Keys to Controlling Bad Breath
If you're serious about learning what's causing your bad breath, consider scheduling an appointment with your dental professional. Given your full medical and dental history along with an oral examination, your dentist should be able to identify the culprit. The causes of bad breath are numerous and include certain foods, alcohol or cigarettes, poor oral hygiene, periodontal disease, diabetes, dry mouth, sinus or throat infections, lung infections or abscesses, kidney/liver failure, gastrointestinal issues and severe dieting.
Treatment of Bad Breath
It is important to conduct thorough oral hygiene at home twice daily
utilizing tooth brushing with a fluoride antibacterial toothpaste and
flossing to remove food debris and plaque on teeth, bridgework and
implants, and brushing the tongue to remove odor-causing bacteria.
A published study reported that tongue and tooth brushing in combination
with dental flossing significantly decreased bleeding of the gum tissue
over a two week period of time as well as reduced bad breath1. Another
clinical study conducted by the University of Buffalo dental researchers
confirmed that brushing twice a day with an antibacterial toothpaste
and using a tooth brush with a tongue cleaner can eliminate bad breath 2.
Tongue Cleaning is the Key to Fresher, Cleaner Breath
Cleaning your tongue is very important. You can purchase a Colgate 360
toothbrush with the tongue cleaner on the back of the toothbrush for
cleaning both your teeth and tongue. After tooth brushing your upper
and lower teeth with an antibacterial toothpaste, flip the toothbrush
over to the tongue cleaner and place the tongue cleaner in the posterior
region of the tongue and move it forward to the anterior section of
the tongue. After you have scraped that portion of the tongue, rinse
the tongue brush off with warm water to remove any odor causing bacteria.
Then replace the tongue brush in the next posterior section again and
repeat as described above again.
Consult your dentist or dental hygienist when choosing oral hygiene
aids to help you eliminate plaque and odor causing bacteria and review
the techniques that should be utilized at home. Also, ask your dental
professional what oral hygiene care products they would consider you
use to help eliminate bad breath (antibacterial toothpaste, antiseptic
mouth rinse, tongue brushes or scrapers and interproximal cleaning devices).
The key to a clean, fresh mouth is optimal oral hygiene conducted at
home on a regular basis and professional recommendations discussed with
you by your dental professional.
© Copyright 2009 Colgate-Palmolive Company
References:
1. Biesbrock, A, et al. Assessment of Treatment Responses to
Dental Flossing in Twins.,
J Perio 77(8):1386-1391, 2006.
2. University of Buffalo (Peter Moses, Betsey Clark, Violet
Maraszthy, Joseph Zambon,
(University of Buffalo), P.K. Sreenivasan (Colgate), Abstract presented
at 2008 AADR Meeting.
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