Halitosis: being part of the cure

Did you know that one of the main reasons people finally go to a dentist is because they are worried about their bad breath?How often have you seen people avoiding direct conversation by covering their mouth with their hand or turning their head away before speaking?Today it is estimated that 25 million Americans suffer from chronic halitosis. Many of these people are unaware of their offending breath until somebody has the courage to tell them. But once they are aware that they have the problem, they will usually do anything to avoid the embarrassment that it causes. All one has to do is look at the millions of dollars a year spent on various mouthwashes, flavoring agents, mints, and other masking substances to see that halitosis is a serious social problem.Studies show that disorders of the oral cavity are responsible for most instances of bad breath. But it is clear when you look at the numbers, companies producing mints and sprays are the ones carrying out bad breath treatment and not the dentist. This is because most dentists receive little or no instruction in dental school about the causes and chemistry of halitosis. When it comes to helping people who suffer from bad breath, the dental community is clearly missing the boat.When was the last time you asked one of your patients if they ever suffer from bad breath?Click here to read the entire article.Click here to read more articles written by Dr. Rob Veis for Dental Economics.