The Facts and Myths of Chronic Halitosis

Chronic Halitosis is a condition in which a person produces an unpleasant odor carried on the breath and is unable to remedy it by regular oral hygiene techniques. It can have a negative impact on the lives of as many as 50-80 Million individuals in the United States alone. Many sufferers are reluctant to seek halitosis treatment for their problem because they are so embarrassed. Most halitosis sufferers have no idea that they have a bad breath problem unless somebody informs them. It creates social barriers for the people who suffer from it, and many people are seeking a halitosis cure. Let's take a look at some of myths surrounding some of the causes of halitosis:

• Halitosis originates in your stomach - this is only true in extreme cases, cleansing the intestines offers no benefits for halitosis treatment.


• Bad breath problems originate in your lungs - once again this is only in a rare case and would be the result of a serious illness.


• You inherit halitosis - This is absolutely untrue. There is not a halitosis gene that can be passed to an offspring


• Mouth washes and mints help bad breath - Not true, Breath mints will only mask the problem for a few short minutes. Alcohol based mouth washes can worsen the problem, because it will dry out your mouth, thus creating an increase in bacteria which will create more odors.


• Internal breath fresheners can help - absolutely untrue they will do nothing to help with halitosis.


• Brushing more often will eliminate bad breath - This is also not true. Excessive brushing will dry out your mouth and increase the problem. You can have good oral hygiene and still have chronic bad breath.


• Food causes halitosis - The odor caused by food is of the "sulfur" type and really not offensive. If you eat foods such as onions, garlic or certain vegetables they can induce certain odors but these are only transitory and can be easily eliminated by avoiding certain foods. However, foods that cause the blood chemistry to become acidic (high-protein red meats, saturated fats, processed foods) will cause bad breath problems which may become chronic if diet is not altered. Some diets, including the South Beach and Atkins Diet recommend food consumption habits which can cause chronically acid blood chemistry and thus chronic bad breath problems.

Bad breath (halitosis) can have many possible causes. Halitosis is more commonly due to dental problems, such as tooth decay, gingivitis or infections of the nose and sinuses. Seeking a halitosis treatment might start at your dentist first to check for possible gum disease, infections or tooth decay. Another option is to find an ear, nose and throat specialist that can perform a careful examination of your upper airway and digestive tract. There are a number of medical problems that are associated with halitosis such as kidney and liver failure. You should see your doctor if you think this is a concern.

To cure halitosis that is temporary in nature, there a few things you can do right now that will help such as brushing your teeth and using mouthwash after eating meals or snacks. Floss at least once a day in order to remove decaying food that often becomes trapped in crevices between teeth. If these simple steps fail to cure halitosis problems for you, then you may need to consult with your physician. It is possible for chronic halitosis to be a symptom of a much larger medical issue such as diabetes.

To learn more about how well OraMD® works for chronic halitosis, follow the link.