Chronic bad breath Continued
Why Chronic Bad Breath Happens
The presence of chronic bad breath-causing bacteria can indicate a serious problem. Insufficient oral hygiene can lead to a proliferation of the bacteria, but many sufferers dutifully brush and floss twice a day, much to their frustration. Periodontal disease may create places for bacteria to hide, a problem that only a dentist can address. Dentists now recommend that people brush their tongue as well as their teeth, or use a special tongue cleaner, to get rid of any food particles and bacteria living there. This practice has been common in many parts of the world but is only recently coming to the United States.
Another cause of chronic bad breath can be a dry mouth. Saliva naturally washes away bacteria, dissolves sulfur compounds, and keeps the mouth moist. Some medications can lead to decreased saliva flow and thus make chronic bad breath more likely to occur. Dieting and fasting can also result in decreased saliva flow, as does sleeping – the root cause of morning breath. Dry mouth can be a condition in and of itself requiring treatment in order to resolve, since insufficient saliva can have many consequences beyond chronic bad breath.
Treatment of Chronic Bad Breath
Dentists can measure the level of sulfur compounds in the breath as an objective test of chronic bad breath. High levels of these sulfur compounds indicates the presence of a chronic bad breath problem.
The first step is to ensure that the oral hygiene regimen is adequate. No treatment will work for chronic bad breath if the mouth is not clean. A dentist may also recommend more conscientious cleaning of the tongue, especially the back of the tongue which has been shown to harbor the most bacteria. If there is any periodontal disease, that will also need to be addressed immediately.
Some chronic bad breath is caused by systemic problems, such as a sinus infection or adenoid infection. These problems will need to be addressed by a physician.
A dentist can then determine the most likely causes of chronic bad breath and come up with an appropriate treatment plan. It is possible for even the most severe case to be resolved in only a few office visits with consistent treatment at home.
By Kira Lee
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