Nearly 40,000,000 Americans commonly suffer from bad breath, also known as oral malodor or halitosis. Yet, it is usually a curable condition that is generally caused by strong foods such as onions or garlic; poor oral health habits; periodontal disease; or medical problems such as stomach disorders, an excessive postnasal drip. Once you discover the source of the problem, there are a number of ways to keep your mouth free of unpleasant odors.

Oral malodor can be divided into two distinctive categories:
-transitory
-chronic.
Transitory refers to food-related malodor that can last as long as 72 hours. Virtually everyone suffers from this condition at one time or another. The second category, chronic, is generally related to oral or general medical problems.

There are three basic sources of bad breath:

1. A Dirty Mouth. Routine cleaning of teeth and gums will help prevent the build up of plaque—a soft, sticky, almost invisible film made up of harmful bacteria— and in turn help prevent bad breath. Carefully brushing at least two-to-three times a day, flossing daily BEFORE YOU BRUSH, and rinsing your mouth vigorously to remove any loose foods is essential.  However, research has found that simply keeping teeth clean is not enough to eliminate bad breath. Tongue deplaquing with tongue scrapers— tools exclusively designed for use on the tongue—is as essential for fresh breath as regular brushing. Tongue scrapers provide even pressure that forces bacteria, food debris, and dead cells from the pits and crevices in the tongue that a toothbrush cannot remove. I remember reading a study in Canada that had several hundred subjects and 80% of bad breath went away just by cleaning the tongue, WOW!

2. Medical problems can keep breath from smelling fresh. Research studies have found that bad breath has been linked to conditions such as diabetes, stomach disorders,  sinus infections with excessive postnasal drip, or cancer. Common drugs and medications also can affect breath odor.

3. Lifestyle habits play a major role in the prevention of halitosis. For example, smoking and chewing tobacco can affect breath odor. Just as important to oral health and fresh breath as consistent home care and healthy lifestyle habits is oral health care delivered by your local area dentist. Regular oral health care appointments, which include a complete prophylaxis— teeth cleaning above and below the gum line—are essential to maintaining good oral health and fresh breath, so visit your dental hygienist every six months, or as often as she or he recommends.