Halitosis (Bad Breath) Treatment in Los Angeles

Solving the Problem of Bad Breath (Halitosis)

Dr. Mobasser specializes in bad breath treatment for patients residing in Los Angeles, Beverly Hills, and areas nearby in CA. Bad breath is a major concern for many Socially and Emotionally and can cause a serious lack of self-confidence. Also known as halitosis, bad breath may be impacting your career and social life in more ways than you realize. It can be a nuisance as well as a handicap.

How should a dentist diagnose halitosis?

Proper diagnosis, finding the cause of bad breath, and proper halitosis treatment can eliminate this problem. Dr. Anthony Mobasser will need to do a comprehensive evaluation first and then diagnose the cause of your halitosis and recommend the proper treatment specific to your needs.

The patient will need a comprehensive exam, and periodontal charting, complete full mouth Xrays, do halimeter testing, check the back of the tongue for plaque accumulation, check saliva, dry mouth, acid erosion, chronic infection existing on the roots of the teeth, check the mobility of the teeth and occlusion.

Halitosis Treatment in Los Angeles Cosmetic Dentist Treating Bad Breath

What is the cause of Bad Breath?

Periodontal or gum disease, Periodontal pockets, geographic tongue, leaking mercury fillings, chronic infection in oral cavity not detected, old fillings with chips and fractures, crowns that are not sealed properly, ledges at the gum lines due to recession of the gums, Acidic Saliva, implant pockets, spaces between teeth or gaps between teeth, rough fillings, root canals failure or improperly fitted porcelain crowns or porcelain veneers, to name a few.

Many factors come to play, many of which are misdiagnosed, and left untreated. The Dentist’s experience and vast knowledge come into play, using the state-of-the-art equipment in combination with years of expertise.

Dr. Anthony Mobasser is an expert in this specialized field of Dentistry.

How much does it cost for Halitosis treatment?

The cost of Bad Breath (halitosis) varies depending on the severity and what caused it. A proper comprehensive examination and records are required before starting treatment.

Depending on what kind of restorations are present in the oral cavity, and the stage of bad breath, the time required to get rid of this issue varies, and generally the longer you wait to see the dentist, the more time and more cost is required to get rid of the halitosis.

How do I prevent Halitosis or bad breath?

  • Brushing, flossing 3 times a day, and rinsing with antibacterial solution regularly.
  • Brushing your tongue to remove food and plaque
  • Keep preventative dental visits to your dentist
  • Avoid certain foods and drinks that can lead to bad breath. Such foods that can cause bad breath include onions, curry, and garlic among many. You’ll also want to avoid alcohol or caffeine, which dry out your mouth.
  • Stop smoking – smoke and tobacco are natural enemies of bad breath.
  • Maintain a moist mouth. Sucking on sugar-free candy, chewing sugar-free gum, and drinking water regularly throughout the day will help you avoid dry mouth.
  • If you wear dentures or partial dentures, clean your dentures in an antimicrobial solution. Dentures are a natural absorbent for bacteria and other causes of bad breath. It’s important to brush them each day with a commercial denture cleaner. It’s also wise to remove your dentures at night and soak them in water or a special solution.
  • Some medications prescribed by your M.D can cause Bad Breath or Halitosis. For example, High Blood Pressure Pills & Anti-Cholesterol Pills can possibly cause dry mouth among others. Please be cautioned: recreational drugs cause Halitosis & Bad Breath. Some raw vegetables including but not limited to broccoli, cauliflower can contribute to the cause of Halitosis.
  • Most bacteria in your mouth cause sulfide compounds which accumulate with the plaque in the back of the tongue creating major Halitosis. Using a proper tongue cleaner is a must in treating Bad Breath.
  • When visiting your dentist make sure that your tongue is ultrasonically cleaned by your Cosmetic Dentist.
  • The treatment for Halitosis usually starts with your gums and tongue and solving the dry mouth issue.
  • Ninety Percent (85%) of the cause of Halitosis is an oral manifestation by nature and usually, Ten Percent (15%) is systemic in nature.
  • Gum Disease, Cavities, decay, Periodontal Pockets, Washed-Out Fillings or Crowns and Porcelain Veneers that are poorly fitted can also lead to Halitosis, and proper dental treatment is required by Dr. Mobasser.
  • See your physician for post nasal drip and sinus problems

How do you cure halitosis naturally?

  1. Your Saliva plays an important role in avoiding Halitosis, therefore eating apples, oranges and another citrus can increase salivary flow washing away particles of food.  However, if a person experiences dry mouth or xerostomia, your chances of having bad breath increase significantly.
  2. Avoid smelly foods such as onions and garlic which are absorbed in your blood, and transferred to your lungs, which are then expelled as sulfide compound gas, which causes mal-odor! Even brushing and flossing will not get rid of the mal-odor fumes.
  3. The polyphenols in green tea are a great aid in preventing bad breath and cavities, however, be aware of the staining of teeth it causes.
  4. Bad breath can be due to systemic diseases such as kidney failure, respiratory infections, diabetes creating keystones, or other medical conditions, hence brushing and flossing does not always guarantee fresh breath.
  5. Meats and cheese can cause sulfide odors, so eat them judiciously.
  6. Many prescription drugs or over-the-counter drugs (roughly around 400 of them), cause dry mouth, which causes bacterial growth, leading to halitosis and decay in conjunction with periodontal disease and bone loss!
  7. Tonsilitis can cause bad breath. The inflammation of tonsils and subsequent gray and yellow deposits in the back of tonsils can also cause mal- odor, Dr. Mobasser recommends nonalcoholic rinses such as gargling with saltwater.
  8. Dr. Mobasser highly recommends you to write and log what you eat, and when flossing, smell the floss for any bad odor, so proper treatment can be prescribed by him.
  9. . A high protein diet can cause ketones, which can develop into bad breath

Visit our dental office in Beverly Hills for a Complete Evaluation and Consultation if you experience any Bad Breath or Halitosis.

Does Mouthwash or gums work to cure Halitosis?

Mouthwash or gums is not a good solution to bad breath as it only masks odors for 15 or so minutes.

Because most over-the-counter mouthwashes have high alcohol content, they may dry out your mouth, which exacerbates the problem. However, 0.1 % CLO2, chlorine dioxide mouthwashes help to reduce volatile sulfide compounds ( they are responsible for malodor).

Dr. Mobasser can prescribe an antibacterial mouth rinse that will help control plaque and bacteria.

Your mouth does need some bacteria,  as a small amount controls the level of harmful organisms that lead to the growth of a yeast-like organism.

Can Halitosis be caused by a systemic condition?

Bad breath also may be caused by a serious medical problem. Those systemic conditions are liver disease, kidney disease, Diabetic ketoacidosis, Stomach ulcers, and Gerd (gastroesophageal reflux disease) among many.

If you experience bad breath, do not wait, make your appointment with Dr. Mobasser so he can first find out the root cause of halitosis, and treat you accordingly.

Why do I have a bad smell when I Floss?

If you are flossing and you smell an odor, this is a sign of infection, caries, decay, inflamed gum, leaking filling, or misfit crown, bridge, implant, or veneer. Need to see an expert, knowledgeable dentist.

How do you get rid of bad breath from your stomach?

In Some cases our Gastro Intestinal tract can be the cause of halitosis, the best way is to consume plenty of water, if that did not help, it is recommended you see a GI specialist for a consult and possible treatment.

What is a Halimeter?

Halitosis

A Halimeter measures the extent of Halitosis, the volatile sulfide compounds (VSC) and is one of Dr. Mobasser’s diagnostic tools.

What to do, if the dental crown or porcelain cap smells bad?

The smell or halitosis around the dental crown or a tooth structure is due to bacterial leakage and the production of sulfide compounds as the result of a bacterial breakdown. The crown fit needs to be checked, the gum health needs to be checked and unfortunately, the possibility of decays exists!

An expert dentist can diagnose this, by taking x-rays and doing his clinical exam!

In certain cases, the crown is over a root canal tooth, in which there is the possibility that the root canal is gone bad and there is bacterial leakage and infection under the root canal, in which unfortunately you need to redo the root canal again or do the root canal and the crown over again if there is decay involved also.

What to do if your porcelain veneer smells?

Check with an expert dentist to check for inflammation of the gum, check the fit of veneer, the possibility of root decay, and leaking margins which can cause bacterial accumulation and bad breath.

The sooner you see an expert dentist the better off you are!

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