Tag Archives: gums

Common Reasons for Bad Breath

We all know about the bad breath and we all know about the embarrassment it can result in. But what’s more important to know is the reason for bad breath. This way, you can avoid the embarrassment it can cause.

Reasons for bad breath

There can be a number of reasons for halitosis, also known as bad breath.

  • It starts with the foods we eat. Consumption of garlic, onions, spicy foods and/or coffee can leave your breath in less than ideal condition. Surely you are going to want to regain the freshness of your breath. Chewing sugar free gum or rinsing your mouth with a non-alcoholic mouthwash can be quite helpful in this regard.
  • If you consume tobacco in any shape, you need to keep it in mind that its disadvantages extend beyond bad breath. Tobacco use can result in several oral and overall health conditions which may include gum disease and even oral cancer. If you want to have fresh breath and good oral and overall health, you need to make sure that you are living a tobacco-free life.
  • Certain dental and oral health conditions can result in bad breath. Those conditions mainly include cavities and gum diseases because both conditions are caused by dominant oral bacteria which is not only odor-producing but highly infectious one. Teeth crowding and ill-fitting dentures are also the prominent reasons for bad breath. Brushing and flossing are important oral hygiene practices but you need to make sure that you visit your dentist to prevent or get rid of any dental health problem which can result in bad breath.
  • If you are not brushing and flossing your teeth properly, your teeth will start accumulating plaque. This plaque is a bacterial buildup which is also consisted of leftover food particles and saliva. This sticky film is not only infectious for teeth and gums but it can cause bad breath. Again, good oral hygiene routine and regular dental visits are extremely important to avoid and/or treatment of hardened plaque buildup.
  • Certain oral and overall health conditions can also result in bad breath. Those conditions mainly include dry mouth, diabetes, sinus problem, tonsillitis and respiratory issues.

Avoiding bad breath

To avoid bad breath, you first need to understand the reasons which may cause this problem. For this purpose, you need to make sure that you never miss any dental visit. Moreover, you will need to stick with an effective oral hygiene routine in order to keep your teeth and gums in good state.

Dealing With the Tooth Damage

Damage to the teeth is no fun. It doesn’t matter if you have all or no teeth intact, a hurting mouth can be quite a bad experience to have. However, the good news is that you can get help from restorative dentistry. There is no oral condition you cannot find a cure for. Even if the condition you have is the severe one, there is always going to be a way out of that condition.

Here, you may wonder what restorative dentistry is. It is the part of dentistry that deals with treatments such as crowns, bridges, dental implants, dentures and root canals. The smile can get damaged due to decay and trauma. However, restorative dentistry is what can be quite helpful in dealing with these issues.

When a tooth is lost and jawbone starts deteriorating, you may feel your face developing a hollow sunk-in area which doesn’t only look bad but it also tells other people that there is something wrong with your oral health.  To deal with this specific issue, dentists have discovered pretty effective ways to graft the bone and then place a tooth to make your smile whole again.

When it comes to restorative dentistry, the first thing to talk about is the dental implant. Who would have thought a few decades ago about having a lost tooth restored in such a way that it could restore functionality along with the aesthetics? The science of functionality is associated with the root which is naturally penetrated into the jawbone. All other traditional restorations do not have anything to do with the jawbone. However, dental implant is something quite different and most effective due to the fact that it has a metal root which is surgically inserted into the jawbone. This surgical insertion is so beneficial that it stimulates the jawbone and prevents its deterioration. On the top of the metal root, an abutment is placed. This abutment is the holder of the crown. This tooth has complete capability to endure the pressure which comes from biting and chewing.

After you have lost all of your teeth, you will be left with no option other than dentures. However, traditional dentures do not work well most of the times because of the ever changing structure of the jawbone after the teeth are lost and the lack of adhesion of the dentures. However, there is another way which involves used of implants. Implant-anchored dentures are permanently fixed dentures which do not fall of. They provide capability to bite and chew in the normal way.

Sometimes, you might lose the visible potion of your tooth but the root remains undamaged. This is the perfect time when you should get a crown in placed of the damaged tooth. The dentist will not extract out your tooth but he/she will scrap the reasonable amount of visible tooth structure. This minimally emerged tooth then allows the fitting of a crown. After this procedure, your tooth becomes the whole again.

No matter what restoration you are in the need of, you need to visit the dentist and get recommendation. During normal checkup, your dentist will refer you to the specialist.

How to Prevent Tooth Decay 

Do you have cavities? While common, you may wonder if there are ways to prevent, or even reverse this? Here, we’ll tell you how to do so. Plaque forms due to the sugars that are there, destroying the teeth through a biofilm that forms along the lining of the gum, after you’re done eating. This bacteria within the plaque does combine with the carbs and sugars and acids form, and this attacks your teeth directly.

What’s the best way to prevent this? Obviously the right oral care does, but here are ways for you to prevent this from happening.

Watch What you Drink 

What you put in your mouth period will make a difference. The best drink to have when you’re trying to neutralize some of those acids is water, and if you can’t access a toothbrush, this is one of the best ways to handle the situation.

You can also prevent further damage through using a straw. The straw sends what’s inside all the way down to the throat, bypassing the teeth for the most part, so you don’t have to worry as much about it getting onto there. 

Eat the right foods 

You should also look at what you eat. Sugary foods will wreck your teeth, and you should try to incorporate meals that are far more nutritious than anything. Also, limit the carbs that you have too, as this is something that’ll definitely be a problem, since it does contain a bit of sugar, which is food for the nasty bacteria in your mouth.

Fruits are good in moderation, but fibrous veggies that you have to chew are going to be your best friends. 

Use good toothbrushes 

When did you last change the toothbrush that you’ve been using? If it’s hard for you to remember, that’s a sign that you need to do something.

On average, after three months, you need to change your toothbrush. If you’ve had an infection in your mouth, or a cold or virus, you want to make sure that you change this too.

This is partially because the bristles are frayed, and plus, after getting sick, using an old toothbrush is a little bit gross.

The right kind of toothbrush will help with prevention of cavities, but going for softer bristles is ideal, since it’ll prevent the enamel from wearing down.

Chew Gum that’s Sugarless 

Wait, chew gum that’s sugarless? 

Yes, it’ll prevent cavities. That’s because sugarless gum has xylitol in them, and this is one that’s a sugar alcohol, so you don’t have to worry about the plaque forming, or the way that it attaches. It’s seen in many cases to prevent things as well, and this increases the saliva that you’re dealing with too, so you’ll be able to neutralize a ton of those acids. 

Get Antacids 

If you’re someone that deals with GERD or any sort of acid reflux, you should try to take antacids for this, so that you don’t have stomach acids forming.

This is because the stomach can cause acidic to come up, and what that gets on the teeth, this breaks it down, and it creates a sensitivity, along with a tooth decay, which of course, is not fun whatsoever. 

These are simple to find, and even just something over the counter will do the trick.

Obviously, this isn’t all of the tips, but this is a  good way for you to start, especially if you’re trying to reduce tooth decay, and you’re looking for the culprit behind it, so that you can do something about this right away for your own personal care.