Bad breath is something that everyone struggles with, especially upon waking in the morning. But chronic bad breath can be a sign of a bigger problem. If you’re keeping to a regular oral health routine and you’re still suffering from bad breath, it may be time to visit Dr. Durning Moore, your dentist in Charlotte, NC.
What Causes Bad Breath?
Bad breath, or halitosis, is mainly caused by bacteria in the mouth. Pieces of food that aren’t caught by brushing and flossing attract bacteria, leading to plaque and tartar buildup. These bacteria can also coat your tongue, leading to a bad smell.
When you have a lot of this bacteria buildup, it can cause more intensive oral health issues. Tooth decay and gum disease are caused by tartar and plaque buildup in hard-to-reach areas, like between teeth or at the gumline.
If you have issues with the post-nasal drip from allergies or currently have a cold, this can impact how your breath smells too. Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) can send gastric contents from your stomach up the esophagus, especially at night. All of these things can cause you to have bad breath.
If you notice consistent bad breath outside of any other health issues, an oral health exam is recommended to determine the cause.
Treating Bad Breath
When you come into our office, Dr. Moore will do a full oral examination to determine the cause of your bad breath. The underlying cause will impact the course of treatment. For all patients at our office, we come up with a personalized treatment plan. We want to make sure you’re getting the best care you need for your particular case. Every patient is different.
For starters, we want to make sure you’re taking care of your mouth properly. This means brushing your teeth and flossing at least twice a day. You should be scraping your tongue while brushing your teeth as well. It’s important that you aren’t relying on mouthwash or mints to mask the smell.
The dental appliances you use should be cleaned regularly. Make sure they’re stored where they’re ventilated and able to completely dry. Your toothbrush should be changed every three months to make sure it stays in top condition. If you have problems brushing your tongue with your toothbrush, we can give you a tongue scraper designed for that purpose.
Visiting the dentist every six months is another part of keeping optimal oral health. During your visit, you get a thorough cleaning with specialized tools to help reach areas that are difficult on your own. We also check for things like tooth decay and are able to catch them earlier, before they compromise your oral health too much.
If we find a cavity, a dental filling will be used to take care of it and remove the infection. For gum disease, various levels of periodontal therapy can be used. Scaling and root planing are ideal for mild cases. We clean under the gumline, removing bacteria that build up in pockets there. A special mouthwash can be given to you to use that focuses on gum health and doesn’t exacerbate the problem by drying out your mouth.
If we don’t find an oral health cause to be the case, we’ll refer you to a doctor. There may be medical problems or side effects of medications that are causing your halitosis.
Visit Our Charlotte, North Carolina Dentist Office
If you think your bad breath may be caused by an oral health condition, make an appointment. Call us or schedule online today.