I Have Chronic Bad Breath: How Can a Dentist Help with My Halitosis? By Dr. Scott Parr on April 25, 2024

At the Smile Center in Virginia Beach, VA, we’re proud to offer patients general dentistry and specialized dental care services. This means we can handle all kinds of dental problems, from tooth loss to toothaches and tooth decay.

Bad breath is one of the most common problems we get questions about. It turns out that halitosis can be more than just off-putting or embarrassing. Let’s cover some causes of bad breath and your options for treatment.

Why You Should Take Your Bad Breath Seriously

Bad breath is not just a sign you should brush and floss more. Problems in your mouth or other parts of your body may be sending you a warning sign.

Dental Problems Associated with Chronic Bad Breath

Chronic bad breath could be a symptom of all kinds of oral health problems. This includes:

Severe tooth decay
Gum disease (gingivitis or periodontitis)
Root canal infections
Dental abscess
Dry mouth

If you notice chronic bad breath accompanied by a toothache, bleeding gums, or a persistent bad taste in your mouth, that’s generally a sign you need to speak with a dentist.

General Health Problems Linked to Chronic Bad Breath

In addition to dental problems, chronic bad breath could be a symptom of a systemic disease or serious medical problem.

A number of respiratory diseases and gastrointestinal diseases can both lead to foul odors in your mouth that are not linked to poor oral hygiene or dental problems. People with liver disease, diabetes, oral cancer, and heartburn may similarly experience chronic bad breath.

Diagnosing the Cause or Causes of Bad Breath

During your visit to our Virginia Beach dental office, we will be sure to discuss all of the issues that you have experienced related to bad breath. After reviewing your symptoms and other issues, we can perform a full dental exam. We’ll check for any damaged teeth, inflamed gums, sores on the gumline, and so forth.

If your bad breath is linked to dental health issues, we’ll review options for treatment. If there’s a chance your bad breath is caused by a medical problem, we’ll recommend that you speak with your general practitioner as soon as possible.

Potential Options for Treatment

Here are six treatment options for bad breath that our team may recommend.

Treating Your Tooth Decay - If you have bad cavities, we can treat them with fillings, inlays, onlays, or dental crowns.
Treating Your Gum Disease - We have different periodontal treatments depending on how badly your gums are inflamed.
Treating Your Root Canal Infection - Endodontic care will remove diseased dental pulp and save your tooth from extraction.
Tooth Extraction - If your tooth is rotting or is beyond saving, the best option is to have it extracted.
Special Treatments for Bad Breath Control - Antibacterial mouthwashes and antiseptic rinses could be needed to treat oral bacteria.
Reviewing Your Oral Hygiene Routine - Just in case, we might recommend some improvements to your current oral hygiene practices.