Bad Breath and Gingivitis

Does this sound familiar to you? My dentist and hygienist mentioned that I had irritated gums as they cleaned my teeth. This is a symptom of gingivitis.

Gingivitis can be a stepping stone to major problems in the mouth and gum line. It might lead to periodontal disease, which is a much more serious problem with the potential for actual bone loss.

Halitosis (bad breath) could be related to a gingivitis infection as both are caused by bacteria. Red, swollen and/or bleeding gums characterize gingivitis. These symptoms are most evident upon flossing and sometimes from brushing.

Bacteria cause gingivitis. And bacteria are considered to be responsible for bad breath.

Sometimes, I could even see the bloodstains that the hygienist quietly wiped away with a towel. It was embarrassing enough to understand that I was not controlling my gingivitis problem, but to understand that she was actually trying not to build a bid deal out of it was troubling.

I knew my dentist was concerned because she gave me a bottle of alcohol based mouthwash to try and mentioned that she wanted to see how I looked next measure . I dont like using it; there is too much alcohol and the taste is not very pleasant.

Alcohol might also dry the mucous membranes in the mouth.

The Problem

Bacteria might stick to your teeth and secrete acid onto them contributing to cavity formation. They can also infect the gums, particularly around the gum line, causing gingivitis. This can manifest initially as bleeding and irritated gums.

Having a lot of uncontrolled bacteria multiplying in the mouth can also lead to bad breath, but there is a natural and normal amount of bacteria in the mouth, and you will never completely get rid of them all, nor would you want to.

Theory has it that it is actually the anaerobic bacteria that live in the tongue and throat that produce sulfur that in turn produce hard to get rid of bad breath. These anaerobes create VSCs or volatile sulfur compounds. One type is the familiar rotten egg smell. There are other odors coming from VSCs as well. These sulfur-producing bacteria might feed on certain foods, like coffee, alcohol and meats.

A gingivitis problem may offer a way for bacteria to easily enter your blood stream and that may lead to additional problems. Systemic infections could come from this. Gingivitis may be something that makes your gums bleed easily in a mild case or it could be the root of deep gum recession, leading to bone loss in the worse case scenarios. (Periodontal disease)

Loss of gum line can be discouraging. A friend of mind once described the process as,"grasping long in the tooth". Sometimes, all the people acquired skill this problem by brushing too hard. TIP: Using a soft bristled toothbrush with the type of motion that your hygienist recommends might help prevent eroded gum lines.

Treatment and Prevention

Had you ever heard of under-the-gum cleanings? This could be part of the protocol your dentist might invoke, should you develop periodontal disease. If you know everybody that have had an under-the-gum cleaning; they might tell you that it is not very pleasant.

Your dentist can deal with this problem in a variety of ways. However, prevention most likely is the best option. Include grand flossing and brushing habits - see your dentist for details. And you could add a non-alcohol based mouthwash alternative to your regimen.

Im currently using a special toothbrush that uses vibration to clean the teeth. This device does a better job than a regular toothbrush in keeping my teeth clean. It does take a little while to get used to because of the vibration. It makes many, many vibrations per second. This helps to give it such wonderful cleaning abilities.

Do not feel sad if you have excellent oral health habits but you still have bad breath. This is common and many many people acquired skill this identical situation. Oral health products that do not contain sodium lauryl sulfates or artificial flavors that might still kill the bacteria that cause bad breath without using harsh alcohol or tough chemicals can be helpful.

I am not a dentist. This article is for information purposes only. This article is not meant for diagnosis, treatment or prevention nor is it meant to give advice. If you have or suspect you have gingivitis, periodontal disease or any other dental problems, visit your dentist for a consultation.