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Why Do A Hydrogen Breath Test? Dental Care Brisbane

Posted by on December 4, 2015 in Dental Tips | Comments Off on Why Do A Hydrogen Breath Test? Dental Care Brisbane

Do You Actually Need Hydrogen Breath Testing In Brisbane?

If you’ve suffered from bad breath you may have heard about a new breath testing service, specifically for diagnosing the underlying cause of your bad breath, that’s now available in Brisbane.  But if you type ‘breath testing’ into your search engine, chances are that all you’ll see is information about the hydrogen breath test method used in a lot of Brisbane clinics.

Learn about the difference between hydrogen testing and the new, more effective bad breath testing technology here.

 

What is breath testing?

There are several different types of breath tests available that test for different health conditions.  Breath tests all have one thing in common: they all test for and measure different gases produced by bacteria.  Some breath tests require that you avoid certain foods for several days beforehand, or, consume special formulations before the test.

The most widely known breath test is the hydrogen breath test which is used to diagnose several digestive disorders. Unfortunatley, though, it will not provide any useful information if you’re searching for answers to bad breath.
Hydrogen breath testing

The hydrogen breath test is increasingly being used as a diagnostic tool for IBS and food intolerances.  Hydrogen breath testing is used to diagnose:

·         Fructose intolerance

·         Fructose malabsorption

·         Lactose intolerance

·         Lactulose intolerance

·         SIBO (small intestinal bacterial overgrowth)

Excess hydrogen is produced by bacteria in the digestive tract when given special formulations containing large amounts of either fructose, glucose or lactose.  Breath samples are taken at regular intervals and tested for levels of hydrogen to make a diagnosis.

 

hydrogen breath test

 

Bad breath testing

Bad breath testing using the Oral Chroma assesses levels of bacteria in the mouth that produce volatile sulphur compounds, responsible for causing 90% of chronic bad breath.

The Oral Chroma bad breath analyser measures:

·         Hydrogen sulfide – responsible for the signature smell of rotten egg gas.

·         Methyl mercaptan – often described as smelling like faeces or a barnyard.

·         Dimethyl sulfide – has a cabbage like smell that is highly disagreeable even at very low concentrations.

By identifying the level and the type of bacterial culprits behind your bad breath, your dentist can formulate a highly targeted treatment to eliminate the bacteria and correct the problems that allowed them to live happily ever after in your mouth in the first place.

 

Oral Chroma

 

Other types of breath testing

The Helicobactor pylori breath test measures urea produced by H. Pylori, the bacteria responsible for causing stomach ulcers and some cases of oesophageal reflux.  Your dentist may recommend that you speak with your doctor about this particular breath test if they feel that reflux is contributing to your bad breath.  Stomach acid regurgitating into your mouth from reflux while you sleep can promote the growth of bad breath producing bacteria.

 

Hydrogen vs. bad breath testing

It’s important to ask your doctor or dentist for the right type of breath test:

·         If you’re searching for answers to your IBS or food intolerances then you need hydrogen breath testing.

·         If it’s an effective solution to your bad breath that you’re after, then the breath test for you is the Oral Chroma bad breath analyser.

 

Book your Oral Chroma bad breath analysis

A hydrogen breath test is not the best detection method for every condition. Contact Robert Duhig Dental, Brisbane’s premier breath clinic today to discuss how the Oral Chroma bad breath analyser can give you the answers you need to eradicate bad breath for good.

 

If bad breath is ruining your life, you need the Oral Chroma bad breath test, not a hydrogen breath test.
Call our Brisbane clinic on 07 3269 2443 to book an appointment today!