With wearing masks a little more these days, have you noticed some bad breath? Are you brushing your teeth more and using mouth rinse but the bad breath just doesn’t go away? The good news is bad breath can be treated!
To get started, here are some of the common causes of bad breath.
Diet: Certain foods leave a bad odour in the mouth, although these are usually short-term causes of bad breath. Foods such as garlic, onions and other spices are common contributors to bad breath.
Smoking: Tobacco products when broken down can leave behind an unpleasant odour in the mouth.
Medical conditions: Although unlikely, some medical conditions such as reflux, postnasal drip or dry mouth can also contribute to a foul smell in the mouth.
Infections: Infections in your mouth can also leave a bad taste and smell in your mouth. This can usually happen after surgical procedures like wisdom tooth removal or abscesses from gum disease or decay.
Poor oral hygiene: The buildup of plaque around the teeth, tongue and gums can cause bad breath leading to further issues like gum disease, another cause of bad breath.
Gum disease: The bacteria that cause gum disease are one of the most common causes of bad breath and one of the most straightforward treatments that we can help you with. We will discuss this in a little more detail as well as how we can help you manage it.
So, what is gum disease? Gum disease (periodontitis) is a loss of the gum and the bone support around your teeth due to long term build up of plaque and tartar under the gums. Periodontitis often leads to bad breath due to the by products released by the bacteria that cause gum disease. By removing this bacterial build up, you will notice a big improvement in the health of your mouth and your bad breath.
If you are noticing some bad breath or bleeding gums, it might be a sign that you are due for your check up and clean. So how does a dental clean help to fix bad breath? Our professional cleans use special equipment to clean all the hardened bacterial build up under your gums to help reduce the amount of bacteria in your mouth. It is recommended to have this thorough clean every 3-6 months (depending on your condition) with good brushing at home to keep the bacteria levels under control to reduce your bad breath.
It’s also really important how you brush your teeth (and yes, cleaning between the teeth with floss or other special brushes is important too!). You may also want to consider a tongue cleaner to remove the bacteria from your tongue. At your check up and cleans, our dentist will show you how to brush properly and draw your attention to areas that you may be missing.
If you are diagnosed with more severe gum disease, we may recommend a deep clean to thoroughly remove all the hardened plaque (tartar) deep inside the gums or a referral to a specialist to better control your condition. Gum disease, if left untreated, not only causes bad breath but can also lead to your teeth becoming loose and falling out.
At Your Gold Coast Dentist, there are no out of pocket expenses for your regular checkup and clean if you are with a private health fund with dental extras. Not with a health fund? Your check up and clean is $189 including xrays. Call us on (07) 5594 6699 to let our friendly staff help you make an appointment or book online.
