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Archive for the ‘General Dentistry’ Category
You’ve been there… with a colleague or friend, talking, and you couldn’t concentrate on what they were saying because their breath could kill a moose! Or, worse… maybe it’s you! You’re not sure. Those sudden steps backwards, averting of the face, premature ending of a conversation could all be signs of mouth malodor.
Bad breath (halitosis) is most often caused by poor oral hygiene, periodontal (gum) disease, dry mouth from colds or medications, food stuck between the teeth, and excessive bacterial growth on the tongue. The main source of oral malodor is usually bacteria getting stuck in the grooves of the tongue. Volatile compounds are the chief perpetrators.
But there is hope. When a chemical called chlorine dioxide is contained in a mouth rinse, it neutralizes these sulphur compounds. Mouth rinses (commercially known as chlosys) and toothpaste containing these sulphur-neutralizing compounds are available in our office. The neutralizing effect of these rinses lasts for eight hours. In contrast, commercially available mouth rinses have been proven to have no significant effect on oral malodor. If you suspect that friends or colleagues have halitosis, please refer them to our office for an evaluation.
