Periodontists Fight Bad Breath With Lasers and Rescue Valentine's Day

February 13, 2012 Kicks Off National Bad Breath Awareness Month: Get Screened Today!

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Feb 09, 2012, 01:57 ET

WASHINGTON, Feb. 9, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- In an effort to rescue Valentine's Day for Americans with bad breath, leading Periodontists are now treating gum disease-related bad breath with FDA approved laser gum therapy.

Monday February 13th, the day before Valentine's Day, kicks off National Bad Breath Awareness Month. This is a grassroots dental health campaign sponsored by Periodontists who treat gum disease with FDA approved lasers and wish to raise the awareness among Americans about the prevalence of gum disease and its health risks.

Philadelphia Periodontist Dr. Stephen Brown, Long Island Periodontist Dr. David Scharf, Columbus Periodontist Dr. Jason Stoner, Detroit Periodontist Dr. Joseph Nemeth and Washington DC Periodontist Dr. Karl "Tony" Rose and Dr. Georgann Apgar have all embraced FDA approved laser technology to treat gum disease.

According to a recent Harvard School of Medicine report, approximately 90 percent of bad breath originates from oral bacteria. Harvard's report provides strong evidence that the same bacteria that cause halitosis also produce gum disease. When plaque collects under the gums, the bacteria in the gums release foul-smelling sulfur compounds. The FDA approved laser gum treatment specifically targets and removes gum disease bacteria.

The American Academy of Periodontology (AAP) estimates that approximately 75% of Americans suffer from some form of gum disease - from mild cases of gingivitis to the more severe form known as periodontitis.

The symptoms of gum disease, according to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), include:

Bad breath that won't go away
Red or swollen gums
Tender or bleeding gums
Painful chewing
Loose teeth
Sensitive teeth
Receding gums or longer appearing teeth

Periodontists, who receive three additional years of postgraduate education beyond dental school, are dentists who specialize in the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of gum disease as well as in the placement of dental implants.

Anyone with bad breath is encouraged to contact these Laser Periodontists and schedule a Bad Breath Screening that includes a medical history review, a gum disease assessment and a diet evaluation to determine the likely cause of the bad breath.

BadBreathAwarenessMonth.org features complimentary videos and facts about preventing and treating bad breath and gum disease provided by leading Periodontists across the country.