Halitosis (Bad Breath)

<body topmargin=0 leftmargin=0 marginheight=0 marginwidth=0> <table cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 border=0><tr> <td valign="top" colspan=2 height=110 BGCOLOR="#666699" TEXT="#080000" bgproperties="fixed" background="04900840erlcjm.png"> <div> <FONT SIZE="5" COLOR="#FFFFFF" FACE="Arial" ><B>Greater St. Louis Dental Hygienists' Association</B></FONT><B>     |     </B><A HREF="index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Greater St. Louis Dental Hygienists Asso"><B>home</B></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id34.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Who We Are">Who We Are</A>   |   <A HREF="id35.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="What is a RDH?">What is a RDH?</A>   |   <A HREF="id74.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Facts You Need to Know About Preceptorsh">Facts You Need to Know About Preceptorship</A>   |   <A HREF="id36.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Tips for Parents Childrens Oral Health">Tips for Parents - Children's Oral Health</A>   |   <A HREF="id54.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Oral Cancer Information">Oral Cancer Information</A>   |   <A HREF="id37.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Brush and Floss Techniques">Brush and Floss Techniques</A>   |   <A HREF="id53.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="What is Plaque and Tartar">What is Plaque and Tartar</A>   |   <A HREF="id38.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="What is Periodontal (gum) Disease?">What is Periodontal (gum) Disease?</A>   |   <A HREF="id39.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="What is Tooth Decay">What is Tooth Decay</A>   |   <A HREF="id40.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Emergency Tips">Emergency Tips</A>   |   <A HREF="id41.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Tooth Development">Tooth Development</A>   |   <A HREF="id42.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Fluoride Facts">Fluoride Facts</A>   |   <B>Halitosis (Bad Breath)</B>   |   <A HREF="id56.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Bleaching Your Teeth">Bleaching Your Teeth</A>   |   <A HREF="id43.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Related Links">Related Links</A>   |   <A HREF="id44.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Contact Us ">Contact Us   </A></div> <div> </div> </td> </tr><tr> <td valign="top" width=190 BGCOLOR="#CCCCFF" TEXT="#080000" background="04311c00egdysm.png"> <div> <B><IMG SRC="19596540.png" border=0 width="150" height="84" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></div> <div> <A HREF="id34.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Who We Are">Who We Are</A></div> <div> <A HREF="id35.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="What is a RDH?">What is a RDH?</A></div> <div> <A HREF="id74.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Facts You Need to Know About Preceptorsh">Facts You Need to Know About Preceptorship</A></div> <div> <A HREF="id36.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Tips for Parents Childrens Oral Health">Tips for Parents - Children's Oral Health</A></div> <div> <A HREF="id54.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Oral Cancer Information">Oral Cancer Information</A></div> <div> <A HREF="id37.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Brush and Floss Techniques">Brush and Floss Techniques</A></div> <div> <A HREF="id53.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="What is Plaque and Tartar">What is Plaque and Tartar</A></div> <div> <A HREF="id38.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="What is Periodontal (gum) Disease?">What is Periodontal (gum) Disease?</A></div> <div> <A HREF="id39.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="What is Tooth Decay">What is Tooth Decay</A></div> <div> <A HREF="id40.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Emergency Tips">Emergency Tips</A></div> <div> <A HREF="id41.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Tooth Development">Tooth Development</A></div> <div> <A HREF="id42.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Fluoride Facts">Fluoride Facts</A></div> <div> <B>Halitosis (Bad Breath)</B></div> <div> <A HREF="id56.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Bleaching Your Teeth">Bleaching Your Teeth</A></div> <div> <A HREF="id43.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Related Links">Related Links</A></div> <div> <A HREF="id44.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Contact Us ">Contact Us   </A></div> <div> <A HREF="id17.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Dental Professionals">Dental Professionals</A></div> <div> <A HREF="id32.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Consumers">Consumers</A></div> <bR> </td> <td valign="top" height=370 width="100%" BGCOLOR="#FFFFCC" TEXT="#080000"> <div> Halitosis (Bad Breath)</div> <div> Concerned about bad breath? Bad breath is an embarrassing problem for many people, but the good news is that there is help available. Some of the causes of bad breath include:</div> <bR> <div> 1.  Bacteria:  Food debris left in the mouth following meals combine with bacteria in the mouth to create a foul odor. Bacteria often collects on the tongue.</div> <bR> <div> 2.  Dry Mouth:  Saliva is the mouth's natural lubricant and wash. Lack of saliva allows bacteria to accumulate, thus causing bad breath. Several causes of dry mouth include being on certain medications (particularly high blood pressure medicines), smoking, chemo or radiation therapy. If you have a dry mouth, be sure to drink plenty of fluids. Sugarless gum is helpful to chew. Ask your dentist or dental hygienist to recommend products specifically designed to help with dry mouth.</div> <bR> <div> 3.  Foods:  Some types of food and drink can cause bad breath. These include: garlic, onions, fish, cabbage, coffee, and alcohol.</div> <bR> <div> 4.  Tobacco:  Smoking or chewing tobacco not only dries out your mouth, it in itself is a cause for bad breath. </div> <bR> <div> 5.  Sinus problems:  Drainage into the throat can be a cause of bad breath.</div> <bR> <div> 6.  Mouth appliances:  Braces, dentures, nightguards, and other mouth guard can cause bad breath if not kept clean.                            </div> <bR> <div> Whatever the cause, good oral hygiene is imperative in fighting bad breath. Along with brushing and flossing daily, you should brush or scrape your tongue as bacteria can hide on the surface. Commercial tongue scrapers are made and can be bought at just about any drug store. If you don't have a scraper, you can turn over a spoon and scrape it across your tongue as well. If you wear dentures, be sure to remove them at night and thoroughly clean them before wearing them again the next day.  Your dentist or hygienist will want to evaluate the condition of your gums, as periodontal disease and pockets that harbor bacteria can be the source of bad breath. If the mouth is eliminated as the cause, your dentist may refer you to your physician for evaluation of other possible causes. </div> <bR> <div> Tips for avoiding bad breath:</div> <bR> <div> 1.  Brush your tongue or use a tongue scraper.</div> <div> 2.  Keep a moist mouth. Drink plenty of water. Chewing sugarless gum also helps.</div> <div> 3.  Avoid foods in your diet that cause foul smelling breath.</div> <div> 4.  Stop smoking</div> <div> 5.  Clean all removable appliances daily</div> <bR> <bR> </td> </tr></table></body>