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| | | Officially known as halitosis, bad breath can be a persistent and annoying problem. In 85-90 percent of cases, bad breath comes from bacteria living in your mouth, and the problem increases when your mouth is dry. However, halitosis can also be caused by dental or gum problems; sinus infections or other mouth, nose and throat conditions; diseases such as lung infections, kidney failure or certain types of cancer; the use of tobacco products; or an extremely limited diet. MayoClinic.com provides an overview of possible causes. | | |
| Typical costs: | - Do-it-yourself remedies include drinking lots of water (10-12 glasses daily); brushing and flossing regularly and thoroughly; cleaning your tongue with your toothbrush or a tongue scraper ($2 -$13); chewing fresh parsley or sucking on a sugarless mint; using an oral irrigator such as a Waterpik ($30 -$130); and cutting high-protein, sugary or junk foods from your diet while adding high-fiber foods. MayoClinic.com lists home remedies and Home-Remedies-For-You.com describes some natural options such as avocado or guava.
- There are a number of bad-breath treatment products on the market, for anywhere from $10 -$150 or more for a monthly supply. A mouthwash or rinse may help some if it reduces the amount of bacteria in your mouth; Animated-Teeth.com describes the types of mouthwashes. Hydrogen peroxide can kill many of the bacteria that cause bad breath; rinse your mouth with a mixture of 50 percent hydrogen peroxide and 50 percent water.
- If self-help methods don't cure your bad breath, get a thorough dental check-up, because periodontal (gum) disease can also cause bad breath. And if the problem isn't solved by dental treatment, your dentist may refer you to your doctor for a medical check-up to see if a more serious condition may be causing your bad breath. Some long term bad breath sufferers have reported being helped by laser sinus surgery at a cost of $2,500 -$3,500 or more. Some doctors operate clinics aimed at helping halitosis sufferers; costs start around $300 -$500 or more, and some patients report spending $2,000 -$3,500 or more on a combination of medical visits and products intended to cure bad breath. Insurance might a cover a portion of these costs.
What should be included: | - It can be hard to detect your own bad breath. Animated-Teeth.com explains how to decide if you have halitosis, and the methods academic researchers use to test for bad breath. Treating your bad breath will depend on its cause. WebMD.com lists ways to change your breath.
Shopping for treating halitosis: | - Talk to your regular dentist about bad breath treatment options, or check with your state dental association to see what resources there are in your area.
- MayoClinic.com explains how to prepare for a doctor appointment to discuss your bad breath problem.
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Material on this page is for informational purposes only and should not be construed as medical advice. Always consult your physician or pharmacist regarding medications or medical procedures.
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Article updated January 2009 |
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