| Bad Breath Caused By Several Factors |
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By Steve Infanti
Scripps Howard News Service Question: I brush my teeth and maintain, I believe, good oral hygiene but I still have bad breath. Is this unusual? Answer: It's a misconception that all people with bad breath have poor oral hygiene. You can have good oral hygiene and still have bad breath. "Many patients who I see with bad breath have the cleanest mouths you'll ever find because they are trying to fight their bad breath," according to Louis Malcmacher, who recently gave a presentation on this topic for the American Dental Association. Dr. Malcmacher, a dentist in Bay Village, Ohio, says he usually introduces the topic by simply asking his patients if they ever have a problem with bad breath. "The obvious answer is going to be 'yes,'" Malcmacher explains. "Everyone, at some point, may have a problem with bad breath. But studies show about 25 percent of the population has a chronic problem with bad breath that they are constantly trying to fight." Certain kinds of bacteria existing in the mouth produce volatile sulfur compounds. If there is enough of a buildup of these compounds, the result can be clinical bad breath. "Everyone has these bacteria, " Malcmacher says. "But, with most people, it's more or less in check. However, the people with bad breath have a higher number of these bacteria in their mouths." There are several things that may contribute to bad breath, including certain foods, or food trapped between your teeth, gum disease, tooth decay, dry mouth, tobacco products or a medical disorder. Malcmacher advises patients to drink plenty of water to keep hydrated and to keep the saliva working to wash away excess bacteria. He also suggests that patients brush their tongues because bad-breath bacteria can linger on the back of the tongue. Talk to your dentist if you think you have a problem with bad breath. Your dentist has new techniques to treat bad breath based on recent scientific research. He or she will be able to determine if your bad breath is caused by a dental condition and what the most effective treatment may be. (Send questions about health, fitness or nutrition to Steve Infanti, A Fit Life, 216 Henderson Bldg., University Park, Pa., 16802, or e-mail to scinfanti@compuserve.com.)
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