Bad breath diagnosis ...

The key to successful modern treatment is to find out where the odour is coming from and to tailor the treatment to match the source of the problem.

A highly specialist machine called a halimeter is used to gain a measurement of the strength of odour and to determine which of the three main sulphide gases responsible for bad breath and halitosis are present in the breath. This provides valuable clues as to the source of the problem.

A thorough examination is then made of the entire mouth including the tongue, tonsils, gums and teeth. This examination frequently involves taking an x-ray of the jaws. The flow rate of the patient’s saliva is measured and a simple test is made to assess the possibility that the patient may be suffering from diabetes.