Is Gum Disease Causing Your Bad Breath?
Bad breath, or halitosis, can quickly steal your self-confidence and even jeopardize your success in business and relationships. Before you continue popping breath mints, you should know that persistent smelly breath needs a dentist’s attention. In fact, serious oral health conditions like gum disease can cause halitosis. In such cases, proper and prompt periodontal treatment is necessary to save your smile and freshen your breath.
In such cases, proper and prompt periodontal treatment is necessary to save your smile and freshen your breath.
How Does Gum Disease Contribute to Halitosis?
Both periodontal disease and bad breath are caused by excess bacteria in the mouth, which often first develops due to poor oral hygiene. When a collection of bacteria (or plaque) accumulates along the gum line, it hardens into tartar and irritates the gum tissue. If not addressed, the gums may pull away from the tooth roots and form deep pockets of gum tissue that harbor even more stinky bacteria. The tartar can also cause the bacteria to break down the tooth as well as the surrounding gums and bone. This destruction and infection gives off a foul odor that is not welcome inside your mouth. Not brushing and flossing on a regular basis is the most common reason for gum disease development and the bad breath that accompanies it.
Other Setbacks of Periodontal Disease
While bad breath is unwanted, it is a minor disruption compared to the other consequences of untreated gum disease. Beyond puffy and bleeding gums, you may also suffer from loose teeth or tooth loss. Untreated gum disease has also been associated with heart disease, stroke, diabetes and premature births!
Investigate Your Smelly Breath
If bad breath is causing you to shy away from close encounters, don’t ignore it. First, we recommend spending more time and energy into your dental care routine at home. This includes flossing daily and brushing for two minutes twice a day. Since gum disease occurs in stages, the quicker you detect it, the easier it is to reverse. Therefore, routine dental visits every six months become critical in the prevention of gum disease and bad breath.
Is it time to see a dentist about your chronic breath odor? Call Laguna West Dental today.