In our last blog, we discussed the importance of caring for your teeth and gums. You learned that gum disease is the number reason for tooth loss and discovered who is at a higher risk of getting gum disease. It’s overwhelming to consider the far-reaching effects of gum disease, even beyond the overall health risks, but today we’ll discuss bad breath.
Halitosis is a common problem in which an odor is omitted from the mouth. Halitosis affects about 20 percent of Americans and is actually one of the most common reasons patients consult oral health professionals. This is a multi-layered issue that usually cannot be solved by masking it with breath mints, mouthwash or gum. In fact, consistently using breath mints or chewing gum – especially those high in sugar – can actually create more oral health problems.
Our New Albany dental office can provide preventive care that will keep your mouth healthy and your breath fresh.
Here are some problems that could be causing your bad breath:
You avoid floss. We hear from patients all the time who have trouble flossing regularly. We tell our patients that they only have to floss the teeth they care to keep. That’s a flippant answer but actually very accurate. We understand that flossing is not totally comfortable – especially if you do not already have a good routine down. But think about it this way: by flossing, you are cleaning the surface of your tooth that your toothbrush cannot reach. Your tooth consists of a crown and a root. Think of the crown as the tip of the iceberg. It’s very important, but you also have to be aware of what lies beneath your gums. If you’re not flossing, than you’re actually not cleaning about 40 percent of your tooth and simultaneously subjecting your gums to dangerous plaque and bacteria that cause infection and tooth decay. Plaque buildup also can cause who to have bad breath.
You have problems with dry mouth. There is a real medical issued xerostomia that pertains to chronic dry mouth. You probably have never thought about this, but saliva plays an important role in your oral health. It helps control bacteria levels and washes away dead cells that form on the gums, cheeks and teeth and tongue. If you do not have proper saliva levels, you’re actually at a higher risk of tooth decay. Also, by not having enough saliva to wash away these dead cells in your mouth, you have a higher risk of having bad breath.
You have gum disease. Gum disease goes beyond having a little plaque buildup inside your mouth – though the plaque or nonremoved food debris can likely cause bad breath. Gum disease is an actual infection that exists inside your mouth. The infection can lead to rapid tooth loss and cause you extreme sensitivity.
At New Albany Implants, Dr. Brad and Dr. Ron offer multiple treatments to prevent and treat gum disease, from scaling and root planing to deep cleanings that clear bacteria from the entire tooth – including under the gums.
While our office offers comprehensive care, you’re the best defender against bad breath and gum disease issues. By properly caring for your teeth and gums, there’s a high likelihood you can reverse bad breath on your own – but also know that we’re here to help in anyway that we can. Call us today to schedule your appointment.
