Every Question. One Place.
Everything you need to know before your first visit — the tests, the process, the conditions we treat, and what to expect from treatment.
Who We Are & What We Do
The background, scope, and approach of Fresh Breath Clinic.
We are a specialist halitosis clinic, not a general dental practice. We treat chronic bad breath as a primary medical condition, using instruments not found in general dental settings (Halimeter®, DNA microbiome sequencing, BANA chairside testing). Most dental clinics treat bad breath incidentally during routine appointments — we exist specifically for patients whose halitosis has not resolved through conventional dental care.
We operate at the intersection of both. Our primary tool set is clinical dental — oral examination, subgingival assessment, periodontal evaluation, tongue coating analysis. But our diagnostic approach is medical: objective gas measurement, genetic bacterial sequencing, systemic cause screening (medications, GERD, sinus, Sjögren's). We coordinate with physicians and ENT surgeons where non-oral causes are identified.
No referral is required. You can book directly. Many of our patients have previously seen general dentists, ENTs, or gastroenterologists without resolution and come to us independently. Some do arrive with a referral from a physician who has ruled out systemic causes — this is also welcome and we provide a clinical summary back to the referring doctor upon request.
Completely. Confidentiality is standard, and we are specifically aware that chronic halitosis carries a psychological weight that other conditions do not. Our team treats every patient with the same clinical neutrality as any medical consultation. There is no judgment, no lectures, and no repetition of advice you've already tried. The purpose of the consultation is to produce data — not commentary.
We are located in Beirut, Lebanon. Exact location details and directions are available on our Book Appointment page and we will send them directly via WhatsApp when you confirm your appointment. We see patients by appointment only.
What Happens At Your Visit
Everything you need to know about your consultation, testing, and the path to a diagnosis.
Your first consultation is 45–60 minutes. It begins with a Halimeter® VSC gas measurement to establish your baseline reading. We then take a detailed history — medical background, medications, prior treatments, onset and pattern of symptoms. This is followed by a full visual oral assessment using a high-resolution intraoral camera, salivary flow measurement if indicated, and BANA chairside testing if periodontal involvement is suspected. At the end of the consultation you will have a clinical direction, an explanation of your results, and a preliminary treatment hypothesis. DNA testing is initiated from this visit if indicated.
From your first visit to a complete diagnostic picture typically takes 4–7 days. The first consultation produces the Halimeter® baseline and visual data on the same day. DNA microbiome results return within 48–72 hours of sample receipt at the laboratory. BANA results are available within 15 minutes of testing. The treatment plan is confirmed and initiated either at the first visit (if the picture is clear from clinical data alone) or at a brief follow-up once DNA results are returned.
Most patients require 3–5 visits in total: the initial diagnostic consultation, a follow-up to review DNA results and initiate full treatment, 1–2 treatment sessions, and a final review with Halimeter® re-measurement to confirm resolution. More complex cases (severe periodontal disease, GERD-linked, or multi-cause presentations) may require additional sessions, but we plan visits efficiently and do not schedule unnecessary appointments.
For the Halimeter® test to be accurate, please avoid eating, drinking anything other than water, smoking, using mouthwash, or chewing gum for at least 2 hours before your consultation. Bring a list of all current medications, as this is reviewed in every first consultation. If you have had previous dental X-rays or relevant blood tests, bring those too — but they are not required.
Yes. Many patients bring a trusted person for support. We ask that clinical information and test results are discussed with the patient's consent if others are present, which we confirm at the start of the consultation.
Our Instruments Explained
What our diagnostic tools are, how they work, and why they matter to your diagnosis.
The Halimeter® is a portable gas chromatography device that measures volatile sulfur compounds (VSCs) in breath at parts-per-billion accuracy. VSCs — primarily hydrogen sulfide, methyl mercaptan, and dimethyl sulfide — are the chemical compounds responsible for the characteristic smell of bad breath. A Halimeter® reading gives an objective, numeric baseline that removes all subjectivity from the assessment. It also allows us to track the precise degree of improvement at every follow-up visit.
A standard bacterial culture grows whatever bacteria happen to proliferate in lab conditions — typically the fast-growing, easy-to-culture species, which often misses the slow-growing anaerobes most responsible for halitosis. DNA next-generation sequencing (NGS) reads the genetic material of all bacteria present, regardless of whether they can be cultured. This gives us a complete species map at the genetic level — including Treponema denticola, Porphyromonas gingivalis, and Tannerella forsythia, which are the primary anaerobic VSC producers and are reliably missed by standard culture.
The Halimeter® is in-clinic and is used at every consultation. It is not sent to a laboratory — it produces readings on-screen immediately during your appointment. DNA microbiome samples are collected in-clinic and shipped to our USA laboratory partners; results return digitally to the clinic within 48–72 hours of receipt.
You receive all your results in full. Halimeter® readings are displayed on screen during the consultation and we document them in your patient record. DNA microbiome results are provided as a report showing the species identified and their relative abundance. BANA results are documented. You can request a copy of all your results at any time.
Understanding Your Cause
Why bad breath persists despite clean teeth, treatments, and specialist visits — and what the actual causes are.
Clean teeth do not preclude bad breath because the majority of VSC production occurs in the posterior tongue coating, the tonsil crypts, and the subgingival sulcus — not on the visible tooth surfaces. Additionally, causes such as GERD, post-nasal drip, medication-induced dry mouth, and systemic conditions have nothing to do with tooth hygiene. A dentist assessing you at a routine check-up is not typically looking for halitosis causes beyond the visible tooth and gum surfaces.
Sinus surgery or treatment addresses the mechanical obstruction of sinus drainage — but it does not eliminate the bacterial colonisation that sinus disease enables. Chronic sinus disease deposits bacteria-laden mucus onto the posterior tongue and nasopharynx. Even after surgery, the residual bacterial population on the tongue can continue producing VSCs independently. In these cases, our treatment targets the remaining oral and post-nasal bacterial load directly.
GERD-linked halitosis typically presents with breath that is worse in the morning or after lying down, a concurrent history of reflux, heartburn, or burping, and a VSC profile that is partially attributable to oral causes and partially to extraoral (stomach) gas. We screen for GERD as part of the first consultation history. Where it is suspected, we coordinate with a gastroenterologist for concurrent management. Our role is to address the oral component while the gastroenterologist addresses the gastric component.
Yes, though the relative frequency of causes differs in children. Tonsil stones and adenoid-related post-nasal drip are more common in children than in adults. Bacterial halitosis and medication-induced dry mouth are less common but do occur. We see patients from adolescence upward. Younger patients are assessed using the same diagnostic approach, adapted in explanation and process to their age and comfort.
Not necessarily. General medical testing screens for systemic disease — blood disorders, liver conditions, metabolic causes. These are rare. The much more common extraoral causes — GERD, sinus disease, medication effects — may not appear on standard blood panels. If all systemic causes have been excluded, the most likely explanation is oral or post-nasal, which is where our diagnostic protocol begins.
What to Expect From Treatment
What targeted treatment involves, how quickly it works, and how we measure resolution.
Treatment is entirely specific to your diagnostic findings. It may include: targeted antimicrobial formulations selected for the bacterial species identified in your DNA results; ultrasonic subgingival debridement for periodontal-origin cases; tongue microbiome restoration therapy using probiotic protocols that competitively suppress pathogenic species; ozone-irrigated tonsil crypt treatment where tonsilloliths are identified; and salivary stimulant or substitute therapy for xerostomia-driven cases. Generic mouthwash is never our primary treatment — it is at best supportive.
Most patients report a subjective improvement within the first 2 weeks of treatment initiation. Halimeter® re-measurement at the 4-week mark typically shows a 50–70% reduction in VSC readings from baseline. Full resolution — defined as a sustained reading below 50 ppb — is achieved in most cases within 4–8 weeks.
If a first-line protocol produces insufficient reduction, we re-evaluate. This may involve requesting an antibiotic sensitivity panel from the laboratory to identify which specific antimicrobials will be most effective against your bacterial profile, adjusting mechanical treatment, or escalating to a specialist referral (periodontics, ENT, gastroenterology) if the cause requires intervention beyond our remit. No patient is considered a treatment failure without a full exhaustion of the diagnostic and protocol options.
This depends on the cause. Bacterial halitosis driven by a specific pathogen can recur if oral hygiene is insufficient to prevent recolonisation — we provide a post-treatment maintenance protocol to minimise this risk. GERD and medication-induced causes may require long-term management. Tonsil stones can recur if the tonsils are not removed (tonsillectomy is discussed as an option for frequent recurrence cases). We provide a post-treatment review at 3 months to confirm sustained resolution.
Our 93% resolution rate is defined as a Halimeter® reading below 50 ppb sustained across two consecutive visits following the completion of treatment. It is not self-reported — it is measured with the same instrument used for the baseline. The 7% of cases that do not achieve full resolution typically involve GERD or Sjögren's-related dry mouth where the underlying systemic condition limits the extent of oral improvement possible.
Booking Your Consultation
How to book, when we're open, what things cost, and what's included in your care.
You can book by phone, WhatsApp, or through the contact form on our Book Appointment page. We respond to all booking requests within a few hours during clinic hours. WhatsApp is the fastest method — most patients receive a confirmed time slot within the same day.
We are open Monday to Saturday. Weekday hours are 9:00 AM – 6:00 PM. Saturday hours are 9:00 AM – 2:00 PM. We are closed on Sundays and public holidays. Some early-morning and late-afternoon appointments may be available on request — please ask when booking if standard hours are difficult.
Consultation fees and testing fees are provided on request via WhatsApp or phone. Fees cover the consultation, Halimeter® analysis, visual assessment, and medication review. DNA testing, BANA testing, and treatment sessions are priced separately. We are transparent about costs before any test is initiated — no test is run without your prior consent and knowledge of the fee.
Coverage depends on your specific insurance plan and whether the insurer covers diagnostic testing under dental or medical benefits. We can provide an itemised invoice for any tests or treatments for insurance submission. We recommend checking with your insurer directly — we are happy to provide the relevant diagnostic codes upon request.
Yes. Follow-up is a standard part of the protocol. All treatment plans include scheduled re-measurement visits with the Halimeter®. We do not discharge patients based solely on their subjective feeling that the problem is resolved — resolution is confirmed by data. Post-treatment monitoring is included as part of the overall care package.
We're Here to Answer Everything
No question is too basic or too embarrassing. Call, WhatsApp, or book an appointment — we'll give you honest, direct answers before your first visit.
No judgment · No lectures · Just clinical answers