The Arizona Republic
Dr. Dailley's newest dental venture says a mouthful about our society at
large. Director for the Center for Breath Treatment in San Francisco, Dailley
already has treated hundreds of patients for bad breath since opening his clinic
there last fall. If the American Dental Association's statistics are correct,
he'll likely have plenty of more clients for years to come. About 10-15 percent
of us are considered down in the mouth, fighting a losing battle against
halitosis. "To these people, it's kind of like leprosy," Dailley said. "It's
probably one of the biggest social issues out there as far as social hygiene is
concerned." Indeed, with as many as 25 million to 85 million Americans suffering
from varying degrees of bad breath, more dentists are beginning to focus their
practices on breath treatment, said Chris Martin, a spokesman for the ADA.
"Dentists are in a good position to treat this," said Martin, who has witnessed
a growing number of such centers popping up in the United States during the last
three to four years. "People are more concerned about a whole range of things
about their health and appearance. This sort of fits in with that." For many of
those that have suffered from halitosis, however, the problem is anything but a
cosmetic one. "Poor breath can cause relationship difficulties, leaving the
sufferer feeling like a social outcast," said Dailley, who has practiced
dentistry for the past 16 years. "It affects your outlook on life," said Susan
P., a Concord, Calif. insurance broker who has lived with bad breath for 40
years. A recent patient of Dailley's, she asked to omit her last name to avoid
further social stigma. "I grew up with a very low self-esteem. Kids could be
very cruel." she said. I grew up realizing I had a (breath) problem. That
prevented me from socializing, and as an adult from being a productive member of
the workforce. It held me back on positions - at least I thought it did." For
years, Susan sought the help of her doctor and dentist, but to no avail. "I knew
the problem could be resolved some way, but my dentist would say, 'There's
nothing that could be done,' or my doctor would say, 'Millions of people suffer
from bad breath and you just have to live with it.' But I never gave up hope."
Salvation came in the form of three visits to Dr. Dailley's clinic, where he
examined her mouth, took an extensive medical and dental history and determined
the culprit to be a bacterial problem in Susan's mouth. Bacteria had settled in
throughout Susan's tongue, a place she had never thought before to clean with
her toothbrush. Although gastrointestinal problems are sometimes to blame, most
cases of halitosis stem from bacteria that can become rampant when the
environment in the mouth is out of balance, Dailley said. This can be triggered
by sinus or allergy conditions, medications that cause mouths to dry up, and
even medical conditions like diabetes. To help measure the extent of a halitosis
sufferer's problem, Dailley employs the use of a Halimeter machine, which
monitors the level of volatile sulfur compounds in the mouth. The bacteria
produce a gas that smells like rotten eggs; it can be neutralized with special
toothpastes, gels, and solutions. Treatment can also include outside dental care
(Dailley boasts that he never uses a drill on patients in his office),
instruction in removing bacteria, and a supply of the nontoxic topical solutions
that cut down on bacteria. The cost: about $500.00, most of which is not yet
covered by insurance. "Still, it's a small price to pay, Susan said. " I think
anybody with this type of problem would certainly pay the price. How much money
do we pay in mints and mouthwashes? And all that does is just hide the problem."
Specialists like Dailley boast 98-99- and even 100 -percent success rates, and
draw patients from around the world. "Most of the patients we treat have had the
problem for decades," Dailley said, and most are between their late 20s and late
40s. "It's not because those are the ones who most demographically have the
problem. They're the ones who are most motivated to deal with it. In truth,
halitosis knows no barriers: race, religion, or socioeconomic backgrounds." The
ADA does not report, however, that men are more likely to suffer from chronic
bad breath than women. Still, no one is immune, part of the reason why
over-the-counter "cures" like mints, rinses, sprays and chewing gums have become
a $1 billion industry. Those products do little but temporarily mask the
problem. According toa 1992 test by Consumer Reports of 15 mouth rinses, all
worked for at least 10 minutes at covering up "garlic pizza breath." After an
hour some were still effective, but by the end of the second hour, none were.
Susan said her recent breath treatments have made a world of difference. "I'm
not shy in my closeness to people. I am not hesitant about presenting myself. My
smile is much brighter."
*note* This is a reprint of the oct 23,
1997 article.
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