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Video: Tips for Managing Bad Breath
Anatomy of Bad Breath
Xerostomia - Dry Mouth FAQ
Halitosis Doctors
Question:
Life long bad breath: I have had bad breath almost all my life.
I brush my teeth, floss, I have bought every possible mouthwash in the stores. Sometimes when I brush, some of my gums bleed and other times when I'm flossing my gums bleed sometimes.
I would like to go just one week without bad breath. I stay away from people because of my condition. I have gone to see dentist and they say my breath is not as bad I think, that some people have worse breath.
I really don't care about other people's breath, only mine. My breath is so bad that if in a car I sense people are uncomfortable about my breath. HELP! ...Visitor from CA
Answer:
Bad breath comes from two places: your mouth or your body's metabolism and possibly both.
Bad breath from the mouth is easiest to treat and most of the time bad breath is a result of bacterial growth. When a patient says that their gums bleed when they brush and floss, it usually means they have a gum infection (bacterial growth).
The bleeding has to be stopped because if the gums bleed a tiny bit while you are sleeping, the breath in the morning is awful when combined with bacterial growth and infected gums. Healthy gums do not bleed, period.
Recommendations to treat gum disease, gingivitis, infected gums: Brush your teeth with a power tooth brush, preferably the Crest Spin Pro Brush. It costs less than $10 and has a lot of power to clean and stimulate blood circulation in the gums.
Second, floss your teeth gently. It is not necessary to get rough or to make a big production out of brushing and flossing. It should take only a few minutes.
Third, finish cleaning your teeth with a Water Pik. The Water Pik is a flushing device sold at Target, Wal Mart and other stores. The Water Pik costs about $35 and must be used (on setting #6 or #7) after brushing and flossing at night and in the morning after you wake up. Place the wand from the Water Pik right on your teeth next to the gumline and keep it moving. It should take less than a minute to flush around all of your teeth with a Water Pik.
Fourth, rinse your mouth with a special bad breath mouth wash that works when you have brushed, flossed and used the Water Pik. The mouth wash of choice is CloSYS and is sold at Walgreens drug stores and other drug stores. This technique combined with a qualified dentist will help you a great deal.
We have perfected the supervision and technique of using all of these devices and continue to help our patients improve their technique.
Finally: Go to a dentist and get your teeth cleaned. The dentist can clean your teeth and nothing else and is very important to rule out a infection process that is worse than gum disease.
Editorial Staff
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