Halitosis specialist Dr. Richard Miller counsels a patient on oral health care. Experts say mouthwash often provides only a temporary solution for bad breath. Photo Courtesy of Dr. Richard Miller
When Amanda Welch’s boyfriend asked her to marry him last spring, she accepted his proposal on one condition: that he find a cure for his bad breath.
"I just couldn’t live with the smell," said the Arlington resident. "It was horrible. I told him he had to do something."
Foul breath, also known as halitosis, can affect a person socially and professionally. "I have heard many stories about bad breath ruining people's lives: business executives losing their jobs, young people whose dating lives were ruined, and even a few engagements and one marriage that were broken off," said McLean resident and halitosis specialist Richard A. Miller, DDS. He is also the author of "Beating Bad Breath."
Halitosis can be triggered by everything from poor oral hygiene to smoking to diabetes to kidney failure. "Typically, bad breath originates in your gums and tongue. It is caused by waste from bacteria in the mouth, decayed food particles [or] other debris in your mouth, and bad oral hygiene," said Dr. Raymond K. Martin, spokesman for the Academy of General Dentistry. "The decay and debris produce a chemical compound that causes the unpleasant odor. Even stress, dieting, snoring, age and hormonal changes can have an effect on your breath. Dry mouth and tobacco also contribute to the problem."
Mouthwash, experts said, often only provides a temporary solution. Martin recommended cleaning one’s tongue with a toothbrush or tongue scraper, increasing water intake and chomping on sugar-free gums that contain xylitol, a sugar substitute. He also advised those who wear dentures, mouth guards or retainers to clean the devices thoroughly between uses.
Bad breath treatment centers offer hope to those with super-sized malodorous dilemmas. During the initial session, which typically lasts about an hour and a half, patients get a diagnosis of the culprit behind the offensive fumes. "We have a halimeter that monitors the amount of sulfite in the breath that causes odor. This gives an idea of the severity of the problem," said Miller, who runs the Fresh Breath Clinic in Falls Church. "We check for bleeding under the gums and look for everything that can possibly contribute like stones in the back of the throat or anything going down the sinuses."
After the diagnosis, patients get a treatment plan. Services don’t come cheap, however. An initial office visit starts at $350 and increases according to the severity of the problem. Most insurance plans don’t cover services for halitosis.
Still those who’ve cleared the air say finding a solution is worth every penny.
"We’re getting married, so it was worth it to us." said Welch.