Common Dental Diseases: Causes and Treatments

One of the most common health problems encountered by almost all people in different nations is with respect to their oral health. Dental health is often overlooked because of the fact that people tend to think that the mouth does not and will not cause a major problem unlike other organs in the body. This should not be your way of thinking. The mouth is just as important as the rest of your body and it plays one of the most important roles of all- chewing on the food you eat.

Poor oral health often leads to a series of health problems such as bad breath or halitosis, gingivitis, mouth sores, and tooth decay, among others.

Bad Breath

Halitosis or bad breath is a common problem among Americans. There are several causes for bad breath. One of which is poor dental hygiene. When you fail to brush your teeth regularly, food particles get caught in between your teeth. If the food is not taken out or rinsed out for a long period of time, it will start to rot and will eventually produce bad breath-causing bacteria. Another source of foul breath is the food you eat. If you are fond of eating food loaded with cayenne pepper, which is the same thing used in pepper sprays, then the possibility of you having bad breath is greater than ever. Spicy food contains sulfur compound that causes the overproduction of anaerobic bacteria in your mouth. Bad breath can also be an indication of an underlying medical condition which requires your attention. The best thing to do is to visit your dentist and have your mouth examined so that the proper treatment can be provided.

Gingivitis

Gingivitis is characterized by an inflammation in the gums which is caused by bacteria. The mouth is a great breeding ground for bacteria because of its moist and hot environment. This is also where food is being dumped and it can leave so many food particles that bacteria need in order to survive. If your immune system is weak, then the more will bacteria thrive inside your mouth. It can eventually cause infection which can range from mild to moderate to severe infections. The best care for gingivitis is to prevent bacteria from forming. Always have your mouth checked by your dentist so he can see if you need to be treated.

Tooth Decay

Tooth decay can be used interchangeably with cavities. It is actually the process that results in the formation of a cavity. Tooth decay is also caused by bacteria which live inside your mouth. When mixed with food residues, bacteria cause plaque which is normally being formed on your teeth. As the bacteria eat the food, it creates acids in the process. These acids are the ones which attack your tooth. If they continue to attack your tooth for a long period of time, your tooth enamel becomes weak, resulting to tooth decay.

In order to avoid oral diseases, visit your dentist regularly. Brush your teeth on a regular basis and don’t forget to floss as well so you can be sure that food particles are taken out in between your teeth and gums. Have yourself medically checked up so you can determine if there are other illnesses which might need your attention.

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The Good News About Bad Breath

Bad breath or halitosis is unpleasant, embarrassing and can negatively impact the way people around you respond. So what is the good news in that? The good news about bad breath is that it is your body’s way of telling you that there is something going on that it doesn’t like. It can be as simple as microbial deposits on your tongue (especially the back of your tongue) where particles of food have collected under a bacterial coating and are decaying, leaving a bad odor in their wake. Simply brushing your tongue can often take care of the unpleasant odor.

However, some of the reasons behind bad breath can be more serious. For instance, xerostomia (dry mouth) occurs when there is a decrease of saliva in your mouth because saliva plays an important role in cleansing your mouth of particles that cause odor. Salivary gland problems, consistently breathing through your mouth or even medications can be the reason for the xerostomia. If dry mouth is the cause of your bad breath, your dentist can help by prescribing artificial salvia or other suggestions that can help minimize the condition. Bad breath is also one of the indicators of periodontal or gum disease which is caused when bacteria attack the tissues around your teeth often resulting in gum irritation and infections.

Or halitosis could be a sign of a more serious medical condition such as gastrointestinal disturbances, liver or kidney ailments, diabetes, chronic sinusitis or chronic bronchitis. Then again, unpleasant odors from your mouth could be the result of the choices you are making when it comes to what you are eating, or if you are smoking or your daily oral hygiene habits. Your dentist or Periodontist is the best person to help you identify the cause, and if it is because of an oral condition, he or she will develop a treatment plan to help you combat the condition. If your dentist determines that your mouth is healthy and your oral hygiene practices are good, you may be referred to a doctor to further investigate the possible cause. Let your dentist or Periodontist know if you are taking any over-the-counter or prescribed medications because they could be contributing to your breath problems.

Developing and maintaining good oral hygiene is the first step in eliminating halitosis that is being caused from the foods you eat or other conditions that exist in your mouth. Brushing your teeth, gums and tongue at least twice a day (once in the morning and once at night before going to bed), plus using floss or an interdental cleaner to clean between your teeth once a day will remove any plaque or food debris that is present. If you wear dentures, remove them before going to bed and thoroughly clean them each morning.

Using sugary breath mints can actually contribute to tooth decay which contributes to bad breath, and cosmetic mouthwashes typically do not have a long-lasting effect. Your dentist can recommend a special antimicrobial mouth rinse or a fluoride mouth rinse that can work with your brushing and flossing routine to help prevent tooth decay and keep your mouth healthy and fresh smelling. If you identify a bad breath problem, the good news is that by working with your dentist or Periodontist you will be able to find the cause behind your halitosis and be able to bring your mouth and body back to being healthy and your breath back to smelling sweet.

Dr. Anasinski completed her residency in Periodontics at Northwestern University and is Assistant Clinical Professor at the University of Illinois at Chicago. She holds many prestigious positions such as Delegate to the Illinois State Dental Society. periodonticsofniles

Are toothpicks important?

 

It is important to use floss properly, following professional instruction. Remember to floss around the ends of the teeth at the ends of each row.

Children would probably have problems flossing, since it requires a delicate control of the fingers they don’t have yet. One of the great advantages of using floss is that you can smell the floss directly following each passage between the teeth, and clean the smelly areas more diligently

Is it possible for you to smell your own breath?

 

In most of us, the tongue is probably the major source of oral malodor and bad breath. Here is small tip on how to smell on your own: Stick out your tongue as far as it will come out, and lick one of your wrists with your own saliva. Wait five seconds, and smell. You will be surprised to find that even you have your own odor.

Strangely, the smell of the front end of the tongue isn’t the real problem. It is at the deepest part of your mouth, towards your throat. In many people with bad breath, there will be a yellowish mucous on the back of the mouth and this can be collected with a scrapping of the posterior surface of the tongu

Where does the odor on the back of the tongue come from?

 

Though uncertain, it seems that the origin of this material is post-nasal drip, as many people suffer from postnasal drip.

As all of us know, most of the mucus secretion rolls down your throat, but some of it may get stuck on the tongue. After a few days, it starts putrefying on the skin layers when millions of bacteria start breaking it down to smell causing compounds.

Whether or not this is true, the back of the tongue is a major source of bad breath, and the odor, which it gives off, has a typical smell of its own.

When is the best time to rinse?

 

The best time to use any mouth rinse appears to be right before sleeping at night. You must deep gargle using a good mouth cleaning liquid, taking care to touch the inner most areas of tongue.

Halitosis can be, in general, caused by the bacterial particle decomposition of foods, cells, blood and some components of the saliva. In this way, 90% of the halitosis causes are originated in the mouth. As the chemical proteins and other agents in these materials are disturbed in simpler components like amino acids and peptides, many volatile substances (fatty acids and component of sulfide) related to their decomposition take place. Among them we can mention propi

When does bad breath get even worse?

 

Bad breath usually gets worse:

• When you wake up from your sleep:

A dry mouth causes bad breath and odor to come out of your mouth at an accelerated speed. During sleep, the tongue and mouth dries up due to lack of saliva. As saliva starts increasing in levels, the degree of bad breath comes down.

• After eating copious amounts of milk products and meat:

After eating products with high levels of proteins, such as milk products and meat, the level of bad odor from the mouth goes up.

If a little piece of meat remains between you teeth for a time, it is rapidly putrefied to toxin compounds. Foods containing excessive amount of onions, garlic, and various spices may cause bad breath.

What is Halitosis?

 

“Oral malodor or breath odor, or most commonly bad breath is terms used to describe noticeably unpleasant odors exhaled in breathing.”

Acute bad breath is a very common problem caused by such things as oral dryness, stress, hunger, eating certain foods such as garlic and onions, smoking, and poor oral care.

Morning breath is a typical example of transient bad breath. However chronic bad breath is a far more serious condition affecting one quarter of the population in different capacities, and usually has a bad impact on the individual’s capacity to maintain good personal and business relationship, leading to catastrophe.

Halitosis is caused by the presence of a huge colony of oral bacteria and invariably requires persistent treatment. Presently, persistent halitosis is not clearly understood or even identified as a curable condition by most medical experts, so a proper and effective treatment is almost impossible to find.

Most of the treatments available are mostly asymptotic and are limited to controlling bad breath by mouth and breath fresheners. Though many breath clinics have sprouted like mushroom, all over the world, many of them are not really successful. However, a very small number of clinics use established methods of microbiological examination to determine the varieties of odor-causing bacteria. The specific bacteria are then controlled by patient specific treatments, thus giving patients relief from the ordeal.
Though the reasons for bad breath odor are not completely understood, most unpleasant odors are known to occur due to food debris trapped in the mouth. It is really amazing to find as many as 400 different types of bacteria in an average mouth!

Trouble can occur when several dozen of these bacteria are allowed to flourish in large proportions or are genetically mutated to reproduce in a large number. Many species of these bacteria are usually found on the back of the tongue, where they find protection and security from normal mouth activity. The rough edges of our tongue usually harbor millions of these harmful bacteria, which create toxins by digesting debris, dead cells, and other residues. These toxins are harmful in creating a bad odor in the breath.

The anaerobic respiration of these bacteria will accrue residual compounds containing sulfides and ammonia. These bad compounds often mix with the breath to form an aerosol of nausea and bad odor.

Other causes of chronic bad breath may be periodontitis (gum disease), diabetes, kidney failure, sinusitis, tonsilloliths, gastroesophageal reflux disorder (GERD), and a wide variety of prescription drugs.

Top Ten Worst Home Remedies you can adopt for Bad Breath!

 

1. Excessive use of mouthwash: Use this at your own peril! It produces a dirty tissue that is much worse than what your present condition.

2. Breath mints and flavors: A pleasing smelling mouth doesn’t mean that you have a healthy mouth. Excessive use of mints may create a fertile breeding ground for bad bacteria.

3. Chewing gum: Chewing gum does increase salivary juice flow, but only masks bad breath and the effect are just cursory. Try drinking water throughout the day instead, which keeps you in good health as well.

4. Chewing tobacco: Smokeless tobacco is a health hazard and causes gums to dissolve and increases the chance of losing the material that hold your teeth in firmness, and above all causes oral cancer.

5. Infomercial Items: Only use items that have the Seal of Approval from an authority. Never use any items with out any quality certificate.

6. Vodka, martinis or whiskey: Alcohol is a drying agent and may further increase the problem by making your mouth too dry.

7. Brushing with cleanser: Many chemicals used in your home are poisonous and should not be used for brushing your teeth.

8. Intestinal cleansing methods: Bad breath never originates from the stomach or intestine. It is your mouth that produces bad odor due to putrefaction of leftover food.

9. Rinsing with kerosene: It is stupid! Instead eat fire!

10. Tongue piercing: Very dangerous habit! It creates laceration and wounds. Further it harbors dangerous bacteria in your mouth. It also increases your mouth odor.

Simple Tips for Tongue Brushing

 

You will need to develop a habit of cleaning your tongue whenever you brush your teeth. Always choose a brush that minimizes reflex action. See you stroke your brush from near the throat in an outwards motion. Never press very hard with your toothbrush as you may damage your tongue. Use a good mouthwash and freshener liberally.

The best way of cleaning your tongue is to use a tongue scraper. Alternatively, you can also use a piece of gauze, washcloth or other material, which you can wet with mouthwash or water.

People with a hairy tongue will have more chances of getting bad breath from their tongue itself. People with serious dental disease will also get serious bad breath problems. Smokers are likely to get a foul smelling mouth odor after repeated usage of cigarettes and tobacco.

Does smoking aggravate bad breath?

Apart from its carcinogenic properties, smoking can increase the incidence of gum (periodontal) disease and post-nasal drip, two of the most important bad breath risks.

Furthermore, in many people, the smoke odor lingers in the mouth itself and mixes with the other smells, resulting in a particularly noxious aroma. Most probably, the smoke components are retained in the mouth itself, rather than in the lung.

Smoke residues in your mouth may lacerate the skin cells, creating a favorable environment for many harmful bacteria to cause infection. This action will invariably affects in bacteria digesting left over food debris and dead cells.

Does chewing gum help relieve my bad breath?

 

The efficacy of chewing gum is probably due to the effect of salivation, combined with the cleansing effect of mastication.

Chewing gum has its downsides. The best compromise appears to be to chew gum for a minute or two at a time. One can chew for a minute or so in privacy, and part with the wad in the washroom, before stepping back into society.

Diagnosis for Bad Breath

 

We can not really make out we have a bad mouth odor, due to process of habituation. However it’s the people we usually associate with who can really identify the bad breath coming out of our mouth. The degree of this bad breath depends mainly on oral dryness and the amount of residual toxins in the mouth.

The simplest method to check whether you have bad breath or not, is to lick the back of your wrist and allow the saliva to dry for some time and smell the area.

Another easy way is to lightly scrape the back of the tongue with an inverted spoon or a piece of dental floss, and to test for the smell of the dried residue.

You may need to ask your spouse to smell your breathe and give you a proper opinion. Of late highly reliable home tests are made available which test for the presence of polyamines and sulfur compounds on tongue swabs.

You may need to test several times in a day to arrive at an average result. However, if bad breath is continuous and everlasting, and all other factors have been ruled out, you should consider taking a sophisticated test using modern technology.

A new portable sulfide monitor called the Halimeter is used widely to test for levels of sulfur emissions in the mouth air. However, it has drawbacks in clinical and lab applications.

For example, many common sulfides are not recorded as easily and can be read erroneously in test results. Certain foods such as garlic and onions produce sulfur in the breath for as long as 48 hours and can result in false readings.

The Halimeter is also found to be very sensitive to alcoholic drinks; so you will need to avoid drinking alcohol or using alcohol-rich mouthwashes for at least 12 hours prior to being tested. This meter will loose its sensitivity over time and requires periodic recalibration to remain accurate.

Modern research has given us portable gas chromatography machines such as the “OralChroma”, which is specifically designed to digitally measure molecular levels of the three major odor compounds in a sample of mouth air. It is extremely accurate in its results and produces visual conclusions in graph form via computer interface.

Some Curious Facts about Bad Breath and How People Treat Halitosis:

 

1.  Approximately 25% of people in the world suffer from halitosis on a regular basis.

2.  A majority of the adult population will invariably face bad breath when they wake up in the morning.

3.  Most people in the world do not brush their teeth properly. It usually takes 3 minutes of brushing to reach all nooks and corners of your teeth. Unfortunately, humans fail miserably when it comes to tooth hygiene. Good dental hygiene i.e. regular brushing and flossing will help to eliminate bad breath.

4.   Most people spend just on an average 30-40 seconds in brushing their teeth. By doing this they are missing out cleaning those areas where harmful bacteria thrives well to form sulphur compounds.

5.   Bad breath usually comes from the back of the mouth where a bacterium feeds off the accumulated food particles creating bad smelling compounds.

6.   Over 200 different species of bacteria live in your mouth- and as many as 50% of these bacteria are found on the back of the tongue.

7.   We never emit bad breath until we actually begin to speak. Bad breath often starts near the back of the mouth and is driven forward and out of the mouth only when we start talking.

8.   It is a pure myth that we can smell our own breath odor! It is never possible! This is because we have become so accustomed to smelling our own odor.

9.   Many foods you eat can cause bad breath. Two of the most common culprits are onions and cabbage, which contain high amounts of sulphur compounds.

Upon digestion, these sulphur compounds are absorbed into the blood stream and carried forward to the lungs. These odorous compounds are then exhaled through our mouth.

10.   A dry mouth is a perfect environment for bad breath causing bacteria! Saliva is a natural mouthwash and it keeps your tongue wet always, thus washing away bacteria, and dissolving foul smelling volatile sulphur compounds.

11.   Sleeping too much, unnecessary dieting, excessive fasting, or talking for long periods of time makes your mouth very dry and increases the likelihood of bad breath. Apart from this certain medications, drugs, alcohol consumption, and nasal breathing can cause the mouth to become dry, thus compounding the problem.

12. Bad breath could ruin your social reputation. Bad breath is a serious social handicap; it damages social, sexual and vocational interactions.

13. If the onset of your bad breath odor has been sudden, is growing noticeably worse over a period of days or weeks, or has been accompanied by the onset of fever, cough, or other symptoms, it would be wise to seek a medical consultation.

Causes of Bad Breath

 

The majority of bad breath problems begin in the mouth.

• Bad breath that is of mouth origin can be traced to a sulfur compound produced by bacteria. Dead and dying bacterial cells release this sulfur compound, which gives the breath a bad odor.

• Bacterial plaque, debris and food waste accumulate on the back of the tongue. The tongue’s surface is extremely rough and bacteria can reside easily in the cracks and crevices.
• Large amounts of sulfur compounds can be produced in this area, making it a frequent site of origin for bad breath.

• The tooth attracts bacteria containing plaque, debris and if not cleaned regularly and thoroughly, this can result in large accumulations of bacteria which result in bad breath.

• People who have Periodontitis disease often experience bad breath because of bacteria accumulating in areas that are not cleaned easily, such as deep fissures around teeth.

Fortunately, treatment is very effective for people who have bad breath of mouth origin.

Other reasons for bad breath are:

• Sinus or respiratory infections

• Diabetes related acetone smell

• Fishy odor in case of kidney disease

• Liver problems

• Digestive disorders

• Dieting and fasting related foul odors