Learn more about ‘bad breath’

Halitosis

Halitosis or bad breath or oral malodour is socially unacceptable but self-diagnosis is difficult, as it is not possible to easily detect an odour from ones' own breath. Those who have halitosis are often unaware of it and often may be informed by friends or relatives. Yet those people who have been told that they suffer from bad breath can continuously worry if an offensive smell can be detected from their breath.

Halitosis is mainly caused by excessive amount of volatile sulphur compounds being produced by bacteria in the mouth. Studies have shown that up to 50 per cent of adults suffer from objectionable mouth odour in early morning before breakfast or toothbrushing. The reason for this is that saliva incubates bacteria in the mouth during sleep (reduced saliva flow). People with periodontal disease exhibit raised odour intensity due to incubation of saliva and micro-organisms in periodontal pockets.

Prevention

The plaque control and oral hygiene products aimed at controlling dental caries and periodontal disease will also help prevent halitosis. Also, treatment of periodontal disease in which periodontal pocketing is reduced will minimize halitosis. A number of systemic diseases and conditions such as diabetes mellitus, chronic renal failure and cirrhosis of the liver can give rise to particular bad odours.

There is increasing interest in the development of a reliable system that will measure the level of volatile sulphur compounds in one's breath. This technology is making rapid progress though the cost of a reliable system remains problematical.

Reduction of halitosis is achieved in several ways. The amount of volatile sulphur compounds in the breath can vary greatly during the day in a single subject and is influenced by factors such as eating, drinking, oral hygiene and sleep and the effect these activities have on saliva flow and the washing of the oral cavity. The majority of studies done on volatile sulphur compounds concentrate on the effects which commercially available mouthwashes have on the reduction of halitosis. The reduction in mouth odour is caused by the anti-microbial influence of the mouthwash.

Some products however, mask halitosis rather than dealing with the cause of the problem. Toothbrushing, eating, chewing gum and tongue brushing usually reduce the levels of oral halitosis to acceptable levels as well but the effect is not as long lasting as antimicrobial mouthwashes. There are now tongue cleaning devices which can be effective in controlling halitosis.

Above article from DentalHealth.ie

Richardson Dentistry

1231 East Belt Line Road, Suite 103
Richardson, TX 75081
Phone: (972) 690-8617
RichardsonDentistry.com

Wisdom Teeth

Wisdom teeth, also referred to as third molars, get their name by being the last teeth to come in during young adulthood. As part of a dental visit, your dentist will examine you to determine if your wisdom teeth are healthy and properly positioned.

Every patient is unique, but in general, wisdom teeth may need to be removed when there is evidence of changes in the mouth such as:

• pain
• infection
• cysts
• tumors
• damage to adjacent teeth
• gum disease
• tooth decay (if it is not possible or desirable to restore the tooth)

Your dentist or specialist may also recommend removal to prevent problems or for others reasons, such as when removal is part of an orthodontic, restorative or periodontal treatment plan.

In addition, the condition of your mouth changes over time. Wisdom teeth that are not removed should continue to be monitored, because the potential for developing problems later on still exists. As with many other health conditions, as people age, they are at greater risk for health problems and that includes potential problems with their wisdom teeth. Regular dental visits are important so your dentist can evaluate not just your wisdom teeth but your overall oral health to help you prevent and manage dental disease and achieve optimal oral health.

Above article from: www.MouthHealthy.org

Richardson Dentistry

1231 East Belt Line Road, Suite 103
Richardson, TX 75081
Phone: (972) 690-8617
RichardsonDentistry.com