halitosis phobia
Posted: Sun Feb 26, 2006 5:12 pm
Dr. Finklestein and Jimi:
I understand that there is a psychiatric disorder called halitosisphobia. Apparently, people are horribly fearful that they smell and will go through all kinds of different treatments even though they don't have the problem.
I think anyone who thinks they have bad breath and is suffering because of it, should seek to get feedback as to the reality of their condition. This does not have to be parents and parents are usually the ones who will not tell you the truth, they want to spare your feelings and make you feel better.
But friends, mates, maybe syblings, possibly doctors would offer a better source for finding out what your breath is really like.
My experience is this, when I was 16 my best friend told me about the problem. She watched me brush my teeth repeatedly and use many different mouthrinses but nothing solved the problem.
Other friends told me too that I smelled and many times they said it was the fecal odor. When I got married my husband began to tell me the same thing, that my breath was bad and it had a fecal odor.
I of course, did everything I could to improve the problem, but nothing worked becaused I checked with my husband each time I tried another product or diet or whatever.
I've had friends over the years pretty much tell me the same things and it is clear that I have halitosis, the chronic kind, and it remains with me to this day, after 25 years.
I would consider myself a verified case, but many out there think they have a problem and just may not. Or it may not be as serious a problem as they think.
The fact that Dr. Finklestein has encountered many of these people in his practice is probably not unusual. The good thing is that he does not try to treat people who just think they have bad breath, that would be wrong.
So, I think Dr. Finklestein maybe concerned about getting a flood of patients who literally waste his time, because his time is about treating the bad breath with his laser treatment, and not figuring out who has bad breath and who doesn't.
LJ
I understand that there is a psychiatric disorder called halitosisphobia. Apparently, people are horribly fearful that they smell and will go through all kinds of different treatments even though they don't have the problem.
I think anyone who thinks they have bad breath and is suffering because of it, should seek to get feedback as to the reality of their condition. This does not have to be parents and parents are usually the ones who will not tell you the truth, they want to spare your feelings and make you feel better.
But friends, mates, maybe syblings, possibly doctors would offer a better source for finding out what your breath is really like.
My experience is this, when I was 16 my best friend told me about the problem. She watched me brush my teeth repeatedly and use many different mouthrinses but nothing solved the problem.
Other friends told me too that I smelled and many times they said it was the fecal odor. When I got married my husband began to tell me the same thing, that my breath was bad and it had a fecal odor.
I of course, did everything I could to improve the problem, but nothing worked becaused I checked with my husband each time I tried another product or diet or whatever.
I've had friends over the years pretty much tell me the same things and it is clear that I have halitosis, the chronic kind, and it remains with me to this day, after 25 years.
I would consider myself a verified case, but many out there think they have a problem and just may not. Or it may not be as serious a problem as they think.
The fact that Dr. Finklestein has encountered many of these people in his practice is probably not unusual. The good thing is that he does not try to treat people who just think they have bad breath, that would be wrong.
So, I think Dr. Finklestein maybe concerned about getting a flood of patients who literally waste his time, because his time is about treating the bad breath with his laser treatment, and not figuring out who has bad breath and who doesn't.
LJ