Learn How Good Oral Hygiene Doesn’t Always Mean Fresh Breath

Some people wonder why they brush and floss at least two or even three times a day, but when they wake up in the morning, they still have bad breath.

Here are some things that may contribute to bad morning breath.

• Body is in a different physiological state
• No water to drink
• No food to eat
• Teeth Grinding
• Teeth Clenching

Wearing a bite guard can help alleviate fractures in your teeth and reduce the amount of tension and stress on your teeth and gums.

Even if you don’t have any cavities or gum disease, the contributing factors to your bad breath can be caused by any of the following:

• Oral surgery
• Sinus problems
• Stomach problems
• Metabolic issues, such as diabetes
• Diet

Former cigarette smokers and drug users have periodontal disease and loose teeth. Gums bleed and teeth are usually in a deteriorated state. All of these are serious contributing factors to bad breath.

Dr. Hauser can take digital x-rays and come up with a long-term treatment course to get your oral health back, which absolutely impacts your heart and body health.

Removing any tooth decay and infections will be a first priority. Depending upon the severity of the situation, some teeth might need to be extracted. However, in other cases, the gums can be returned to a healthy state and the teeth can be saved.

The longer a person waits, the more teeth will be lost. It’s imperative to seek a great dentist like Dr. Derek B. Hauser, DDS, at Lakefront Family Dentistry immediately.

Patients can also apply for Care Credit. If they qualify, the course of treatment will be billed through the approved Care Credit account as the items are treated—not all at once. This is a great option for those patients who need extensive oral care and don’t have the funds up front.

For junk food and candy lovers, bad breath can sometimes be a problem.

Eating too much sweets and junk food can cause an underlying medical problem like diabetes. Seeing your doctor first to rule out potential health problems is a good start.

Talk with your dentist to discuss your history, which often helps in finding the root cause of the problem, thereby helping find a solution. However, sometimes the answer is that seeking medical attention is the best route if no oral indications reveal a problem.

Ear, nose and throat specialists (ENT) might need to look deeper.

Many patients can have a sinus infection, polyp, or even a tumor in their sinus cavity. Oftentimes, dental practitioners have new patients that think it’s due to a sinus infection, so they see an ENT. However, many times it’s related to a stomach problem.

Seeing your primary care physician first is a good solution if your dentist doesn’t see any glaring oral conditions. Acid reflux can cause tooth and throat damage, and a doctor can help with the acid reflux condition, while a dentist can fix the tooth erosion from the acid.

Chewing gum and bad breath—be careful what type of gum you chew.

Many people try and mask their bad breath with mint gum. However, if it’s not sugar-free, the person is actually causing more harm to their teeth because gum with sugar causes cavities. This “solution” only causes more problems. Make sure and only use sugar-free gum.

Masking bad breath isn’t a solution. Chances are that this is hiding gingivitis or tooth decay, which needs to be treated immediately. Short-term solutions mean more money to fix the problem later. Get to your dentist right away.

If a patient has dry mouth, chewing gum is recommended. For those who have teeth decay problems, chewing gums that contain Xylitol are proven to fight tooth decay. Choose your gum wisely. Tooth whitening gum isn’t necessarily proven to work, but as long as it’s sugar-free, it’s fine to chew.

Bad taste in my mouth means bad breath.

The bottom line is that if your mouth tastes bad to you, other people smell it, too. Gingivitis, stomach problems and tooth decay can cause a bad taste in your mouth. See your dentist and doctor to find out what the problem is and get a solution as soon as possible. Symptoms are an indication something needs to be corrected.

Lakefront Family Dentistry recommends patients see their dentist and registered professional hygienist for a teeth cleaning twice a year to avoid oral health problems. Call (951) 244-9495 or Request an Appointment Online Today.

Meet Your Registered Dental Hygienists at Lakefront Family Dentistry!