum disease for sure, is to have a gum exam. This is the only way a dentist can actually measure the bone destruction that accompanies gum disease. See the Gum
Disease page for more information.
Q) Are there any other mouth conditions that cause halitosis? (top)- Any condition that creates a breeding place for the bacteria that cause halitosis can contribute to bad breath. For instance, partial and full dentures are dental appliances that allow bacteria to grow on their surface, and many times these dental appliances have an odor themselves. Other conditions such as faulty dental fillings, moved, drifted or extruded teeth, and dental abscess can also contribute to halitosis. In all these cases, these conditions provide a site for the bacteria to flourish, thus producing the sulphur compounds that cause bad breath.
Q) Why aren't over the counter mouthwashes a cure for halitosis?
(top) - Over-the-counter mouthwashes don't cure halitosis because they don't get to the cause of the problem – the sulphur producing bacteria. Simply put, they cover up one odor with a stronger, more pleasant odor.
Q) Are there effective treatments for halitosis? (top)- Research into the cause and treatment of halitosis has given us some effective means to combat this problem. Treatments for halitosis can be divided into two areas - at-home care and professional care. At-home care involves the removal of the bacteria that cause halitosis and the elimination of the sulphur compounds that cause bad breath. This can be done only with effective oral hygiene that eliminates these bacteria from the places that they grow. Fortunately, technology has given us some very effective tools for their removal, tools that weren't available even a few years ago. Among these are the new ultrasonic toothbrushes, electric flossing devices and hydromagnetic irrigators that remove these bacteria more effectively than anything previously on the market. In addition, there are a new class of mouthrinses and toothpastes that contain a non-toxic chemical that actually destroys the sulphur compounds at the molecular level. Containing CLO2 (pronounced "C", "L", "O", "2") or chlorine dioxide, they actually destroy the sulphur compounds that cause bad breath and studies have shown that they are effective for over 5 hours. In addition, they also seem to be effective in combating gum disease. In a recent study it was shown that the use of one of the two available CLO2 mouthrinses and toothpastes actually reduced the size of the gum pockets. In the study, 67% of the over 2,000 pockets were healed to normal depth. In another study, this same product also killed 99% of the bacteria that cause gum disease within the first 10 seconds. Proper treatment of halitosis should also involve professional care. After diagnosis with a halimeter that actually measures the level of sulphur compounds in the breath and a Periotemp that measures the relative temperatures of the gum spaces, a dentist will know how serious the problem is. Then, proper professional care such as cleaning the teeth and gums, individualized bacterial control, or gum disease tretment can be done.
Q) Where can one obtain the CLO2 mouthrinse and toothpaste? (top)- At this time, there is only one product with CLO2 that has been scientifically researched and tested. Called Closys mouthrinse and Closys toothpaste, by destroying the sulphur compounds, these products effectively eliminate the odor of bad breath. Combined with professional treatment, no one need ever worry about bad breath again.
  
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