Halitosis is the medical term for bad breath. This is more than the odor caused when you’ve eaten too many onions for lunch. The occurrence of bad breath is much more than an embarrassing social situation to be in. Sometimes, it can be an indication of the occurrence of a more serious problem with one’s body. In any case, its evaluation and treatment are necessary. At the office of South Florida Laser Dentistry, we offer treatment for chronic and persistent halitosis caused by dental conditions.
Mostly, bad breath is caused by poor hygiene habits, gum disease, smoking tobacco, drinking alcohol or by the consumption of certain foods. Other causes of bad breath include respiratory infections, dry mouth and systemic diseases such as diabetes, kidney or liver disease, and other digestive issues. A thorough analysis of your general and oral health can help us identify whether the cause of your bad breath is a dental problem or something else.
If your bad breath is being caused by issues such as gum disease, tooth-decay, food stagnation or ill-fitting dentures, then we will administer the appropriate treatment accordingly. This could involve a professional dental cleaning to remove plaque and bacteria or a more comprehensive scaling and root planing treatment to treat gum disease.
While these treatments will help restore the odor of your breath back to normal, maintaining a good oral hygiene regimen involving daily brushing and flossing and bi-annual dental checkups at our practice will help you keep halitosis at bay. The following tips can help you prevent bad breath:
- Thoroughly clean your tongue and the insides of your cheeks while brushing
- Avoid smoking
- Use an antibacterial mouthwash
- Limit consumption of sugary and odor-causing foods
- Stay hydrated by drinking ample amounts of water.
If you need more information about halitosis treatment, please contact our office to schedule an appointment. You can call us at (954) 726-4511.