90% of cases are intraoral. Professional cleaning, tongue scraping, antimicrobial rinses. Treat underlying conditions: periodontal disease, candidiasis, xerostomia.
90% of cases are intraoral. Rule out poor hygiene, periodontal disease, tongue coating, xerostomia, and oral infections.
Perform thorough dental prophylaxis to remove plaque and calculus. Scale and polish teeth.
Instruct on proper brushing (2-3 minutes, twice daily), daily flossing, and tongue scraping (more effective than brushing).
Consider short-term Chlorhexidine 0.12% (2 weeks maximum) or recommend zinc-containing rinses.
Address periodontal disease with therapy, treat candidiasis with antifungals, manage xerostomia with saliva substitutes.
Reduce sulfur-containing foods (garlic, onions), increase water intake, avoid smoking and alcohol.
| Cause | Management |
|---|---|
| Poor Oral Hygiene | Professional cleaning, patient education |
| Periodontal Disease | Scaling and root planing, antimicrobial therapy |
| Tongue Coating | Tongue scraping, antimicrobial rinses |
| Candidiasis | Antifungal therapy (topical or systemic) |
| Xerostomia | Saliva substitutes, stimulants, treat underlying cause |
| Extraoral (10%) | Refer to physician for systemic evaluation |