This Week At UMC

What should you do to fight bad breath?

Watch what you eat and drink
Use mouthrinse
Have a dental exam
All of the above

Correct Answer : All of the above

We are what we eat, or at least what we put in our mouths. Approximately 90% of bad breath (halitosis) has an oral origin. Let's start out with what you eat. Foods such as garlic and onions and beverages such as coffee or alcoholic beverages will contribute to you oral aroma. Smoking, both cigarettes and the now in vogue cigars will also contribute to the increase in your personal space.

If you do not clean your mouth effectively, what you eat will come back to haunt you. Residual food particles in your mouth will start to decay. Some of the bacteria in dental plaque which decay this food produce highly volatile sulfur compounds (like the smell of rotten eggs) which affect your breath. The presence of gingivitis and periodontitis, the two main categories of gum disease, can also contribute to halitosis. Bacteria living on your tongue also join the party.

What to do? First, a little introspection on what you eat, drink, and/or smoke is in order. Smoking may be the hardest to alter but may be the greatest contributor to your bouquet. Second, have a thorough dental exam to identify any dental diseases or those nooks and crannies where food and plaque are residing undisturbed. Third, change those factors in the first or second which are at fault. As you have already found out, all the mouthrinse in the world is only going to be effective for a few minutes. While products such as Listerine does indeed kill germs, mouthrinse alone is not enough. Most non-therapeutic, "cosmetic" mouthwashes only mask the smell for a few minutes.

Lastly, there are some physical problems, some gastrointestinal, some others like uncontrolled diabetes, which can contribute to bad breath. Once you've seen your dentist, if there are still problems, then it may be time for a physical exam as well.

Dr. Francis G. Serio, professor of periodontics and chairman of the department in the School of Dentistry at UMC, answers e-mailed questions online in the Ask the Dentist section.

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