The smile is one of a person’s most prominent facial features. Unfortunately, many patients aren’t completely satisfied with the state of their smile. While cosmetic blemishes are a common complaint when it comes to the smile, this is not the only problem that patients face. Persistent cases of bad breath leave many afraid to laugh, talk, or share an intimate moment with others. To help patients eliminate this fear and restore fresh breath, Dr. Scott Karafin offers bad breath treatment to his Rancho Santa Margarita patients. Restorative dentistry treatments that address oral health problems are often successful in the treatment of halitosis, but this is just one option that can be explored. Here we discuss the dental treatments that may help our patients get back a fresh, healthy smile.

When patients experience bad breath, most rely on over-the-counter products to freshen it. While mints, mouthwashes, and gum may help to improve the breath temporarily, they aren’t effective for cases of halitosis, those persistent and repeated cases of bad breath. Patients who constantly find themselves battling bad breath need to consider more effective dental treatments. Dr. Karafin will determine the most effective bad breath treatment for patients after diagnosing what is most likely causing the problem, but below are some treatments that may be considered:

• A dental cleaning: For some patients, bad breath is simply a result of poor oral hygiene habits. In these cases, a professional dental cleaning can help eliminate bacteria, plaque, and tartar from the teeth to give patients a clean and fresh smelling oral environment. At these cleanings, Dr. Karafin will also teach proper oral hygiene techniques so that patients can help to maintain a clean smile and fresh breath.
• Restorative dental treatments: Tooth decay is a common source of bad breath. If decay or infection is compromising a patient’s breath, Dr. Karafin offers restorative dentistry treatments that will improve the strength and health of the tooth, which will in turn improve a patient’s breath. Possible restorative dentistry treatments include dental fillings and dental crowns.
• Periodontal treatment: Just as tooth decay can affect a patient’s breath, so can gum disease. When the gums became inflamed and infected by a build up of bacteria, plaque, and tartar, bad breath is a common side effect. Periodontal treatment can eliminate various stages of gum disease and freshen a patient’s breath.
• Dry mouth treatment: Another common cause of bad breath is dry mouth. This is a condition in which a patient fails to produce the saliva that is necessary to lubricate the mouth and rinse away food particles. If dry mouth is a problem, Dr. Karafin can offer treatments such as artificial rinses in order to restore moisture to the mouth. This can be effective in treating cases of halitosis.

Dental treatments can improve oral health and restore clean, fresh breath. However, in some cases, bad breath may be the result of a medical condition or the use of certain medications. If dental treatments fail to prove effective for patients, a general physician should be consulted.

Schedule an Appointment

Whether you’d like to eliminate bad breath, restore the strength and health of your teeth, or enhance the appearance of your smile, Dr. Scott Karafin is here to help. Schedule an appointment at your earliest convenience to learn more about our complete range of dental services. We look forward to hearing from you!