How Has Recent Research Impacted Our Understanding of Halitosis?

Like all scientific fields, the understanding of the medical causes and effects surrounding bad breath, or halitosis, is always advancing. Good work is being done by medical researchers around the world to increase the community’s understanding of halitosis and how it may be prevented or reduced. Unfortunately, with all this research being done, it can be hard to keep up! In this post, we’ll highlight some of the recent findings in the field of halitosis research. And hopefully, these findings will be useful to you if you are trying to get rid of your bad breath.

Dutch Interview to Prove Effectiveness of Expert Help

In the February 2012 issue of the International Journal of Dental Hygiene, an interesting case study was presented. In this case, a cognitively disadvantaged middle-aged Dutch man suffered from severe chronic halitosis. He generally perceived his symptoms to be hopeless, and they negatively affected his quality of life and his motivation to maintain basic hygiene. In the case study, the man was paired with a dental hygienist who took the time to understand his problem and provide targeted recommendations to help him improve his condition. The result of the study showed that this targeted attention could effectively improve quality of life over a short (3 month period) of time, during which he significantly reduced the symptoms of his condition and improved his self-perception as well. What does this tell us? Well, it provides proof that expert advice from concerned individuals such as what may be found at the Center for Breath Treatment can provide very tangible benefits, even to people who regard their case as hopeless.

Can Mouthwashes Effectively Reduce Bad Breath?

Scientists in the Netherlands reviewed over 300 studies to determine whether certain mouthwashes were more effective than others in reducing oral malodor for the August 2012 International Journal of Dental Hygiene. Their conclusion? Chlorhexidine mouthwashes were found to be most effective of the bunch (although they discolor the teeth), and cetylpyridinium chloride and zinc combinations (such as found in BreathRx) were close behind.

Where Does the Tongue Coating Come From?

A study in the December 2012 Journal of Clinical Periodontology looked at the major factors leading to formation of the tongue coating known to contribute to halitosis. It found that level of oral hygiene was the strongest factor – regular hygiene such as good brushing techniques and regular flossing significantly reduce tongue coating formation. Other factors identified include smoking, denture use, presence of periodontitis (inflamed gums), and to a lesser extent, dietary habits. The main takeaway of this study? Follow experts’ recommended oral care routine every day to reduce the severity of halitosis. Oral hygiene can be improved by using better mouthcare technology, such as the Hydro Floss Oral Irrigator. As you can see, there’s lots of great work still being done in the field of dental hygiene to aid in our understanding of halitosis. The experts at the Center for Breath Treatment work on a daily basis to keep up with these trends and provide the very best products for their customers. Have you seen any good studies recently on halitosis or other dental issues? Let us know about them in the comments below.


About the author: Dr. Anthony Dailley is a practicing dentist that specializes in halitosis treatment. He has been practicing since 1981 and graduated from San Francisco State University with a degree in Cell & Molecular Biology, and obtained his dental degree from the Pacific School of Dentistry. Dr. Dailley founded the Center for Breath Treatment in the San Francisco Bay Area and conducts research on curing halitosis. I'm reading: How Has Recent Research Impacted Our Understanding of Halitosis?Tweet this!