Request an Appointment

Toggle navigation
  • Facebook
  • blog
  • Twitter
KC Aiken, D.D.S., Inc.
7 East Main Street Hudson, OH 44236(330) 653-3311
  • Home
  • Staff
  • Office
  • Services
  • New Patients
  • Contact Us
  • Appointment Request
  • Patient Education
  • Reviews

Bad Breath

Online Dental Education Library

Our team of dental specialists and staff strive to improve the overall health of our patients by focusing on preventing, diagnosing and treating conditions associated with your teeth and gums. Please use our dental library to learn more about dental problems and treatments available. If you have questions or need to schedule an appointment, contact us.

Bad Breath, or halitosis, is an embarrassing problem that affects millions. To combat it, many people use breath mints, chewing gum, sprays and mouthwashes. In fact, Americans spend billions of dollars each year on these products — even though they offer only a temporary fix. Getting rid of persistent foul odors on the breath in a lasting way requires a little detective work on the part of dental professionals.

Bad breath can affect anyone temporarily — think of “morning breath,” or the way your mouth smells after eating onions or drinking coffee. Some people, however, exhale noticeably unpleasant odors throughout the day, every day. That's when it is important to find the cause of the problem, so a lasting solution can be achieved.

Causes

Bad breath.Most often, bad breath originates in the mouth, from trapped food particles that are then processed by oral bacteria. The most common location for mouth-related bad breath is the back of the tongue, where large quantities of naturally occurring bacteria can thrive on food remnants, dead skin cells and post-nasal drip (mucus coming down your throat from the nose). The waste products of these bacteria include volatile sulfur compounds (VSCs), which have a smell resembling rotten eggs. Other places where bacteria and food particles can be trapped are between the teeth, beneath the gums, and in oral appliances or dentures. Poor oral hygiene sets the stage for these problems, as well as for tooth decay and gum disease, which can also cause foul odors.

It's possible for other health conditions and habits to affect your breath. Halitosis may occur in people who have a sinus or bronchial infection, an oral yeast infection (which can be caused by antibiotic use), or even a systemic (general body) disease such as diabetes, kidney failure or a liver malfunction. A chronically dry mouth (xerostomia), which is often a side effect of certain medications, and tobacco use can also contribute to this problem. Even stress, dieting and hormonal changes can affect your breath.

How Dentistry Can Help

Since bad breath most often originates in the mouth, the dental office is the best place to start in your quest for consistently better-smelling breath. After a thorough examination, any of the following might be recommended:

  • Oral hygiene instruction. It might be that you could benefit from a demonstration of how to brush and floss more effectively, or how to better clean your dentures. You can also be instructed on how to use a tongue scraper to clean the back of your tongue if necessary.
  • Professional dental cleaning. Food particles, bacteria and calcified deposits can become trapped where you can't reach them — but special dental instruments can. Regular professional cleanings are a great way to promote good oral health in general and good-smelling breath in particular.
  • Treatment of tooth decay. Bad breath may be caused by large, open cavities that need to be filled, or old, defective fillings that need to be repaired.
  • Treatment of gum disease. More advanced forms of gum disease cause the gums to separate from the teeth, forming pockets in which bacteria can thrive. If you have gum disease, you may need periodontal (gum) therapy, which can include a deep cleaning of the roots of your teeth, antibiotics, and, in advanced cases, periodontal surgery.
  • Treatment of infection. Infection that doesn't originate in your mouth needs to be treated by the appropriate medical professional. Whatever the cause of your bad breath, we are here to make sure you get the treatment you need.

Related Articles

Bad Breath - Dear Doctor Magazine

Bad Breath Bad breath has a significant impact both personally and socially on those who suffer from it, as well as those on the receiving end. It may be the result of poor oral hygiene, or a sign of a more serious underlying condition. Find out what causes bad breath and what you can do about it... Read Article

Oral Cancer - Dear Doctor Magazine

Oral Hygiene Behavior — Dental Health for Life The best tools for maintaining your oral health and minimizing dental problems are a quality toothbrush, toothpaste, a roll of dental floss, approved mouthwash and good diet. This article details a winning game plan for oral health... Read Article


Learn More

  • General Dentistry
  • Teeth Whitening
  • Dental Implants
  • Fillings

Patient Education

Patient Education
  • Educational Videos
  • Cosmetic & General Dentistry
    • Cosmetic Tooth Bonding
    • Crowns & Bridgework
    • Fillings
    • Gummy Smiles
    • Inlays & Onlays
    • Mouthguards for Adults
    • Mouthguards for Children
    • Nitrous Oxide
    • Porcelain Veneers
    • Removable Dentures
    • Smile Makeover
    • Snoring & Sleep Apnea
    • Teeth Whitening
    • TMD
    • Tooth-Colored Fillings
    • Tooth Contouring & Reshaping
    • Tooth Decay Prevention
    • Tooth Wear
  • Emergency Care
    • Gum Injuries
    • Orthodontic Emergencies
    • Tooth Pain
    • Traumatic Dental Injuries
  • Endodontics
    • Combined Root Canal & Gum Problems
    • Cracked Teeth
    • Root Canal Retreatment
    • Root Canal Surgery (Apicoectomy)
    • Root Canal Treatment
    • Root Canal Treatment FAQs
    • Root Canal Treatment for Children
    • Tooth Sensitivity
    • Whitening Traumatized Teeth
  • Implant Dentistry
    • Bone Grafting
    • Dental Implants FAQs
    • Fixed Dentures
    • Hidden Consequences of Losing Teeth
    • Top Reasons to Choose Dental Implants
  • Oral Health
    • Aging & Dental Health
    • Antibiotic Premedicationfor Dental Treatments
    • Bad Breath
    • Blood Pressure Medications & Your Gums
    • Diabetes & Oral Health
    • Dry Mouth
    • Eating Disorders & Oral Health
    • Fluoride
    • Geographic Tongue
    • Missing Teeth
    • Nutrition & Oral Health
    • Oral Cancer
    • Oral Piercings
    • Osteoporosis & Oral Health
    • Pregnancy, Hormones & Oral Health
    • Preventive Dentistry
    • Professional Teeth Cleanings
    • Stress & Oral Habits
  • Oral Hygiene
    • How To Brush
    • How To Floss
    • Interdental Cleaning Devices
    • Mouthrinses
    • Oral Hygiene for Kids
    • Tips to Prevent Cavities
    • Toothpaste
  • Oral Surgery
    • Blood Thinners & Dental Procedures
    • Bone Grafting
    • Cleft Lip & Palate Repair
    • Corrective Jaw (Orthognathic) Surgery
    • Extractions
    • Facial Trauma and Reconstructive Surgery
    • Headaches & Migraines
    • Oral Cancer Screening
    • Oral Diagnosis and Biopsies
    • Sedation Dentistry
    • Sinus Surgery
    • Wisdom Teeth
  • Orthodontics
    • Adolescent Orthodontic Care
    • Adult Orthodontic Treatment
    • Brushing & Flossing with Braces
    • Early Orthodontic Treatment
    • Invisalign for Adults
    • Invisalign for Teens
    • Post-Orthodontic Care
    • Temporary Anchorage Devices (TADS)
    • Thumb & Finger Appliances
    • Types of Braces
    • Orthodontic Emergencies
    • Orthodontic FAQs
    • Orthodontic Headgear
    • Orthodontics & Dental Hygiene
    • Your First Orthodontic Appointment
  • Pediatric Dentistry
    • Age One Dental Visit
    • Fluoride & Your Child
    • Nitrous Oxide for Children
    • Pregnancy & Your Child's Developing Teeth
    • Sealants
    • Sleep Apnea & Behavior Problems in Children
    • Space Maintainers
    • Teething
    • Thumb Sucking
  • Periodontal Therapy
    • Cosmetic Gum Surgery
    • Gum Grafting
    • Loose Teeth & Bite Problems
    • Non-Surgical Periodontal Treatment
    • Oral Systemic Connection
    • Periodontal (Gum) Disease
    • Periodontal Flap Surgery
    • Professional Teeth Cleanings
    • Ultrasonic Cleanings
  • Technology
    • Air Abrasion
    • Anesthesia Wand
    • Cone Beam CT Imaging
    • Digital Dental Impressions
    • Digital X-Rays
    • Intra-Oral Camera
    • Laser Decay Diagnosis
    • Laser Dentistry
    • Same-Day Crowns (CAD/CAM)

Our Location

7 East Main Street
Hudson, OH 44236
(330) 653-3311

Map & directions

Office Hours

Office Hours
Monday: 07:30 AM - 04:30 PM
Tuesday: 07:30 AM - 04:30 PM
Wednesday: 07:30 AM - 04:30 PM
Thursday: 07:30 AM - 04:30 PM
Friday: Closed
Saturday: Closed
Sunday: Closed


Meet the Doctor


Kevin Aiken, DDS

In 1978, Dr. Aiken returned to Hudson, Ohio and opened his own practice.  Since then, Dr. Kevin C. Aiken, D.D.S., Inc. has grown into the established dental practice that it is today.
Learn more about Dr. Aiken



Dentist - Hudson, KC Aiken, D.D.S., Inc., 7 East Main Street, Hudson, OH 44236 (330) 653-3311

  • Home
  • Staff
  • Offices
  • Services
  • New Patients
  • Patient Education
  • Contact Us
  • Appointment Request
  • Dental Website Design Copyright © MH Sub I, LLC dba Officite
  • Disclaimer
  • Patient Privacy
  • Site Map