Ask the Dentist: Bad Breath

Q: What treatment is available for bad breath?

A: Halitosis, which is commonly known as bad breath, is caused by various reasons. In order to treat it, we must first identify the main cause.

Temporary bad breath is generally caused by lifestyle habits such as food and drinks consumption and can be controlled by watching your diet, in addition to proper oral hygiene routines.

On the other hand, persistent bad breath has a wider range of contributing factors such as:

• Poor oral hygiene
• Periodontal or gum disease
• Localized dental problems such as infection, cracked fillings or dentures
• Dry mouth condition (xerostomia) due to hormonal changes or medication
• Medical conditions such as diabetes, digestive issues, ear or nose infections or some types of cancer

If it is due to the first three factors, dental procedures such as professional scaling & polishing, periodontal scaling, fixing of cracked fillings or cleaning of dentures would be required. For xerostomia, treatment that focuses on relieving symptoms and preventing cavities would be done.

In order to determine the appropriate treatment, you are recommended to visit your dentist or Periodontist (gum specialist) so that he/she can conduct a thorough examination of your dental condition.

Dr Helena Lee is a Dental Specialist in Periodontics with Specialist Dental Group^®, Singapore. She received her specialty training from the University of London. She is a Fellow of the Academy of Medicine, Singapore and member of Society of Periodontology, Singapore. Dr Lee has a special interest in the treatment and prevention of periodontal disease, gingival plastic surgery, soft and hard tissue grafting and dental implants. For more information, visit www.specialistdentalgroup.com | 6733 7883