Chronic bad breath is a problem for over 90 million people. 90 percent of the time, the culprit is dental plaque! Plaque accumulates between the teeth, under the gums, and on the back of the tongue. The plaque-causing bacteria release sulfur compounds, resulting in malodor.

• Poor oral hygiene
• Poor restorations that trap food particles and bacteria between teeth
• Gum disease
• Health problems (diabetes, sinusitis, gastric reflux, tonsillitis, kidney problems, liver malfunction, and others)
• Dry mouth (a result of medications or radiation to the head and neck area)
• Dehydration
• Dieting
• Hormonal changes
• Certain foods (garlic, onions, cheeses, alcohol, etc)
• Smoking

Breath mints or over the counter mouth rinses or sugar free gum only temporarily relieve the symptoms of halitosis, but they do not treat the underlying cause.

• Keep good oral hygiene: brushing twice daily, flossing once daily, an using a tongue scraper to clean away bacterial build-up and alleviate odor
• Schedule regular dental check-ups and professional cleanings to remove plaque and bacterial build-up and keep teeth and gums healthy
• Make sure to replace old defective restorations
• Drink pleny of fluids (especially in dry climates like Las Vegas)
• Quit smoking!
• See your physician to rule out systemic health problems
• If you are taking medications that cause you to have dry mouth: see us for special oral hygiene products