Dialogue history: The doctor or dental hygienist then will
review with the patient all of the findings obtained from the Medical History
Questionnaire and the recording of their vital signs. In response to any
positive answer (such as diabetes or high blood pressure), additional
questions will be asked to determine the significance, if any, of this medical
condition to the individual's planned dental treatment.
Bad breath, or
halitosis, is a signal that
something is not right inside your mouth. It may be as simple as the need to pay
more attention to your daily oral hygiene, or it may indicate tooth decay, gum
disease, or another medical problem. Whichever it is, bad breath is a red flag:
take another look at your mouth!
Halitosis is a social problem; if you have bad
breath, you may notice that people actually back away as you talk to them. Mouth
odors are embarrassing, and they tell other people that you aren't taking care
of yourself. Sometimes people are not aware that their breath smells bad; be
alert to how other people react when they're close to you, and be grateful if a
friend or family member lets you know about the problem.
Commercial products claim they will make your breath fresher, but the only
way to make sure your breath permanently fresh is to practice good oral
hygiene. In fact, too many breath mints and hard candies with sugar will lead to
tooth decay. If you are constantly using breath mints, breath sprays, or mouthrinses in an effort to cover up your bad breath, realize that you may have a
dental or medical problem that needs addressing.
There are a number of reasons you may experience a bad taste in your mouth,
and even be able to smell your own breath. Food may be lodged between your teeth
if you are not brushing at least twice daily and flossing regularly. Food
particles can be very tiny and can wedge themselves between teeth and below the
gum line; brushing after meals is important and flossing is imperative to get at
the particles that the brush can't reach. Brush your tongue or use a tongue
scraper. As odd as it will feel at first, bacteria collects on the tongue and
can contribute to bad breath. If you wear removable dentures, take them out at
night and clean them thoroughly before you wear them again.
If you neglect your daily hygiene over time,
halitosis can become a symptom
of more serious dental problems. Teeth that are not cleaned properly become a
place for bacteria to reside as food particles stay in your mouth and decay.
Bacteria attack your teeth and gums and cause cavities and gum disease. If this
is happening, gum disease will cause an unpleasant odor.
Perhaps you believe that you are brushing and flossing on a regular basis,
but are still experiencing bad breath. If you have teeth that are crooked or
crowded, it may be hard for you to clean between them. If you wear dentures that
are not fit properly, they may be trapping food or irritating your mouth. Or
perhaps your bad breath is caused by another medical problem: drainage from your
sinuses, gastrointestinal problems, kidney or liver problems, or other medical
conditions.
Here's what you can do to "investigate" on your own. Write down
what you're eating and notice whether your breath smells bad because of
certain foods. Garlic and onions actually cause odor, but the odor is coming
from your lungs as you breathe, not from your mouth itself. The odor from these
foods is temporary, and will be gone once the food is out of your bloodstream.
Are you dieting? Hunger can contribute to bad breath, because of the chemical
changes as your body turns fat and protein into the energy it needs. Taking
prescription or over-the-counter medications? Add these to the record of what
you're eating to see whether there's a relationship between your medications
and your bad breath. And don't forget to tell your dentist if there's been a
change in your overall health since your last visit.
Suffering from dry mouth? Saliva provides constant rinsing in our mouths and
washes away food particles. Your dentist may recommend more liquids, sugarless
candy to stimulate natural saliva, and perhaps some of the commercial products
that are available to combat dry mouth.
If
halitosis continues after you have done your best job of regular brushing
and flossing, start with your dentist. He or she can tell you whether the odor
is caused by an oral problem; if it is not, then your dentist will suggest you
see your doctor for a physical check-up.
Regular dental check-ups will help keep your mouth healthy and working well.
Your dentist can spot problems before they cause trouble, including problems
that cause bad breath.
