Bad Breath – A Sign of Big Trouble? Your Dentist in Carrollton Weighs in

You’ve been waiting for the weekend to get here, and when it finally arrives, you head to Lower Greenville for some shopping and socializing. As you’re conversing with friends, you notice an unpleasant taste in your mouth. You know that such a taste is more than likely accompanied by an unpleasant odor, so now you’re unable to enjoy yourself for fear that you’ll offend one of your friends. Your dentist in Carrollton says that although your first concern may be to worry about whether anyone else smells your breath, the more pressing issue is the possible warning signs that your mouth is sending you. Learn what they are as you continue reading.

6 Causes of Bad Breath

One of the best ways to approach a problem is to seek out the ‘why.’ In this case, you want to identify why your breath is sour.

Here are some of the possible causes:

• Poor Oral Hygiene – A failure to properly clean your mouth, teeth and gums can lead to foul breath. What’s more pressing, though, is the catalyst of the smell – bacteria growth. By brushing and flossing at least twice a day, you can rid your mouth of many of the harmful bacteria that can wreak havoc on your health.
• Sinus Infection – An unpleasant smell may also be a sign that you have a sinus infection. This is a result of nasal drainage and mucus buildup that converge in your mouth.
• Acid Reflux – There is a direct connection between your mouth and stomach via your food pipe. Thus, when you have a stomach acid backup, one of the results can be bad breath.
• Abscessed Tooth – An abscessed tooth is the result of prolonged bacteria growth and infection of the inner area of your tooth. The decaying tissue can give off a foul odor and serve as a warning sign that you need a root canal.
• Prolonged Vomiting – When you vomit, you bathe your teeth in harsh stomach acids and spread decaying food particles throughout the mouth. If this occurs over a prolonged period of time, you may start to notice strong odors bellowing from your mouth.
• Bowel Obstruction – A bowel obstruction is similar to your septic tank backing up in your house. The result is that you’ll endure some foul odors from the toxic material giving off fumes.

How Can Preventive Dentistry Help?

The biggest benefit of preventive dentistry is that it allows you to catch problems early. Thus, visiting your Carrollton dentist semi-annually serves as a proactive blanket of protection, because she’ll be able to detect budding problems before they fully materialize.

During these appointments, you’ll receive a thorough cleaning to remove the harmful plaque and tartar that serve as the main sources of bad breath and other oral maladies. In addition, your dentist will examine your oral cavity for any signs of issues like tooth decay, gum disease or oral cancer, all of which may have the symptom of foul odors.

The Advantage of Early Detection!

By detecting the problems that can lead to bad breath earlier, you’ll usually be able to endure a far less invasive form of treatment and have greater chances of enjoying a full recovery. But it all starts with reaching out to your dentist in 75010 to make an appointment.

About the Author

A graduate of the Tufts University School of Dental Medicine, Dr. Durga Devarakonda offers comprehensive and compassionate care for patients of all ages at DD Family Dentistry. She can be reached for more information through her website.