Believe it or not, Americans spend more than $1 billion a year to fight bad breath. Unfortunately, over the counter treatments like toothpaste and mouthwash only mask the odor.

So what causes bad breath?
Chronic bad breath (halitosis) does not originate in the stomach. In most cases bad breath is caused by leftover food that collects bacteria on the teeth, surface of the tongue, below the gum line, between the teeth and other hard to reach areas. Naturally occurring anaerobic bacteria feed on this oral debris and produce foul-smelling volatile sulfur compounds (VSC) as a by-product.

While everyone has some level of VSC in their mouth, they cannot be detected by the nose at low levels. Saliva plays a key role in fighting chronic halitosis by flushing away debris. The dryer your mouth and the thicker your saliva, the less rinsing that takes place. Lower oxygen levels create environment in which the bacteria that produce sulfur compounds thrive.

Other major contributors to bad breath can include

• oral stagnation from mouth breathing and/or snoring
• alcohols that dry oral tissue
• medications for high blood pressure, depression, and antihistamines
• general dehydration
• stress
• proteins, acidic foods, and dairy products
• genetics that determine the shape of your tongue

Fighting Bad Breath
Regular professional cleanings in conjunction with daily brushing and flossing normally take care of unpleasant breath. If bad breath persists, make extra effort to remove bacteria that accumulates in the cracks and crevices of your tongue.

Use a metal or plastic tongue scraper to gently scrape from the back of the tongue to the front or wrap a soft cotton washcloth around a finger and gently wipe from the back to the tip. Be sure to clean the back of your tongue where the most bacteria accumulates.

If bad breath continues, consider altering your diet or medications. Note that sudden bad breath can also be a sign that you have a health problem, such as a respiratory tract infection, chronic sinusitis, or postnasal drip.

If you suffer from chronic halitosis, you are not alone — over forty-million Americans have persistent bad breath. Regular professional cleanings combined with a robust daily oral care routine should significantly ease the burden.

Periodontal disease often destroys the bone and tissue that support teeth. Gum recession can make eating hot and cold foods uncomfortable and alter the aesthetic appearance of a smile.

Today’s sophisticated tissue regeneration techniques allow periodontists to reconstruct and regenerate lost and destroyed gingival tissues. The main goal is to cover an exposed root or to thicken the existing gum tissue and prevent further tissue loss.

Periodontists often use a free gingival graft to increase the thickness existing gum tissue. A small layer of tissue is removed from the palate of the patient’s mouth and stitched into place at the site of gum recession. Both sites heal in a very predictable, uneventful manner in two or three weeks.

When treating a larger area or root exposure, periodontists may recommend an allograft to create new gum tissue. With this option, tissue is surgically transplanted from one person to another. The science is not new — allografts have been used successfully for more than 150 years. In face, approximately one million allografts are transplanted each year in the United States alone.

Whether your doctor recommends a free gingival grafts or an allograft, the result will be new zones of gum tissue covering formerly exposed roots. Patients are often surprised by the relatively painless recovery process after either of these procedure.

When considering a tissue grafting for medical or cosmetic purposes, it is important to speak with a specialist to determine the best treatment method. Call 404-815-4800 today to schedule a consultation with Dr. Bartruff.