Treating Gum Disease as Part of Halitosis Treatment

If you have persistent bad breath or notice a bad taste in your mouth, halitosis treatment could help you regain control of your oral health and boost confidence. Periodontal disease, or gum disease, is an inflammation of the tissues and bone that support the teeth. Untreated gum disease can become severe, causing teeth to become loose or even fall out.

Gum disease is usually caused by a buildup of plaque, which is an invisible, sticky layer of germs that forms naturally on the teeth and gums, especially in periods of poor oral health. But gum disease does not cause these severe symptoms right away; it could all start with a bit of bad breath.

Gum disease explained

Gum disease is caused by the buildup of plaque, or the residue from bacteria and food particles on teeth. If gum disease goes unchecked for too long, it can irreversibly damage the gums, teeth and jawbone. As plaque builds up, it creates acid that irritates the gums, leading to an infection that can lead to tooth loss.

Bad breath and gum disease

One of the main symptoms of gum disease is persistent bad breath or a bad taste in the mouth, a condition also known as halitosis. Halitosis affects many adult dental patients and is nothing to be ashamed of. In fact, concern over halitosis is one of the main reasons why adult patients seek dental care. Following tooth decay and gum disease, halitosis is the main reason why patients visit the dentist.

The same bacteria that cause gum disease may thrive below the gum line, producing a foul-smelling sulfur compound. This compound is often what causes halitosis. Many early cases of gum disease go unnoticed due to the lack of severe enough symptoms.

Treating bad breath

Getting rid of bad breath could be as simple as a visit to the dentist for your biannual dental cleaning. However, clearing gum disease does not always free the mouth of bad breath. Halitosis treatment must be dealt with by a medical doctor. If your halitosis does not go away with proper dental hygiene and deep dental cleaning, then the source may be coming from elsewhere.

Regular dental checkups can help ensure that periodontal disease is detected and treated early. During a dental cleaning, the hygienist and dentist work together to identify the source of bad breath in order to perform halitosis treatment (in combination with gum disease treatment).

To prevent or stave off halitosis at home, be sure to brush for two minutes twice daily using a soft-bristled toothbrush and a fluoride toothpaste. Know that brushing too hard may damage the gums and leave them susceptible to gum disease. Flossing once daily is also very important in halitosis treatment, as flossing between teeth rids these hard-to-reach areas of bad breath and gum disease-causing bacteria.

Get halitosis treatment for better breath

Halitosis treatment is as simple as gum disease treatment. Ask your dentist about scaling, root planing and deep dental cleaning for halitosis treatment. Call one of our friendly, highly trained dentist today to set up an appointment.

Request an appointment here: https://davisanddingle.com or call Davis & Dingle Family Dentistry at (803) 567-1804 for an appointment in our Columbia office.

Check out what others are saying about our dental services on Yelp: Gum Disease in Columbia, SC.