The Connection Between Bad Breath And Dental Health

Halitosis (bad breath) is a common factor in 85% of people with dental problems. The dental problems can be any of the following:

gum disease

cavities

poor oral hygiene

oral cancer

bacteria on the tongue

Is there a connection between having bad breath and the existance of a dental health problem? Is a dental health issue the root cause of the bad breath? If it is true that the bad breath is caused by a dental health problem, then using a mouthwash product is just covering up the problem. The problem will still exist and therefore when the mouthwash wears off, the bad breath will continue to exist.

Regular dental check-ups, brushing and flossing your teeth on a regular basis and remembering to brush your tongue will all help to prevent and discover dental problems. Once the dental condition is discovered, treatment plans can begin to correct the problem.

How does each of the dental problems actually cause the bad breath?

Gum disease

Periodontal disease (gum disease) is an infection in the gums that surround your teeth. Having untreated gum disease is the number one reason for tooth loss in adults. Gum disease occurs in two stages: Gingivitis and Periodontitis.

Gingivitis – This is the early stage of gum disease. If treated, the gum disease can be reversed and the patient can again experience healthy gums. The signs or symptoms of gingivitis are red and swollen gums. If gingivitis is not treated properly, it can advance to the next stage of gum disease, which is Periodontitis.

Periodontitis – This is the serious stage of the disease, where it is more advanced and goes further than the gums. It has infected the bone that surrounds teeth. This causes the teeth to become loose and eventually to fall out. Signs and Symptoms are frequent Bad breath, red and swollen gums that bleed easily, gums that appear to have separated from your teeth, loose teeth, a change in your bite (which would be difficult for most of us to know, but a dentist would pick up on this) and a change in the way your partials or dentures fit you.

There are several risk factors that make some people more susceptible to gum disease they are:

Certain medications

Crooked teeth

Diabetes

Fillings that are defective

Oral Contraceptives

Poor fitting bridges

Poor dental hygiene (not brushing or flossing)

Pregnancy

Tobacco use

Cavities and Poor Dental Hygiene

Cavities happen when there is a hole in the tooth (caused by tooth decay). Decay happens when we eat starchy or sugary stuff and these things get together with plague (the sticky substance on our teeth) on our teeth. The combination of the starchy and sugary with the plague can form a acid on our teeth that can eat through the enamel on our teeth, causing the hole to form.

Prevention:

Brush your teeth properly at least twice a day. Floss daily and go to see your dentist at least once every 6 months. Make sure you eat healthy foods and try to limit your choice of sugary foods and beverages.

When you do not practice good dental habits, you run the risk of dental and medical problems: bad breath caused by gum disease, infection, bone loss, heart disease, oral cancer(mouth, lips and throat) and strokes. Poor dental hygiene not only makes your teeth look bad (yellow and dirty) but your breath will stink. No one wants to get close to someone with bad breath. When you forget to brush your tongue, bacteria can gather there and cause bad breath too. Brushing your tongue with a soft toothbrush removes this bacteria and helps to keep your breath fresh.