Fresh Breath Requires more than Dental Hygiene

Fresh Breath Requires more than Dental Hygiene

While brushing, flossing, and using mouthwash benefit dental care, these efforts alone may not be enough to completely cure bad breath. Bad breath can be embarrassing and can affect one's self-esteem and confidence. Many people turn to breath mints, sprays, and chewing gum as quick fixes to bad breath, but these efforts only mask underlying issues.

Studies have shown that quality, routine dental hygiene, good dental health habits, and occasional breath fresheners may not be enough to combat the root cause of bad breath. Researchers have found that attempting to kill only the specific bacteria responsible for bad breath may not be as effective as dental care professionals initially thought. Instead, treatments may have to adjust the entire microbiological ecosystem of the mouth to bring both the healthy and unhealthy mouth bacteria into balance and restore bacterial equilibrium.

The study, published in the journal, Applied and Environmental Microbiology, found that all mouths have the odor-causing bacteria. People with bad breath actually have an imbalance of healthy and unhealthy mouth bacteria which leads to an overgrowth of the germs that cause bad breath.

"The results of this investigation clearly demonstrate that oral malodor is a symptom based on the characteristic occupation of indigenous oral bacterial populations, rather than solely on bacterial overgrowth due to poor oral hygiene," say the researchers.

According to the American Dental Association, bad breath is one of the most common mouth disorders, and often times it requires special treatments. If you're experiencing problems with bad breath, consult your dentist. The problem may be simply a result of a growth of odor-causing bacteria, or the issue may be more complex than that. A dental care professional will be able to evaluate your mouth, diagnose the problem with accuracy, customize your treatment, and monitor the results and outcome of the treatment.

POST COMMENT

Keeping Records Of Patients And Payments With Dental Billing Types Of Dental Crown The Characteristics of Effective Dental Assistants: Competence The Characteristics of Effective Dental Assistants: Confidence Humility and the Dental Hygienist The Characteristics of Effective Dental Assistants: Kindness The Characteristics of Effective Dental Assistants: Gentleness Dental Veneers Types Of Dental Implants Deriving Success Rates For The Dental Implants There are two types of dental implants Frequently Asked Questions About Dental Implants Restoration Answers To Common Questions About Tooth Replacement With Dental Implants