Q: What is bad breath?
A: Bad breath, otherwise known as oral malodour or halitosis, is a build up of several gases produced by excess bacteria. These gases form an unpleasant odour, which is noticeable when one speaks or breathes out. Often this is worse after a night’s sleep and is when it is referred to as “Morning Breath”. Most people suffer from morning breath and this can be resolved by brushing and using an alcohol-free mouthwash such as Dentyl pH (click here for information)
Q: Where does the problem come from?
A: Bad breath is a common condition which usually originates in the mouth. Research shows 55% to 65% of people have halitosis chronically and 95% at some time or other. Even when the sufferer is diligent with good oral hygiene, bad breath usually still comes from the “oral cavity”. Bad breath almost never comes from the gastro-intestinal tract (stomach).
Q: What causes bad breath?
A: Oral malodour mainly occurs from an accumulation of bacteria (click here to see video of bacteria) if the whole mouth is not thoroughly cleaned daily. Other conditions that can influence bad breath are illness, low fluid intake, stress, lack of salivary flow and exercise.
Q: Do ‘I’ have bad breath?
A: It is notoriously difficult for anyone to detect whether they themselves have halitosis. The best way to check if you have bad breath is to ask a family member, partner or a close friend for their opinion. Another simple way to check if you have bad breath is to lick your wrist, starting at the back of the tongue and wiping the inner wrist to the tip. Leave the saliva to dry for 10 seconds and smell the area for any unpleasant odours. Many people think they have a problem with halitosis when they don’t. The Fresh Breath Centre can examine and test you to find out if there is a real problem.
Q: Even though I brush my teeth daily,
I still have bad breath. Why?
A: The odour of bad breath is caused by oral bacteria. People who have gum disease have more oral malodour than people without gum disease. If your gums have any redness, swelling or bleed at all on brushing, flossing or interdental cleaning then you may well have some gum disease. However, gums may not be the only area where bad breath originates due to bacterial build-up within the mouth.
Q: Can mouthwash or tablets cure my bad breath?
A: An average of £350 million per year is spent in the U.K. on mouth fresheners that do not work or are not used correctly. They simply disguise one odour with another that lasts no more than 15 minutes. Mouthwashes alone will not solve the problem. The treatment of halitosis is more complex and combines several approaches. However, our team recommend using a combination of Dentyl pH mouthrinse and toothpaste daily as part of your oral hygiene routine.
Q: Is oral malodour treatment successful?
A: Yes! The modern techniques used at the Fresh Breath Centre have been extremely successful in conquering the problems caused by oral malodour. The vast majority of patients (over 95%) experienced total cure or at least a very substantial reduction in bad breath. The treatment is both painless and not at all invasive. Comfort and confidentiality are the key concerns at the Fresh Breath Centre.
Q: Do foods cause temporary bad breath?
A: Yes. We call this “Food Breath”. Certain foods such as onions, pizza, garlic, alcohol and spicy foods can cause bad breath. However, not eating these foods solves this problem. Likewise, many kinds of medication can have a similar effect.
Q: How much does the treatment cost?
A: The fee for our comprehensive consultation is £205 and then at the time of consultation we will advise you as to the cost of the individual treatment required to eliminate your bad breath. |
