Everyone has known halitosis, sooner or later. The question is how long will it last? If you suffer from chronic bad breath, there is more likely a more fundamental issue at hand that you should know about. Just washing it away with an over the counter mouth rinse will not solve the problem, and might even make it last longer. The root cause of bad breath is the collection of bacteria in the mouth. Various sicknesses such as infections and gastrointestinal disorders can provide an environment for these bacteria to develop, but unless the origin of the bacteria is addressed and dealt with, bad breath will remain. The mouth is naturally covered with plaque that lets microbes to produce if correct dental hygiene is not applied. It is these microbes that will induce proteins to become stale, thus creating the sulfur smelling gasses known as VSC. Removing these microbes is the optimal way to handle bad breath, so discovering them is the first step. Periodontal pockets noticed in gum disease is the ideal home for these microbes, as they can conceal themselves from your tooth brush and multiply like crazy. Alcohol based mouth wash will prevent plaque, but it will also dry the mouth out and halt the bodies natural defense to the microbes. These can actually make the issue more complicated. Tonsillitis, nasal infections, diabetes, and even anorexia can all add to the bacteria’s growth, and permit microbes to breed, bringing with them bad breath. Because of this, managing halitosis is easiest done by finding the source of these bacteria, and removing the microbes first. Consulting with a Frisco family dentist will help you come up with a unique program to address your specific halitosis condition in order to put an end to bad breath once and for all.