Health & Fitness

By Dr. Jeffrey Cranska

How to Deal With Bad Breath

Bad breath is unpleasant odors in the air you exhale. It is normal for this to occur occasionally from the intake from certain foods, such as onions or garlic or “morning breath” caused by mouth changes while you sleep. The majority of long-lasting bad breath (halitosis) is usually caused by problems in the mouth. Your dentist is the first place to go to rule out dental problems.

Q: My wife complains that my breath stinks. I brush my teeth, use breath mints and gargle with mouthwashes, but she says it comes right back. What else can I do?

A: The underlying cause of your halitosis needs to be found before treatment can begin. The most common causes are: poor dental hygiene, infections in the mouth, Dry Mouth Syndrome (xerostomia), external causes (foods, smoking, etc.) and medical disorders (infections of the respiratory tract or illness in other parts of the body).

Q: Where do I go for a diagnosis?

A: See a dentist. He or she will check your medical history and current medications for possible causation. Review your diet, personal habits and symptoms. Your dentist will examine the teeth, gums, mouth and salivary glands. Check swollen glands and swellings of the head and neck. Evaluate your breath when you exhale from your mouth and nose.

One of the warning signs of gum disease is persistent bad breath or bad taste in the mouth.

Regular visits to your dentist allow for the detection of the problems from gum disease, tooth decay and infections, denture concerns and dry mouth.

No matter what the cause of your bad breath, good oral hygiene is a part of the cure.

Brush at least twice a day, clean between teeth with floss or interproximal brushes, brush your tongue, take your dentures out at night and clean thoroughly before reinserting them.

If the dental examination determines the mouth is healthy and the cause is not of oral origin, a referral would be made to your family physician for further diagnosis and treatment. Respiratory infections can be a cause. Other contributors can be systemic disease, such as diabetes, Sjogren’s syndrome, kidney failure or lung or liver disease. Laboratory tests would be needed for a definitive diagnosis.

Q: What does a dentist do to treat bad breath?

A: Gum disease, tooth decay and tooth and mouth infections need to be eliminated and good oral health established to fight offensive breath.

A professional periodontal cleaning is needed to remove the plaque and bacteria that have accumulated on the teeth and in gum pockets. Dentures need to be adjusted, cleaned and relined or remade to ensure proper fit. Tooth decay and broken fillings need to be removed and the teeth restored. Infected need to be treated or extracted.

Q: How about halitosis kits I can buy?

A: Ask your dentist about the safety and therapeutic effectiveness of such products. There are many antiseptic mouth rinses that do more than just mask breath odor; they do kill germs that cause bad breath.

In upcoming months, Dr. Crankska will answer questions on High Technology Dentistry. Please direct inquiries to his website at www.cranska.com or e-mail him at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .