Bad Breath And Gum Disease in Milpitas, CA

Treatment for bad breath and gum disease

What is bad breath?

Bad breath, or medically knows as halitosis, is the bad odor that is released from the mouth. It could be caused due to poor oral hygiene or other underlying health issues.

Do you notice people moving away from you when you start a conversation or turning away when you lean over to kiss their cheek? They could be signs of bad breath and is a serious letdown. How do you find out if you have bad breath? Well, you can just keep your palm in front of your mouth and breath into it. If your breath smells bad, it is apparent that you have bad breath.

Causes of bad breath

• Food debris that is stuck between the teeth.
• Improper brushing techniques.
• Consumption of foods such as onions, coffee and
• Tonsilloliths that are stuck in the throat.
• Dry mouth condition affects the flow of saliva and causes bad breath.
• Infection of the salivary gland.
• Infection of the tonsils, throat and
• Gum diseases.

How can bad breath be prevented?

• Getting rid of the accumulated plaque and bacteria.
• Practicing good oral hygiene in the form of brushing, flossing and cleaning the tongue.
• Usage of a fluoride toothpaste regularly.
• Preventing the consumption of onions and garlic.
• Quitting smoking and chewing tobacco.
• Getting gum diseases treated.

Gum diseases

Gum diseases such as gingivitis and periodontal are mostly caused due to the accumulation of plaque. The bacteria in the plaque infect the gum tissues and can cause various symptoms.

What are the symptoms of gum diseases?

• Bleeding gums
• Release of pus
• Redness and swelling of gums
• Decaying of the gum tissues
• Pain in the gums
• Receding of gums

How can gum diseases be prevented?

Since the main causes of gum diseases are plaque and bacteria, preventing the formation of plaque would prevent the onset of gum diseases as well. Hence, maintaining proper oral hygiene is very important. Regular brushing, flossing, and visits to the dentist's office help in maintaining good oral health. The accumulated plaque on the surface of the teeth and root surface can be removed by scaling and root planning respectively. If the damage due to gum diseases is extensive, one can go for gum surgery to reverse the damage caused to the gums.

What is gum surgery and how is it beneficial?

Gum surgery is performed to reverse the damage caused to the gums due to gum diseases such as gingivitis and periodontal. The loss of gum tissue due to the receding of gums can be treated using gum surgery. Healthy tissues from a different part of the mouth (such as the palate or the healthy gum tissue) are extracted and grafted to the region where the gums have receded. This restores the gums to their natural health and prevents the exposure of the roots of the teeth.