The Causes of Bad Breath
Have you noticed having bad breath lately? It is a problem that affects many people and makes them feel self-conscious about their smiles. A person with bad breath feels awkward interacting with others and may not know the cause.
What are the Causes of Bad Breath?
Among the causes of bad breath, you can find the following:
- Diet – If you include spicy foods in your diet, you will experience bad breath. After eating these, brush your teeth (and after meals, in general).
- Smoking – Tobacco products cause bad breath. We recommend drinking a glass of water afterward, and if possible, brushing your teeth right away.
- Lack of oral care – The most common cause for bad breath is poor oral hygiene. We will tell you the basics of oral care further.
- Xerostomia – It consists of a dry mouth due to not having enough saliva.
- Gum disease – This infection results in many problems, including bad breath. We will explain it below.
What is Gum Disease?
Gum disease or periodontal disease is the infection of the gums, bone, and other connective tissue that supports dentition.
Our dentist in Red Deer will examine the patient to determine the cause of gum disease. The most common one is the lack of oral hygiene.
The basics of oral care for preventing gum disease are the following:
- Brush your teeth – twice a day for at least two minutes. You will remove the dental plaque, and it will not turn into tartar. Do not forget the tongue because in there, most bacteria reside.
- Floss daily – Use interdental brushes, dental floss, or any device your dentist recommends for removing plaque between teeth. Many people think brushing is sufficient; however, complete oral care includes flossing.
- Stay hydrated – Xerostomia (dry mouth) makes bacteria thrive. Your saliva removes bacteria, and not producing enough increases your risk of oral diseases. Drink enough water daily for this issue. If you suffer from xerostomia, your dentist can recommend treatments like artificial saliva sprays.
- Avoid smoking – Tobacco products impact your oral health. Smoking affects the attachment of the bone and your dentition.
- Visit your dentist regularly – You may benefit from a biannual visit to our dental clinic in Red Deer. Our specialists will monitor your oral health and determine if you need to include something extra to your oral care routine, like mouthwashes. For example, they may recommend using Chlorhexidine gluconate if you have gum irritation.
What is Periodontitis?
It is the infection of the connective tissue that supports teeth. If you suffer from it, you may benefit from our treatment of gum disease in Red Deer. You can prevent it by sticking to the recommendations above.
What is Root Planing and Scaling?
The treatment for periodontitis is called root planing and scaling. A patient with periodontitis has deep pockets, bad breath, tartar, and teeth shift due to the lack of support. With root planing and scaling, a dentist near you will remove bacteria from teeth and roots. The surface of the latter will be soft for reattachment to your dentition.
If the patient has lost too much bone or gum tissue, the doctor can perform bone and gum grafting. The procedure consists of taking tissue from the donor site to the recipient site.
In graver cases, a patient can lose dental pieces because there is no healthy bone supporting these. A doctor should treat your gum disease near you before getting to this point.
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For more information, you may contact our centers at
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health.