What Causes Bad Breath?
"Dragon Mouth" has Americans spending over $1 billion a year on mouthwashes, mints, sprays, drops, gums, and other products that they hope will eliminate their problem. These products are a waste of money and they can actually worsen the odor.

First realize that what you put in your mouth affects your teeth, gums and general health. Everybody knows that sweets cause cavities, however few people realize that liquid sugar causes the most damage. Soft drinks, including diet sodas, are full of acids and sugar. So are juices. They cause your teeth to dissolve in your mouth, forming cavities. That is why we recommend Perio-Plus for you. The concentrated Stannous Floride in this product neutralizes the damage from the acids by mineralizing teeth and stopping the damage caused by the sugar. Perio-Plus hardens teeth and eliminates sensitivity. That is why it also helps if you grind your teeth! When you grind your teeth you fracture tooth enamel at the gumline exposing nerve endings on the roots. This can cause severe sensitivity. The Perio-Plus hardens the root areas and prevents further destruction and more expensive dental work in the future.

Sugar consumption also increases the risk of diabetes and pancreatic disease. Furthermore, sodas/carbonated drinks can weaken bones and muscles by reducing Calcium in your body. Our bodies were not designed to handle the large amounts of sugar and chemicals that our foods contain. To help your body we recommend that you substitute pure water for soft drinks and juices and read lables for the foods that you eat. Visit a health food store and educate yourself about healthier foods.

Mouth Wash and Bad Breath
Most commercial mouthwashes contain alcohol, which dries your mouth and teeth. The drier your mouth gets the more bacteria grow, since there is no saliva to wash them away. This increases the number of cavities and makes your teeth sensitive to cold foods and drinks (especially if you grind your teeth). Furthermore, common mouthwashes, toothpastes, gums and mints can place a "seal-coating" on your tongue. This coating acts to seal the bacteria deeper into the tongue crevices, giving them additional protection to live and multiply. Now you finally know why your Scope and Listerine do not work to cure bad breath! Another problem with alcohol containing products is that they dry your teeth and make them sensitive to cold foods, not to mention increasing the risk of cavities. Some clinical studies indicate that these alcoholed products can increase the risk of mouth and throat cancer by up to 60%.

Morning Breath
Almost everyone suffers from morning breath problems. This is very common because your mouth dries while you sleep, especially if you are a mouth-breather. Again, the drier the mouth gets the less saliva available to wash away the bacteria. Some people can temporarily mask their morning breath odor by brushing, flossing, or drinking water. This only makes the problem worse. Halitosis does NOT improve over time and does not go away with even your best efforts of home care. Some patients with chronic halitosis can develop headaches, bronchitis, sinusitis, heart problems and other health issues. That is why we recommend that you receive a Halimeter Computer Reading to test the level and type of bacteria possibly present in your mouth. (See below)

Chronic Halitosis - Stubborn
Chronic halitosis, on the other hand, does NOT improve over time and does not go away with even your best efforts of home care. Halitosis is a social problem that affects over 50 million people and it can have devastating effects. People tend to form negative impressions about individuals who have bad breath. One's self esteem can be seriously impaired, while social and business relationships can suffer. We have seen patients who have even considered suicide because of their breath problem.

Normal Halitosis - Causes
Halitosis (Bad Breath), in otherwise healthy individuals, is caused by bacteria that reside mainly on your tongue and between your teeth. The tongue is usually the major storage area for these odor-producing bacteria. The tongue becomes coated with bacteria, which ferment proteins and produce smelly gases (rotten egg odor). Your tongue is like a sponge because it has millions of crevices. It absorbs bacteria and gives them a place to hide. The "odor" of chronic halitosis results when bacteria in the mouth and on the tongue cause formation of sulfur compounds. When you use store bought products you place a coating on your tongue and help the bacteria out by "sealing" them down into the tongue crevices. Regular toothbrushes cannot remove these bacteria.

For more serious Bad Breath disorders and Gum Disease/Gingivitis issues click here.

Do You Have Bad Breath?
Most people do not realize that they have bad breath. Are you unsure whether your have bad breath or not? Here is a simple test: ask a child! Another good way is to lick your wrist, let it dry, and then smell it. Sorry about that disgusting part, but you should know whether you suffer or not because it could be affecting your personal and professional life in more ways than you may imagine. Most people do not realize that they have bad breath. Your friends and family may be too diplomatic to tell you the truth, even when they turn away from a holiday kiss.

At Comfort Dental in Southfield, Michigan, we offer a Halimeter reading. The Halimeter is a special machine that measures the level of sulfur in your mouth. Depending on the reading, we examine all possible causes for your problem and we show you how to use the Oxyfresh® products accordingly so so that you will never have to worry about halitosis again.

If you do not live close to our office, then we have made special arrangements for you to be able to purchase Oxyfresh® products direct from the manufacturer. You may go to Oxyfresh.com or you can Call Oxyfresh at 1-800-333-7374 and tell the operator that you would like to purchase products under I.D. # C176239801 or reference name HALMAGHI.

We recommend that you order item #623 to start your treatment, along with the Oral Care Instruction Video that shows you how to cure halitosis. Please check out all of the wonderful products that Oxyfresh® has to offer at www.Oxyfresh.com..

For your convenience we have made arrangements for you to be able to purchase additional products directly from Oxyfresh®.
Call Oxyfresh at 1-800-333-7374 and tell the operator that you would like to purchase under I.D. #C176239801.

Mouthwash is available in gallon size for your convenience. Please specify whether you want Zinc formula or Regular floride - the Zinc is extra strength, but slightly bitter. Ask the operator to send you a free catalog for extra reference. Oxyfresh also offers many other wonderful oral health products.

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Comfort Dental Care is in private dental practice in Southfield, MI, and has been a pioneer in cosmetic dentistry and complex dental care. Dr. John Halmaghi is a graduate of The University of Michigan, Medical College of Ohio, and University of Buffalo, he has maintained over ten times the national continuing education credits, and has written and published numerous articles and textbooks sold internationally. He loves to take on challenging cases.

Also visit Dr. John Halmaghi at www.migraineheadachepain.com to learm more about his successful treatments for TMJ Migraine Headache Pain symptoms explained. Why suffer needlessly with migraine headache pain. Find the cause, get the cure!

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At our office, we do not look at Halitosis treatment as a huge profit center. Rather, we approach it as a service to our patients that helps them improve a part of their lives with our help. It improves referrals and confidence immensely.

Now, here is the basic routine for our breath treatment:

1.  Patient fills out simple consultation form.

2.  Patient introduction and health history is performed. We take the time to see what medications or health issues the patient may have that could contribute to the breath problem. G.I. problems, hernias, ulcers, "heartburn", digestive problems, xerostomia inducing meds, etc. can exacerbate halitosis.

3.  Take two bitewing x-rays, unless patient denies. If patient does not consent, I inform them of the possibility of periodontal issues that we cannot address.

4.  Take Halimeter® reading. Any levels between 150-180 are addressed as minor halitosis problems and treated normally with improved hygiene as discussed below. Any levels between 190-250 are addressed as moderate-severe halitosis problems and treated as discussed below. Any patients who present with levels higher than 250 are considered chronic, and may need antibiotic intervention (Doxycycline 100mg bid x 28 days, with or without periodontal treatment, if necessary) along with the following steps.

5.  Periodontal screening. I feel that every dentist and hygienist can diagnose periodontal problems, however I see patients from other offices every day with undiagnosed periodontal problems. There is a large segment of the population with poorly or completely undiagnosed periodontal problems. These are the same patients that visit the dentist on a regular basis. These are the patients that bring in the profit margin at my office, and they are one of the reasons that we continue to perform Halitosis treatment.

What I am talking about is that I take the time to properly check for periodontal problems. Many patients have what I call the result of "supervised neglect," from years of improper professional care. These patients have burnished interproximal calculus, pocketing, bleeding, and bone loss. A lot of these problems are usually a result of not only improper home care, but also poor professional treatment. I take the time to do what the office down the street has not done properly, maybe for many years. You can diagnose a patient's periodontal condition with two bitewings and a probe. After careful diagnosis, I take the time to inform these patients of their problem and how it is contributing to their breath problem. They watch a video about periodontal disease and then they are informed about the need to perform a complete set of x-rays.

Once they are committed to complete diagnosis, I treat them as a new patient at our office and we perform our normal New Patient routine, including a periodontal chart and restorative findings. At this point I have gone from a $95 visit to a $2000 periodontal case, plus other possible restorative work.

6.  The visit ends with proper instructions on how to use Oxyfresh products to cure the bad breath. The most important part of this education is to get the patient gargling briskly with mouthwash, brushing appropriately, flossing vigorously, and scrubbing the tongue with heavy duty force. The critical part is the scrubbing of the tongue. If the patient can keep their tongue clean and free of sulfur producing bacteria, their problem is solved.

Some patients have a huge gag reflex, so I reassure them that the problem will subside slowly as the brain learns to control the gagging. It helps to have the patient squeeze the tip of their tongue between thumb and forefinger. This breaks the gag reflex somewhat. As a treating dentist you have to emphasize to your patients that the tongue is responsible for 95% of all breath problems. Of course you cannot cure onion or garlic breath, but all halitosis issues can be successfully treated by making sure that the tongue is squeaky clean. Again, the patient must be educated about their problem. Take the time to explain to them how the tongue harbors sulfur producing bacteria. These bacteria hide in the ridges of the tongue and when patients try to use regular toothpaste to brush their tongue they are "sealing" the bacteria deep in the tongue, making the problem worse.

Only Oxyfresh and other chlorine dioxide products can kill the sulfur producing bacteria and get rid of the smell. Also, explain to patients that using mouthwashes such as Listerine, Scope, Listermint, etc. end up killing the good bacteria and allowing the sulfur bacteria to live. Furthermore, alcohol containing mouthwashes can make teeth sensitive by "drying" them, not to mention increasing the chance for oral cancer by 65%. Get your patients to stop using store products and switch them to Oxyfresh.

7.  For patients with periodontal problems, we continue to address the breath issue during their periodontal care. We place these patients on fluoride as well as Oxyfresh. If the patient has xerostomia we also recommend Biotene products or Xero-Lube.

Although you will have to learn more about the specifics of Halitosis treatment, the above format will help you get started. This routine works for most of our patients. The patients that refuse bitewing x-rays are not denied treatment. You can still help these patients by showing them the basics of oral hygiene and tongue scrubbing. Just let them know about gum issues and the future need for evaluation. You'll be surprised how many will return as new patients later. Oxyfresh has available all the products that you need, including patient home care videos. Don't wait any longer to perform this treatment.

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