Gum disease is an unfortunately common condition that can ripple out to influence many other factors of the health of the mouth. One of the telltale signs that your gums may be unhealthy is if you exhibit halitosis, or bad breath. Below, we answer: can gum disease cause bad breath?
Bad breath can be indicative that something isn’t quite right with your dental health. In addition, it can come paired with other issues of the mouth and teeth that can lead to more severe problems down the line.
Can Gum Disease Cause Bad Breath?
If you’re looking into gum treatment in Rialto and are suffering from bad breath, take a look at this overview of how these two phenomena interact.
Plaque Bacteria: The Source of Many Problems
Plaque bacteria, the bacteria that slowly form plaque, are constantly building up inside of your mouth. These troublesome bacteria can worm their way into practically any crevasse in the teeth and gums. As the bacteria consume particles of food and the like in your mouth, they produce an unpleasant-smelling gas that makes your breath smell.
Plaque bacteria is exacerbated by having poor dental health. These bacteria tend to multiply more rapidly and grow in environments where the health of the teeth and the gums are neglected.
The easiest and most effective way to prevent this problem is to maintain proper dental health. Brushing your teeth twice a day with fluoride toothpaste, as well as flossing and using mouthwash, can give you a leg up in preventing halitosis.
Signaling Gum Disease
Halitosis can oftentimes be an early sign of gum disease. This is because gum disease is caused by the same buildups of bacteria that can cause halitosis. If the bacteria aren’t cleaned or kept in check, they can cause gum bleeding, swollen gums and other problems. These are often considered some of the symptoms of gingivitis. If any of these issues are left untreated, they can lead to the development of gum disease.
If a dentist thinks that you are developing gum disease, they will recommend that you brush with certain toothpaste or other dental health solutions that are able to remove extra layers of plaque – more than what regular toothpaste can achieve.
Other Causes of Halitosis
There are many other causes of bad breath that it’s good to be mindful of. For example, there are many foods, such as garlic, onions, and spices, that can give one bad breath. In addition, certain beverages, such as coffee or alcohol, can also make your breath smell. Avoiding these types of food and drink can help you control this issue.
In addition, tobacco use can have a major impact on your breath. This includes all kinds of tobacco, including cigarettes, pipes, snuff, or chewing tobacco. Even more than bad breath, tobacco use can contribute to very serious problems with your oral health down the line. Quitting using tobacco will inevitably assist you in whatever dental health goals you have, as well as prevent many other types of medical issues.
Consider Your Diet
Sometimes, certain types of dieting can also cause bad breath. Fasting or crash diets can sometimes inadvertently cause bad breath. The reason this happens is that the body forces itself to break down the fat that it produces into chemicals called ketones. These chemicals are released into your breath, making it smell. Changing your diet to something more conventional should be able to reverse this type of halitosis.
Medical Conditions
There are also certain medical conditions that can make your breath smell. One such example is a condition called “dry mouth” – also known as xerostomia. This condition occurs when the flow of saliva is interrupted. This can make one’s breath smell because saliva helps to moisten the mouth and remove the bacteria that can cause bad breath.
Certain types of infections and gastrointestinal conditions can also cause bad breath. In addition, diabetes is also associated with halitosis. In certain cases, bad breath can be an indicator of some of these conditions. You can bring up any concerns you might have with your doctor or dentist. This should lead to some clarity on the subject.
Serving All Your Dental Needs
Baseline Dental is committed to serving its clients in Rialto and the rest of Southern California with the best in dental care. If you’re worried about the general health of your teeth and gums, then contact our dentist in order to schedule an appointment and learn how you can start improving your situation today.
