Periodontitis versus parodontosis

There are still dental professionals who use the old and wrong name for a periodontal disease – parodontosis. The correct name is periodontitis. – In former times bacteria couldn´t be proven because of wrong techniques-this was called parodontosis. In the last 25 years it is known that inflammation of the periodontum is caused by bacteria, […]

Gums as a reflection of our overall health!?

Gums as a reflection of our overall health? YES AND NO! Over and over again we read scientific and non scientific journals about vitamin deficiency and the consequences from it. As a result many people choose to take homeopathic medicine –a mistake most of the time! – 99% of gum diseases are attributed to plaque […]

Most common reasons for periodontitis

  – – – – – – – Most common reasons for periodontitis The most common reasons of pariodontitis are: Plaque accumulation due to poor oral hygiene, overhang restorations, ill fitting crowns Malocclusion Stress      Smoking Systemic disease such as diabetes, adverse pregnancy outcomes Fortunately all these factors are easily controlled by; Optimizing tooth brushing, by […]

Oral Rinses – are they useful in the menagement if Periodontitis?

 Is an oral rinse beneficial for patients with periodontitis? YES! An oral rinse is a useful purchase, unfortunately some doctors think it is not useful-with the argument that bacteria leaks into the periodontal pockets. That is incorrect for two main reasons; The bacteria moves only due to extensions Bacteria are harmless on their own. They are destructive only in mature plaque, causing a cavity or a […]

Periodontitis and saliva test-is it useful?

Periodontitis-saliva test? Yes and no! Our last discussion was about lasers, today we want to inform you about the saliva test. It is a common practice for some dental professionals to require that the patients with periodontal disease to undergo expensive saliva test prior to their therapy.    Congratulations! Now the patient knows that there […]

Bad breath is not sexy

Posted by Dental News Team am 02, Mar - 2010

It goes from being unpleasant to downright disgusting and keeps you from making friends or finding a partner.

Strangely though, estimates say that every fourth adult in Europe has bad breath every once in a while. One in fifteen has it all the time.
It might not be a bad idea to let the affected know, but most find this embarassing. But why? Well, it’s like foot or underarm odor: lots of people have it, but nobody likes to talk about it.

If you have this problem, you should see a doctor.
Treating bad breath has has never really been a priority in dentistry. Only in the last four or five years have younger generations begun looking at the issue. This is definitely a good idea, because nine times out of ten, bad breath begins in the oral cavity.

What causes bad breath?
Aside from poor oral hygiene and inflammation of the gums, the most common cause of bad breath is scum forming on the tongue. Bacteria that cause bad smells settle on the tongue, but if you clean your tongue using a scraper or simply your toothbrush, you get rid of them and your breath once again smells good.  Stress can also be a factor, as it slows the flow of saliva. And smelly bacteria like inhabiting this dry environment. Many business-people have great oral hygiene, but their breath still smells bad. This is the result of stress and too much coffee, which dries out the mouth. The solution is simple: drink more water and eat fruit.

Can you test yourself for bad breath?
Yes and no, the airbag-method is the best: simply take a clean plastic bag and breathe into it. Be sure to breathe in through the nose and out through the mouth. Then seal up the bag. To improve your sense of smell, go out into the fresh air, or smell some fresh-ground coffee or espresso. Then squeeze the bag out in front of your nose. What also works is the «wrist-licking method», in which you give the back of your wrist a few strong licks and then sniff at it. This may be a sign that your bad breath is coming from your tongue. One thing that definitely does not work is breathing into your cupped hands. And the one really sure-fire way to find out is simply ask sombody who’s opinion you trust: «Hey, do I have bad breath?»

What about lozenges and mouthwash?
Products abound: sprays, mouthwash, chlorophyl tablets, peppermint leaves that you put on your tongue. They do cover up the smell for a while, but they only treat the symptom, not the cause. If you suffer from dry mouth, you can take sugar-free gum or candy, but all those do is speed up saliva production.

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