Exploring the Link Between Halitosis and Gum Disease
Halitosis, commonly known as bad breath, is something that most people go to great lengths to avoid. It’s not hard to see why: persistent bad breath comes with significant social stigma and can cause anxiety, low self-esteem, and otherwise negatively affect a person’s quality of life.
The condition is so dreaded that Americans spend nearly $1.5 billion on mouthwash every year. Not to mention, it comprises the third most common reason patients seek dental care. While many patients may consider malodor just an unfortunate side effect of a garlic-heavy lunch, and many episodes can certainly be linked to diet and/or poor oral hygiene, dental professionals should be on the lookout for the other culprit: gum disease.
Gum disease, and its more severe form, periodontitis, are infections that stem from an accumulation of biofilm in the oral cavity, particularly in subgingival pockets. When these bacterial colonies come in contact with certain proteins and peptides, they begin to break them down. This process produces what’s known as volatile sulfur compounds,
or VSCs, along with the malodor we associate with halitosis.According to one study, up to 80% of patients with some degree of gum disease also exhibited halitosis. For most people, good oral hygiene—daily brushing, flossing, and rinsing as well as routine professional cleanings—suffices to keep biofilm and “perio breath” at bay. Unfortunately for others, traditional approaches alone aren’t enough to get the job done; biofilm stubbornly sticks around and so does halitosis.
Enter the Perio Protect™ Method. Designed to supplement conventional periodontal maintenance at home, Perio Protect is an innovative, easy-to-use, and clinically tested system that uses custom Perio Trays™ to deliver 1.7% hydrogen peroxide into periodontal pockets as deep as 9mm. When held in place for just minutes a day, the proven antibacterial solution diminishes the presence of the most damaging oral pathogens by up to 90% and leaves behind an oxygen-rich subgingival environment that promotes host healing. In a matter of weeks, the majority of patients can expect relief from all common symptoms of gum disease including gingival inflammation, tenderness, and bleeding upon probing. You can also expect reductions in pocket depths. The good news for halitosis sufferers, in particular, is that Perio Trays support long-lasting fresh breath by tackling malodor at its source. As a bonus, the peroxide gel also provides prescription-strength whitening, adding even more value for patients.
The Perio Protect Method is safe, comfortable, and convenient. Treatment can be effortlessly integrated into existing home-care regimens, with clinicians who prescribed Perio Trays to their patients reporting high levels of compliance. In fact, Perio Protect is so revered by patients that, in a controlled clinical trial, 100% of participants said they would recommend it to someone else.
To learn more about how Perio Protect can help your patients regain the confidence that bad breath and gum disease take away, visit their website.
