Chronic Bad Breath

While other people may or may not notice your chronic bad breath, chances are, you're aware of it. Once aware of bad breath, you can find yourself socially crippled. To most people, bad breath is the ultimate turnoff. Finding a cure is a matter of urgency once we realize that we suffer from this unpleasant problem.

Occasionally, bad breath--medically known as halitosis--will come from the stomach, and will require a trip to a gastroenterologist. However, by far the largest cause of bad breath is simply tooth decay or bacteria in the mouth. Ideally, we will tackle chronic bad breath on two levels. The fast cure, such as anti-bacterial mouth washes, will take care of the immediate symptoms, while our long term strategy will aim at ending bad breath for good.

Cleaning Gum Pockets

Gum pockets that result when gum disease is fairly well advanced will cause chronic bad breath. It is very difficult to clean inside the pockets. Regular use of mouthwash will help, but cleaning inside the pockets is essential if you're going to stop the cycle. Water Pik makes a special tool for irrigating gum pockets, called a Pik Pocket.

Using a different toothpaste or mouthwash may help keep bad breath at bay. If you have a "coated tongue" you may find that this is your cause of bad breath. Try cleaning it with a special tongue-cleaing tool, and rinse your mouth often.

If you have tried all the available dental products to overcome chronic bad breath but the problem isn't going away, visit a doctor to make sure the problem isn't coming from further down in your digestive tract. Also, be aware that some medications may cause a dry mouth and bad breath. If you are taking any regular medications, ask your doctor if they could be contributing to your problem.