Fresh Breath

 FRESH BREATH

Don’t let bad breath keep you from doing the things you love. It’s time to act now and stop allowing chronic bad breath to keep you from getting close to others. A quick consultation is all it takes for you to be on the road to having fresh, clean breath.

We Can Help

At Your Community Dental we understand how important it is to have fresh, clean breath. That’s why we take the time to consult with our patients in order to find the root cause of oral malodor.

During the consultation

1.      We will look at your medical history to see if there have been any ear, nose, or throat problems.

2.      We will also look at any medication used, gastrointestinal issues, even allergies that could be linked to the halitosis.

3.      Then, we will have a look at your diet history and social habits to help narrow down a cause. You see, halitosis is not a diagnosis. It is a symptom of something else. Once we are able to find the source, we can find a way to stop the bad breath from happening.

4.      Lastly, our dentist will perform a complete oral examination. This is done to see if there are any dead or decaying teeth causing or aiding in the creation of bad breath.

By the end of the consultation a plan to get rid of the halitosis is created. This plan completely depends on your specific situation and could vary anywhere from removing dead teeth, to performing a deep clean inside the mouth. This first step is the most important because unless you know the possible causes of your bad breath, there is no way of attacking the source. 

Periodontal Therapy

Often times gum disease or rotted teeth are the culprit for causing bad breath. If this is the case, the dentist may advise periodontal therapy. There are two types of periodontal therapy: surgical and non-surgical.

SURGICAL periodontal therapy includes, but is not limited to, any of the following procedures:

·         Crown Lengthening: Sometimes bits of food and plaque can collect in folds and cracks in the gums, especially when the gums are overlapping particular teeth. Crown lengthening is when the gums are re-contoured to provide more surface area for the teeth in order to keep the gums clean and healthy.

·         Ridge Augmentation: When teeth are pulled or fall out it can be difficult to keep the area where the tooth was clean. Ridge augmentation is the process of filling these indentations so that food and plaque are unable to collect and produce halitosis.

·         Pocket Reduction Surgery: This surgery illuminates, or at least greatly reduces, the space between the tooth and the gums. By filling this space there is no room for unwanted matter to collect. This process can also help perfect your smile.

NON-SURGICAL periodontal therapy procedures:

·         Deep Cleaning: This is usually the first procedure recommended. By performing a deep clean, the dentist is able to notice particular problem areas in the mouth, as well as, provide a smooth and clean mouth for the patient. It is advised to have this done regularly, even if the halitosis goes away. Continually having a deep clean will help fight against any future gum disease and other factors leading to mouth odor.

·         Antibiotics: The dentist may want to deliver local antibiotics below the gumline if there is evidence of severe gum disease. This helps kill the disease so that the halitosis discontinues.

·         Occlusal Adjustment: If your bite does not line-up correctly, there can be openings for food matter to collect and rot, causing halitosis. By making this adjustment, through the use of mouth pieces and alignment practices, bad breath can be eradicated (plus your mouth and jaw become correctly aligned and healthy).

There are more procedures available, but these are the ones most commonly used. But, again, it all goes back to the consultation to find out the best plan of action for your particular situation.

Different Types of Halitosis

Believe it or not, there are different types of halitosis. And by finding out the kind you have it can help track down the root cause of the bad breath. Here are the most common types:

·         Fruity Breath: When your gums do not receive enough blood, disease begins to thrive. This particular type of gum disease has a distinctively fruity smell. A tart, stale odor is often found in diabetics whose bodies are unable to properly distribute blood where it is needed.  

·         Fecal Breath: There are actual cases where the halitosis smells of feces. This deeply unfortunate type of odor is a direct result of a severe bowel obstruction. Vomiting is also a direct symptom of fecal breath, and anyone experiencing such issues should seek medical help right away.

·         Ammonia Breath: This is when an individual suffers from chronic kidney failure and often has ammonia scented breath. This, like fecal breath, is something that should require immediate medical attention.

It goes without saying that anyone experiencing halitosis will suffer negative consequences. Bad breath can stifle your friendships, romantic relationships, even your career.

Some Natural Remedies

Imagine always feeling insecure, not about what you are saying, but in how it is received because your breath smells. This is the case for millions of Americans, but it does not have to be. As a matter of fact, if you are one who suffers from halitosis of any kind, there are some simple homeopathic things that could help get rid of, or at least lessen, the odor. These are good procedures to use until you can make your consultation with us and we can find the source of the halitosis.

·         Drink lots of water: Drinking and swishing cool water in the mouth can rid the mouth of unwanted smells. This is especially useful in the mornings, right after you brush your teeth.

·         Brush more: Many individuals suffering from halitosis find that brushing after every meal helps maintain fresh breath. Add in flossing once or twice a day and you should notice some positive results.

·         Fresh toothbrush: The bristles to your toothbrush can hold smells when the brush is not replaced properly. Changing your toothbrush every two to three months is ideal for keeping things fresh.

·         Scrape your tongue: Each morning after you brush, take a tongue scrapper (or a spoon) and drag it across the surface of the tongue. This will scrape off some of the unwanted bacteria, fungus, and dead cells that produce bad odors.

·         Chew cloves: It sounds strange, but chewing a handful of cloves can help kill halitosis. The antiseptic qualities of cloves help fight halitosis.

·         Do the obvious: Chewing gum, eating mints, and staying away from smelly foods (foods with a lot of garlic, onion, etc.) can all help reduce bad breath.

Unfortunately, for most people suffering with halitosis, the natural remedies reduce the odor rather than illuminate it completely.

The only true way to be cured of halitosis is to find the cause of the odor and stop it there. And for this to happen, you need a good dentist. Luckily, we have some of the best, most trained dentists available at Your Community Dental who are just waiting to help you enjoy life again.

-Andrae Bergeron