Take your breath away ... far away

If your oral report received an F for foul, these tips might help you to clear the air

In the hierarchy of social stigmas, bad breath ranks right up there with body odor and indiscreet flatulence. It's a deal breaker, romance killer and a sure way to keep people at arm's length.

Most of us have it at least once a day, particularly when we first wake up. But for about a quarter of the population, halitosis is a chronic problem.

No wonder Americans spend nearly $4 billion a year on mints, mouthwashes, gums and mouth sprays to combat the embarrassing odor. However, according to dental experts, these are all just temporary fixes for a bigger problem.

“Bad breath can be caused by lots of different things – infection, sinus problems, dry mouth. Unless you get to the cause of the problem, it doesn't matter how much gum you chew or mouthwash you use,” says Dr. Douglas Cassat, a Tierrasanta dentist.

San Diego dentists list some causes for halitosis and what you can do to remedy each.

ORAL HYGIENE. Ineffective daily brushing and flossing leaves behind particles of food in the mouth which collect bacteria and can cause bad breath. Food that collects between the teeth, under bridges and on the tongue and around the gums can rot, leaving an unpleasant odor.

Brush at least twice a day and floss at least once a day to remove the plaque and bacteria that cause halitosis.

It's also a good idea to gently brush the back of the tongue with your toothbrush or tongue scraper.

PERIODONTAL DISEASE. Gum disease can cause persistent bad breath as well as a bad taste in your mouth. Periodontal disease is caused by plaque, the sticky film of bacteria that forms on and around the teeth and gums.

In addition to flossing at least once a day, it's important to have your teeth professionally checked and cleaned at least every six months. If you have signs of gum disease, be vigilant about your home oral care.

“You can have just one small area or pocket of infection in the mouth and it will cause bad breath,” says Dr. Carol Summerhays, a Sorrento Valley dentist. “It usually requires a hygienist or dentist to get in there and irrigate and clean it and kill the bacteria before the odor goes away.”

DENTURES. Food and bacteria can get trapped in dentures producing odor. If you wear a bridge or a partial or complete denture, clean it thoroughly at least once a day or as directed by your dentist.

DRY MOUTH. To properly cleanse the mouth and remove food particles that may cause odor, you need adequate saliva. A smelly dry mouth may be caused by various medications (antihistamines, heart and blood-pressure medicine and antidepressants), salivary gland problems (often seen in the elderly) or continuously breathing through the mouth.

Drink plenty of water and chew sugarless gum to increase saliva flow. There are also some products on the market, including mouth sprays and washes, made especially for people with dry mouth problems.

ALCOHOL. No matter if it's in a cocktail or a mouthwash, alcohol creates a dry environment in the mouth that bacteria love. Drink plenty of water.

“Alcohol pulls all the moisture out of the cells in the mouth. I always recommend alcohol-free mouthwashes. A peroxide-type of mouthwash is much better than one with alcohol,” Cassat says.

FOOD SUCH AS GARLIC OR ONIONS. When foods are digested, their molecules are absorbed by our bodies and carried off in the bloodstream. Some of these molecules are released into the lungs as blood flows through them. As we exhale, our breath carries these offending molecules out of our bodies and often into the faces of others.

This kind of bad breath will resolve itself on its own in a day or so as the body completes the metabolization process. The only way to control garlic or onion breath is to minimize consumption of it.

“It'll help to brush your teeth and scrap your tongue. You can also try chewing sugar-free gum with xylitol, which will help fight decay and help increase saliva,” Summerhays says.

SMOKING. Much of what makes a smoker's breath smell is the tobacco smoke. It contains tar, nicotine and other foul-smelling substances that accumulate on teeth and soft tissues of the mouth. Smoking also makes the mouth dry out more quickly.

Although diligent oral hygiene and tongue scraping can help reduce smoker's breath, the only way to completely eliminate it is to quit smoking.

SINUS PROBLEMS. Colds, respiratory infections and allergies can promote the flow of postnasal drip onto the back of the tongue. This discharge has a nasty taste and smell. To make matters worse, bacteria feed on the discharge and create their own foul-smelling waste products.

To help clear this drip, try taking an antihistamine, although the medication will dry out the mouth. Drink lots of fluids and try scraping your tongue.

“If sinus problems are the cause of bad breath, concentrate on treating the sinuses, not the odor,” Cassat says.