Finding a Halitosis Cure: Diagnosing Accurately & Treating Bad Breath With The Right Tools

Introduction Bad breath can be caused by many different conditions or diseases and its origin may involve both oral and non-oral sources. A successful treatment leading to a permanent halitosis cure will depend on the exact combination of underlying causes responsible for the oral or nasal malodours. If the source is non-oral bad breath is likely to be caused by certain infections, medicines or systemic conditions or diseases. For instance, sinus infections, liver, kidney or lung diseases, even diabetes can all produce oral bad breath as a symptom. However, bad breath is most likely to originate within the oral cavity in around 85% of halitosis cases. Bacteria populations inside mouth (usually gram-negative anaerobic bacteria), and in particular those located below the surface of the tongue (in the posterior dorsum area, below and in between the filliform papillae), are the ones responsible for the production of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and, in particular, volatile sulfur compounds (VSCs), which are extremely malodorous gases which can emanate from the oral or nasal cavities. A halitosis cure that is trully effective will involve accurate diagnosis of the underlying causes of bad breath and implementation of strategies, methods and treatments (involving specific remedies and tools) which are indicated for treating the particular type of bad breath the patient is afflicted with.

Causes of Halitosis Oral conditions such as gum disease, dental decay (caries), dry mouth (xerostomia), partially erupted or impacted wisdom teeth (possibly leading to pericoronitis or pus leaking through the sinuses) are the most common causes of halitosis. Poor oral hygiene is also a common contributing factor. These are followed by conditions affecting the nasal cavities and sinuses, such as chronic sinusitis, post-nasal drip and rhinitis. Conditions affecting the tonsils, such as chronic caseous tonsillitis (tonsil stones) and recurring throat infections are also commonly associated with chronic bad breath. Finally, a very small percentage of chronic halitosis cases originate in the stomach or esophagus, the liver, the kidneys or the lungs. For instance, conditions such as chronic indigestion, IBS or gerd can all cause a certain degree of bad breath, due to changes in saliva composition and also because indigestion can cause gases or undigested food particles to reach areas close to the oral cavity (where bacteria can quickly metabolise these remains and hence produce offensive gases in the process).

Diagnosis of Halitosis and Associated Symptoms Because bad breath can be associated to certain dental and medical conditions and diseases, it is important that a comprehensive medical and dental history is used in order to diagnose accurately.

Visits to a dental professional and a dental hygienist should not be avoided, and optimal oral hygiene techniques should be taught to the patient (bass technique for brushing, use of tongue brush and scraper, and flossing of interdental spaces, possibly including oral irrigation as well). Once the basics are in place, it is important that dental issues are identified and treated accordingly. Identification of any problems originating within the sino-nasal cavity is also important, and referral to an ENT specialist should follow if any issues are identified there. The tonsils are also a common area where bacteria like to accumulate, because food, dead cells, and mucus tends to end up in the tonsil folds and crypts very easily. The more folds, nooks and crannies that the tonsils have, the more likely it is that debris will build up inside the tonsils. It is therefore important that good techniques and strategies to clean the tonsils regularly are shown to the patient. If tonsil stones tend to form within the tonsils, there are also prevention methods that can be used at home, so that the rate at which they build up is considerably reduced. Finally, it is important to look at other factors such as xerostomia, stomach issues, indigestion and systemic conditons of the liver, kidneys or lungs. Although these are very unlikey, it is important to look at the patients symptoms in order to be able to rule them out.

Effective Halitosis Cures and Treatments Most cases of chronic halitosis can be successfully treated after just a couple of visits to the dentist, family doctors and ENT specialist. At home prevention methods and techniques, using tools such as oral or nasal irrigators and tongue brushes are usually enough to cure halitosis. Counselling for bad breath patients is also recommended, since it has been shown that a large percentage of chronic halitosis patients suffer from depression and social anxiety. A small proportion of bad breath sufferers also suffer from halitophobia, and so this is something that needs to be addressed with a psychologist or counsellor. Therefore, a durable halitosis cure will be achieved by using individualised treatment for each patient, by first identifying the underlying causes in each particular case, and hence using different treatments, therapies and remedies depending on the particular type of halitosis the patient is suffering from.

Sources: http://www.cure-halitosis.com http://www1.umn.edu/perio/halitosis.pdf