The Hallowed Halitosis Cure

I don't know about you, but I find fewer things more disgusting when I get around someone than to be inundated with a strong dose of body odor or bad breath. I will, however, cut the person with bad breath some slack. At the same time, you would think these people could make a habit of making use of a toothbrush before venturing into public, right? Please, is there a hallowed halitosis cure?

An estimated 60 million people in the US deal with some degree of halitosis, and approximately $10 billion dollars a year is spent to combat halitosis; most with no positive results. 85-90% of the problems come from various sources within the mouth. Though gum disease many times does play a role, bacterial plaques are a greater source of the problem, in addition to food coating on the back of the tongue.

A thorough oral exam can reveal the cause with the use of Halimeter. This instrument measures the quantity of volatile sulfur gases (VSC) being released from putrefied bacteria in the mouth. The two most common gases to be produced are methyl mercaptan and hydrogen sulfide (rotten egg smell). Using the Halimeter allows the dentist to locate where the gases are being produced, and the quantity. Routine follow-ups will allow the dentist to determine the quantity of progress towards the halitosis cure.

Bad breath resulting from periodontal disease requires thorough cleaning of the area around the teeth so as to rid the mouth of the putrefied bacteria causing the problem. The use of an ionized mechanical irrigator which uses an electrical charge to pulse water and a fine tipped brush can help clean out these pockets of decay. With proper training by a dentist or hygienist and dedicated effort on the part of the patient, there truly can be a hallowed halitosis cure.