You know that feeling when you think you might have bad breath, but you aren’t sure? It can be embarrassing and awkward when you lean in to hug someone you love or meet someone for the first time. Most of us have eaten too much garlic or forgotten to brush our teeth, resulting in bad breath, but sometimes bad breath can be a chronic condition, known as halitosis.
At Edward St Dental, we understand how bad breath can ruin a first date or other special occasion, and if it’s persistent, it may be your body's way of telling you that something isn’t quite right. Fortunately, with the right treatment plan and improved dental hygiene, you can achieve fresher breath and better oral health.
Let’s take a look at what causes bad breath and what you and your general dentist in Brisbane can do about it.
What You Need to Know About Combating Bad Breath
Even if you brush and floss daily, you may still experience persistent bad breath.
Here’s some essential information about this embarrassing issue:
- When to seek professional help: Bad breath is often caused when the bacteria in your mouth break down food debris and dead cells, releasing gases with a noticeable odour from your mouth. If your bad breath persists after brushing, flossing and using mouthwash, it may indicate a dental condition that requires attention. We encourage you to contact us to arrange a visit.
- Accompanying symptoms: If you experience bad breath and other symptoms, such as red or swollen gums, bleeding gums when brushing and flossing or tooth pain or sensitivity, you may have gum disease or tooth decay. These common dental issues can lead to mouth odour.
- Suspecting underlying medical conditions: Another thing to consider regarding persistent bad breath is that numerous medical issues can cause it. You could have a sinus infection, digestive concerns or dry mouth caused by your medications. It’s best to get in touch with us if your bad breath doesn’t go away.
The Role of Your General Brisbane Dentist in Diagnosing Bad Breath
At Edward St Dental, our goal is to help you achieve healthy teeth and gums. To accomplish this, we believe our role as your general dentist should include the following:
- Initial assessment: When you visit our dental clinic, we’ll perform a comprehensive exam to check your teeth, gums, tongue and saliva flow. This can help us detect any signs of tooth decay, infections or dry mouth.
- Beyond the breath mint: Our experienced dental team is trained to educate you about how bad breath is often a symptom of an underlying issue. We’ll discuss with you how plaque buildup, periodontal disease and untreated cavities need to be addressed to eliminate your bad breath.
- Comprehensive oral hygiene evaluation: During your oral exam, we can provide you with pointers on how to brush more effectively and emphasise the importance of daily flossing. We may discuss the benefits of using an electric toothbrush to help you achieve success at home.
Professional Treatments for Chronic Halitosis
It’s important to realise there are treatments that can help you eliminate chronic halitosis.
These are the treatments we may recommend once your examination is complete:
- Deep cleaning and periodontal therapy: Scaling and root planing is a deep dental cleaning procedure designed to remove plaque and bacteria from beneath the gumline, eliminating odour-causing bacteria and thereby improving breath and oral health.
- Addressing cavities and old fillings: If you have tooth decay or worn-out fillings, it’s easy for food particles and bacteria to hide in those areas, leading to bad breath. We can customise a treatment plan suited to your needs.
- Managing dry mouth (xerostomia): The saliva in your mouth naturally cleans your teeth and gums. Stress, certain medications and medical conditions can cause xerostomia, but we can recommend oral rinses or other products to stimulate your saliva flow. We’ll also review your medications to determine if they are causing the issue.
- Tongue cleaning techniques: Your tongue can hold bacteria and cause chronic halitosis, so you may need a tongue scraper or a different toothbrush to combat your bad breath. Changing your daily hygiene routine may be enough.
- Customised oral hygiene plans: Because your mouth is unique, we will create a customised oral hygiene plan tailored to your habits and oral health needs. Our dental team can guide you through the process and get you the care you deserve.
Looking for a General Dentist in Brisbane, QLD?
To learn more about chronic halitosis or to arrange a visit to our dental clinic, we will be happy to assist you.
At Edward St Dental, your oral health is our top priority. Feel free to call us on (07) 3221 5855 to get started today.