Halitosis

Bad Breath Info Page

SOME OF THE CONDITIONS THAT TRIGGER BAD BREATH AND HALITOSIS INCLUDE:

A dry mouth
Thick saliva
Excess mucus in the throat
Post nasal drip
A diet high in proteins (dairy foods, red meat, beans, etc.)
Smoking
Alcohol (in adult beverages or surprisingly in your mouthwash)
Hormonal changes
Medications which have dry mouth as a side-effect (anti-depressants, high blood pressure
medications, anti-histamines, etc.)
History of diabetes
Special types of diets (i.e. The Atkins Diet or other high protein diets)
Excessive use of "old-fashioned" oral products (containing alcohol and Sodium Lauryl
Sulfate) - check your medicine cabinet now to see if you're in this category!

You may ask "What about onions and garlic? What does bacteria have to do with the badbreath I get when I eat Italian food?" The truth is that sulfur is also the culprit in cases of bad breath caused by food odors. Onions, garlic, and other spicy foods contain a variety of sulfur compounds, known as mercaptans, which are very odorous.

WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS OF BAD BREATH?
Do Any Of These Common Signs Of Bad Breath Sound Familiar?

White coating on your tongue?
Post-nasal drip, allergies or mucus?
Whitish round "globs" in your tonsils?
Dry mouth, morning breath, or burning tongue?
Thick saliva or constantly clearing your throat?
People offer you gum and mints?
People turn their heads/back away?
Bad taste after beer, milk, coffee, mouthwash?
Loss of confidence and self-esteem?
Constant sour, bitter, or metallic taste?
No help when scraping tongue?
No relief from brushing and flossing?

How Do You Know If YOU Have Bad Breath?

Here are a few quick home tests, which will give you a good indication if your breath offends - and they cost you nothing.

Wipe the top surface of your tongue with a piece of cotton gauze and smell that. (That's probably the most honest way.) Furthermore, if you notice a yellowish stain on the cotton, it's likely that you have an elevated sulfide production level. Lick the back of your hand. Let that dry for about 10 seconds and then smell. If you notice an odor, you have a breath disorder because the sulfur salts from your tongue have been transferred to your hand. Run a piece of dental floss between your back teeth (especially where you may get food caught) and then smell the floss. This may be an indication of the level of odors others may detect. Stand in front of the mirror and stick your tongue out as far as possible. If you notice that the very back of your tongue is whitish, it may be a sign that you have bad breath. Ask the opinion of someone you can trust. Ask them to check your breath several times daily because breath changes throughout the day. If certain foods alter your taste, it is a good sign that sulfur compounds are being produced. This usually happens after using alcohol based mouthwashes, eating dairy foods, drinking alcoholic beverages, or after eating sugary products.

© Copyright 2003- Dental WebSmith, Inc. and Advanced Family Dental, PC. All rights reserved. Disclaimer: The information provided within is intended to help you better understand dental conditions and procedures. It is not meant to serve as delivery of medical or dental care. If you have specific questions or concerns, contact your health care provider.