Bad Breath Archives

Having a brilliant smile is something that many of us desire, and one common approach to achieving it is by getting professional dental cleanings. The benefits of teeth cleaning go beyond just aesthetics – it can also protect you from gum disease and several other related issues. Neglecting oral hygiene can make you vulnerable to various health issues, such as kidney problems, diabetes, strokes, cardiovascular disease, jaw bone loss, and different types of cancer.

In this blog post, we will discuss reasons why dental cleanings are essential and how they can benefit your health in the long run. Ready? Let’s get started.

Removing Plaque and Tartar

Regular brushing and flossing maintain oral hygiene, but some areas remain difficult to clean. Plaque buildup leads to various oral health problems. Plaque, a colorless film containing bacteria, forms near the gum line and causes tooth decay. Unfortunately, it is very difficult to detect, making it a significant threat to your oral health.

Plaque can harden into tartar in 24 hours despite regular brushing and flossing, leading to yellow visible deposits on teeth that increase susceptibility to gum disease and tooth destruction. Therefore, scheduling regular dental cleanings is essential to thoroughly prevent tooth decay and other related problems.

During a dental cleaning, a trained dental hygienist uses a specialized device called a scaler to remove plaque from your teeth. The second step is to clean the teeth with coarse-grained toothpaste to remove any remaining plaque or tartar. This process helps prevent tooth decay, reduces the risk of gum disease, and ensures that your teeth and gums remain healthy.

Please note that it’s not advisable to use these products at home, as only a professional hygienist or dentist knows how to use them properly.

Better Flossing

Dental flossing is a critical step in maintaining good oral hygiene. Your dentist or hygienist typically performs this procedure after scraping and polishing your teeth. Flossing helps remove food debris and toothpaste that may be stuck between your teeth. Although flossing at home is essential, having a professional perform it can be even more beneficial. They can guide you on how to floss effectively and identify any tight spots or areas in your gums that may bleed during the process. This information can be used to provide personalized recommendations on how to improve your oral health.

A Brighter and Healthier Smile

The formation of plaque and tartar can lead to discolored teeth. To maintain a bright and healthy smile, it’s important to go for regular dental cleanings. Aside from the cosmetic benefits, regular cleanings will give you personalized tips from your dentist or oral hygienist on how to improve your oral health. They may also suggest cosmetic procedures that will help you achieve a more confident smile. Don’t underestimate how much a healthy smile boosts your confidence and overall well-being.

Elimination of Stains

There are three types of tooth discolorations: extrinsic, intrinsic, and age-related. Extrinsic stains are caused by external factors such as certain foods and beverages like fruits, vegetables, cola, wine, coffee, and tea. Intrinsic stains originate from within your body, and age-related stains occur naturally with age.

Fortunately, most surface stains can be removed by your dentist. Regular dental cleanings give your dentist or oral hygienist the opportunity to detect and remove stains before they become deeper and more difficult to remove. By taking care of your oral hygiene and scheduling regular checkups with your dentist, you can maintain a bright and healthy smile.

Getting Rid of Bad Breath

Many different factors can cause bad breath. The first common practice is to change bad habits such as chewing tobacco and smoking. You can also change your diet and limit the consumption of soda, orange juice, alcohol, cheese, pastrami, and spices. There may also be other causes such as gastrointestinal problems, diabetes, and poor dental hygiene. Any of these factors can increase the number of bacteria that create an odor in your mouth and cause bad breath. An expert can help you identify what the problem is and how to treat it.

Having Healthier Teeth and Gums

The best way to fight oral diseases is to prevent them. Regular visits to your dentist and professional dental cleaning can curb oral health problems, gum disease, and tooth decay. The healthier your teeth and gums are, the less likely you are to lose your teeth as you age.

Your gums play a critical role in keeping your teeth in place and preventing them from becoming loose or falling out. However, if your gums show signs of inflammation or become infected, you may be experiencing periodontal disease. This condition causes pain and discomfort and can eventually lead to tooth loss if left untreated.

Fortunately, you can prevent this discomfort and protect your teeth by adding regular professional dental cleanings to your dental care routine. During a dental cleaning, a trained dental hygienist can remove plaque, tartar, and other harmful bacteria that can cause gum disease and tooth decay.

Preventing Other Serious Health Issues

Regular dental cleanings and checkups offer more than just maintaining good oral health. They can help detect other potential health problems and diseases, such as tooth decay and gum disease, at an early stage. Early detection and intervention can prevent the need for painful and costly procedures down the line.

Moreover, certain systemic diseases can cause oral health problems, and researchers suggest that oral symptoms can be the initial indications of numerous systemic illnesses. Detecting these signs early on can lead to more effective treatment and better overall health outcomes. Some of the systemic diseases that can cause oral health problems include

Oral Cancer

Regular dental cleanings are essential not only for maintaining good oral health but also for detecting potential warning signs of oral cancer. Dentists are trained to spot abnormal growths in the mouth that do not disappear on subsequent visits. By catching these signs early on, dentists can refer patients for further evaluation and treatment, which can improve outcomes and increase the chances of successful recovery. In addition, regular dental cleanings help keep the mouth healthy and free from harmful bacteria that can lead to oral cancer.

Chronic Heartburn

Chronic heartburn can cause a range of oral health problems that can impact your quality of life. The symptoms can include a sore throat, inflamed gums, and bad breath, which can make social situations uncomfortable. In some cases, chronic heartburn can even cause teeth to crack, resulting in pain when eating or drinking.

Moreover, acid reflux can lead to the destruction of tooth enamel, which is the hard outer layer of teeth. Once the enamel is eroded, bacteria can attack the teeth more easily, leading to cavities and other dental problems. Therefore, if you suffer from chronic heartburn, it’s important to seek medical advice to manage your symptoms and minimize the risk of oral health issues. Additionally, maintaining good oral hygiene habits, such as professional dental cleanings and brushing and flossing regularly, can help prevent further damage to your teeth and gums.

Thyroid Issues

Did you know that dentists and oral hygienists can help detect thyroid problems in children? It’s true! Children with inflamed tongues or delayed tooth development may be showing signs of thyroid issues. However, adults can also experience oral symptoms related to thyroid problems. For instance, they may have a dry mouth, which can increase the risk of gum disease. Therefore, it’s crucial for both children and adults to have regular dental check-ups to catch any potential thyroid problems early on.

Diabetes

According to research, the number of people with diabetes is expected to increase significantly over the next two decades. As a result, dental experts are now more vigilant when it comes to detecting signs of diabetes in patients. They have found that gum disease, which is often caused by high blood sugar levels, can be an indicator of diabetes.

Additionally, the mouth can also show the first symptoms of diabetes, such as fungal infections. Therefore, routine dental check-ups are essential not only for maintaining oral health but also for monitoring overall health and catching any potential health issues early on.

Number of Dental Cleaning Appointments You Need

Dentists perform a brief dental cleaning at every dental appointment before examining or operating on your teeth. Although the number of dental cleaning appointments that different practices recommend per year may vary, it is common to schedule two appointments per year to ensure good oral hygiene.

Bottom Line

Professional dental cleanings offer numerous benefits beyond just maintaining healthy teeth and a brighter smile. By removing plaque and tartar, your dentist or oral hygienist can prevent cavities, and reduce sources of bad breath. It also protects your teeth and gums from various infections. These cleanings are an essential part of maintaining good oral health and preventing serious dental issues.

In addition, during a dental cleaning, your dentist can examine your oral health more closely and detect any potential issues or warning signs of systemic diseases that may manifest themselves in oral symptoms. Regular dental cleanings are therefore crucial for maintaining not only oral health but also overall health.

Interested? If you want to reap all the benefits of dental health, make an appointment now!

Bad breath, also called halitosis, can result from poor dental health habits, and be made worse by the types of foods you eat, and other unhealthy lifestyle habits. It can be embarrassing and in some cases may even cause anxiety. It’s no wonder that store shelves are overflowing with gum, mints, mouthwashes, and other products designed to fight bad breath. But many of these products are only temporary measures because they don’t address the cause of the problem.

Bad breath odors vary, depending on the source or the underlying cause. Some people worry too much about their breath even though they have little or no mouth odor, while others have bad breath and don’t know it. Because it’s difficult to assess how your own breath smells, ask a close friend or relative to confirm your bad-breath questions.

How Can Food Cause Bad Breath?

The food you eat begins to break down in your mouth and is absorbed into your bloodstream and move to the lungs, affecting the air you exhale. If you eat foods with strong odors (such as garlic or onions), brushing and flossing — even mouthwash — merely covers up the odor temporarily. The odor will not go away completely until the foods have passed through your body. Other common foods that can cause bad breath include:

Cheese
Peanut Butter
Citrus Fruits
Pastrami
Certain spices
Orange juice or soda
Alcohol etc.

Surprisingly, being hungry can also contribute to the development of bad breath, as not eating for long periods can reduce the amount of saliva your mouth produces. This can lead to dry mouth. When your mouth becomes dry, bacteria that contribute to causing unpleasant smells have an easier time multiplying. Being hungry also causes changes in the bacteria and enzymes your mouth produces, which can occasionally cause weird smells to develop.

Treatments To Getting Rid Of Bad Breath

To reduce bad breath, help avoid cavities and lower your risk of gum disease, consistently practice good oral hygiene. Further treatment for bad breath can vary, depending on the cause. If your bad breath is thought to be caused by an underlying health condition, your dentist will likely refer you to your primary care provider. Also, for causes related to oral health, your dentist will work with you to help you better control that condition. Dental measures may include:

Mouth rinses and toothpaste. If your bad breath is due to a buildup of bacteria (plaque) on your teeth, your dentist may recommend a mouth rinse that kills the bacteria. Your dentist may also recommend a toothpaste that contains an antibacterial agent to kill the bacteria that cause plaque buildup.

Scrape your tongue. The coating that normally forms on your tongue can be a host for smelly bacteria. To get rid of them, gently brush your tongue with your toothbrush. If your brush is too big to comfortably reach the back of your tongue, try a scraper. It will apply even pressure across the surface of the tongue area. This removes bacteria, food debris, and dead cells.

Moisten your mouth. You can get tooth decay and bad breath if you don’t make enough saliva. If your mouth is dry, drink plenty of water during the day. Chew sugarless gum or suck on sugar-free hard candy. Also, try a humidifier at night to moisten the air in your house.

Treatment of dental disease. If you have gum disease, you may be referred to a gum specialist (periodontist). Gum disease can cause gums to pull away from your teeth, leaving deep pockets that fill with odor-causing bacteria. Sometimes only professional cleaning removes these bacteria. Your dentist might also recommend replacing faulty tooth restorations, a breeding ground for bacteria.

See your doctor. If your bad breath continues despite your best efforts, make an appointment with your doctor. They’ll check to see if your problems are related to a medical condition.

Dentists On Washington has been named one of the best dentists in Philadelphia by multiple platforms. We take pride in our 5 Star Google Rating. We’re full-service dentistry providing Oral Care, Cosmetic Implants, Root Canals, Tooth Extraction, Invisalign Treatment, and much more in Philadelphia. We handle emergencies as well! Schedule Your Appointment.

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Why Dental Cleanings Are Essential