What is Bad Breath?
A lot of people have experienced that stinky breath or not-so-fresh feeling while on a date, during a job interview, or while just talking to a friend. That is called “Halitosis”, a term used for ‘Bad Breath’. Bad breath can simply arise from that garlicky pasta you ate a while ago, but there can be many other reasons for it. Almost everyone has experienced bad breath, at least once at some point in their lives. Some people might not even be aware of their breath and learn about it from someone else, sometimes affecting interpersonal relationships.
What Causes Bad Breath?
The main cause of bad breath is the presence of bacteria in your mouth (on your tongue or teeth). This could be due to poor oral hygiene, dental caries, gum diseases like gingivitis and periodontitis, or due to dry mouth. Often bad breath is a temporary occurrence due to the foods we take (like garlic, onion, coffee), smoking, and tobacco habits. But a bad breath could also indicate some underlying systemic issues like – gastritis, sinus conditions, diabetes, kidney diseases. Hence, a visit to your dentist can help you rule out any oral problems causing bad breath and identify the cause.
Who Are We?
We are a team of multispecialty doctors at Coquitlam Dental Group, providing quality dental care services for all your oral healthcare needs. We use advanced technologies and state-of-the-art dental setup to make sure that the treatment you receive is nothing less than the best. We cater to and handle dental care for all ages such as cosmetic dentistry, family dentistry, sedation dentistry, missing teeth, and more. Thanks to our skilled and dedicated team, we are able to offer various dental services under one roof.
Why Choose Our Service
We are committed to offering our patients the understanding and respect that they deserve. We strive to provide a comfortable and friendly atmosphere for our patients especially when they feel anxious about seeing a dentist or the dental treatment itself. We make sure that all our professionals have the highest level of accreditation and pursue continuing education to deliver the latest and effective dental treatment to our patients.
Who Can Avail Our Services
If you are experiencing Bad Breath and don’t know what to do about it, you should definitely visit us for a consultation. Regular dental checkups allow your dentist to detect any gum or teeth related problems causing the bad breath and help you to stop them before they get more serious. If your dentist feels that the underlying cause of your halitosis is not related to your teeth, they can guide you and refer you to the appropriate specialist to address the concern.
How It Works
Step 1: Evaluation
It is important to diagnose the root cause of your bad breath, hence your dentist will take a detailed medical and dental history followed by a thorough examination of your oral cavity to assess and detect the presence of any oral or dental issues. Not only your breath but scrapings from your tongue, dental floss or dental appliances like night guard can also be used to assess the intensity of halitosis.
Step 2: Dental Cleaning
Persistent plaque deposits on your teeth are the commonest cause for bad breath. These deposits sometimes harden with time and form firm masses called ‘Calculus’, at the junction between your teeth and gums. Normal toothbrushes cannot remove calculus and fail to reach the inaccessible areas of your teeth. Your dentist can thoroughly clean all the surfaces of your teeth with the help of specialized equipment to help you get rid of the building plaque and calculus causing the malodor. Professional dental cleaning (also known as ‘Scaling’ ) at regular intervals is recommended, as it goes a long way in keeping your mouth healthy and disease-free!
How To Treat Bad Breath
Treatment of Dental Caries or Tooth Decay
Cavities on your teeth can cause food accumulation and buildup of bacteria in them, leading to bad breath. If your dentist detects any tooth decay or dental caries, he/she can clean and restore the cavities and help you get rid of your malodor.
Treatment of Gum Diseases
Halitosis can be an indicator of advanced gum diseases like periodontitis where the gums separate from your teeth causing your teeth to loosen in their sockets and turn mobile. There might also be bleeding from your gums. In such cases, your dentist can perform a deep cleaning and planing of the root surfaces of your teeth to remove the infection and prescribe you some antibiotics following the procedure.
Oral Hygiene Education
It is important to maintain meticulous oral hygiene if you want to keep bad breath away. Your dentist can help you by educating you about the ways in which you can do so effectively. Your dentist will demonstrate to you the proper techniques of brushing, flossing, cleaning your tongue, and taking care of your oral appliances. If required you may be recommended a mouthwash as well.
Benefits of Bad Breath Treatment
Improve Oral Hygiene and Health
If your dentist detects your bad breath to be related to poor oral hygiene or oral problems, a professional dental cleaning will be carried out which will go a long way in eliminating any bacteria infecting your teeth and gums, improving your oral health and hygiene.
Prevent Gum Disease
Bad breath is one of the early signs which indicate that your gums are getting infected and may develop an infection in the future. So your early and timely intervention may turn out to be a step towards intercepting any gum diseases even before they appear!
Keep Your Mouth Healthy
Any other dental or oral problems like dental decay, ulcers, gingivitis, etc. if detected by the dentist can be intercepted before they get serious and cause you pain and suffering. Thus you can always keep your breath fresh and mouth healthy.
Rebuild Your Self-Esteem
Bad breath can really be bothering. Nobody wants to be judged or avoided at work or by their friends, owing to their bad breath !! Once you have gotten rid of your bad breath you can freely talk, laugh, or whisper without being always conscious about your breath. Needless to say, it will help you bring back your lost confidence and self-esteem and help you focus on more important aspects of your life.
Why Deal With Us
At Coquitlam Dental Group, We offer you a panel of multi specialists all under one roof, meaning whatever be the cause of your bad breath we have a solution to it !! Our doctors, with their expertise and years of experience, can in no time help you get your fresh breath and healthy smile back. We have the most advanced dental technologies and equipment to render any dental treatment, making sure you receive nothing but the best care. Our utmost priority is providing the highest quality of treatment in a hygienic and sterile environment, that is why we stringently follow all sanitization and disinfection protocols and are meticulous in keeping our office sterile and safe for you. We not only provide you with the treatment for your bad breath but also a comprehensive plan to avoid the same in future and to maintain a good oral hygiene lifelong. You can report to us how your treatment went and follow up with a visit or a call/email, to tell us how your treatment benefitted you. Any queries you can call us up and we will solve your problem right away!
Final Words
We understand that a problem like bad breath can negatively impact your relationships and quality of life, hence we try to put our best foot forward in assessing and diagnosing your problem and providing you with the best possible treatment. So if you are struggling to find a solution to your bad breath, stop worrying and feel free to consult our experts today without any hesitation, for a ‘fresh’ and healthy smile that you deserve!
You can book your appointment now at https://coquitlamdentalgroup.ca/. You can also reach us at Phone: (604) 931-3133, Email: info@coquitlamdentalgroup.ca, or you can find our office at 101-655 North Rd, Coquitlam, BC V3J 1P5, Canada.
Visit your dentist regularly. Remember, oral causes are responsible for most cases of bad breath!
Frequently Asked Questions
What Causes Bad Breath?
There are several reasons for developing bad breath. The most common reasons are poor oral hygiene, plaque, dental decay, gum problems, smoking, alcoholism, dry mouth, or any underlying medical problems. It is best to consult your dentist to rule out any oral or dental problems which are the commonest cause of bad breath.
Can Bad Breath Be A Sign of Underlying Health Problems?
Even though bad breath is generally related to oral problems, in some cases it can also be caused by some underlying systemic problems which you might or might not be aware of. Very commonly diabetic people experience bad breath due to drying up of their mouths. Sinus related problems, bronchitis, and asthma may also cause bad breath as most people with these problems tend to breathe through their mouth instead of their nose, leading to bad breath. Other health problems that are related to bad breath are Gastrointestinal problems like gastritis, kidney diseases, liver malfunction, etc.
Why Are My Gums Bleeding?
Bleeding gums is an early sign of gum disease (or gingivitis). Gum diseases occur due to plaque accumulation on your teeth and subsequent buildup of bacteria which causes an inflammation of the gums and the subsequent bleeding. This may also cause bad breath and you need to consult your dentist for the proper address of the condition.
Do Chewing Gums and Mouthwashes Really Help Banish Bad Breath?
Yes. And no. Chewing gums and generic mouthwashes temporarily mask the stinky breath and might work if it was caused due to the consumption of strong-smelling foods or smoking. But if your bad breath arises from any underlying medical or dental issue, it will be back after a few hours. So it is really important to get yourself checked by a healthcare professional who can help you figure out the root cause of the problem and guide you about the treatment.
What Can I Do About My Bad Breath?
In many cases, bad breath can be treated at home with a combination of better oral care and lifestyle changes. Some tips for keeping bad breath away are: religiously following your dental care regime of brushing your teeth at least twice a day, regular flossing and rinsing properly after meals, avoiding smoking and other tobacco habits, and drinking plenty of water throughout the day to not let your mouth go dry. Apart from these, you must visit your dentist regularly for a comprehensive assessment and treatment if required, as oral causes are responsible for most cases of bad breath!