When should I see my dentist about bad breath?

When should I see my dentist about bad breath?

If daily flossing along with tooth and tongue brushing doesn't seem to help, schedule an appointment with your dentist. You may have gum disease, stubborn plaque, or another condition that requires treatment. If you're taking a prescription medicine and have persistent dry mouth, you may need to talk with your doctor about whether it's possible to switch to another drug. Hundreds of medications have the potential to dry out the mouth, and a different type or smaller dose could solve the problem.

In the best-case scenario, you may be one of the lucky ones whose breath gets rave reviews. If so, that doesn't mean you should ignore oral hygiene. Keep your mouth clean and moist, and you have a good chance of avoiding putrescine, cadaverine, and those other unwanted bacterial guests. Your breath will stay fresh, sighs of relief included.

-- Chris Woolston is an award-winning health and medical writer and a contributing editor at Consumer Health Interactive. He has also written for Hippocrates, WebMD, Health, and the Chronicle of Higher Education.