Managing Bad Breath

Ever wanted to whiten your teeth? A recent publication in the Journal of American Dental Association demonstrated that whitening gels when combined with a tray-type system can improve oral health and reduce plaque and bacteria. (1) Thus teeth whitening has the added benefit of eliminating the microorganisms that contribute to bad breath – nice smile, nice breath. See http://rockstarwhite.com for more information.

If you have received a request from a loved one to improve the freshness of your breath and you had no idea that you had bad breath, you are not alone. Most people cannot tell when they have bad breath and managing bad breath can be complicated. The good news is that 80% of all cases of bad breath are caused by microorganisms in the mouth and when one lowers the numbers of those organisms one will greatly freshen ones breath. Proper tooth and tongue brushing and flossing are key components. Additionally, using products that continue to keep those microorganisms away can give longer lasting results. Ever wanted to whiten your teeth? A recent publication demonstrated that whitening gels when combined with a tray type system can improve oral health and reduce plaque and bacteria.(1) Thus teeth whitening has the added benefit of eliminating the microorganisms that contribute to bad breath – nice smile, nice breath.

The delivery method of the whitening gel is important. Whitening Trays have a tremendous added value to the whitening process by allowing the gel close proximity and coverage of the material to the front and back of the teeth. This cannot be achieved with paint-on systems. Thus most paint-on systems work on only mildly stained teeth and will not greatly impact oral microflora. However, the tray type systems have now been shown to reduce plaque and decrease gingivitis thus helping the 80% of us with bad breath originating from bacteria found in our mouths.

What happens if your one of the 20% where bad breath is coming from a different source other than the mouth? You will need to be evaluated by a medical doctor to diagnose conditions such as: sinus, lung, tonsil infections and stomach ailments should be evaluated.

(1) Lazarchik, DA; Haywood, VB: Use of tray-applied 10 percent carbamide peroxide gels for improving oral health in patients with special-care needs. J Am Dent Assoc. 2010 Jun;141(6):639-46.

Article written by Dr. Dennis Hunt