Periodontal Therapy
Gum disease is an infection of the tissues that surround and support your teeth. Gum disease is caused by plaque, the sticky film of bacteria that is constantly forming on your teeth. If plaque is left on your teeth, it can harden into tarter, which you will not be able to brush and floss off. Early gum disease is called gingivitis and is reversible with good oral hygiene. Advance gum disease is called periodontitis and requires periodontal therapy (scaling and root planing) below the gum line to remove the build up of plaque and tarter. Gum disease often leads to bad breath. Advanced gum disease can lead to bone loss and is a major cause of tooth loss in adults.
Frequently Asked Questions
There are a number of reasons you might have bad breath. The most common are listed here:
Bacteria- Bad breath can be caused by the hundreds of types of bad breath-causing bacteria that naturally lives in your mouth. When you eat, bacteria feed on the food left in your mouth and leaves a foul-smelling waste product behind.
Dry Mouth- Saliva is important because it works around the clock to wash out your mouth. If you don’t have enough, your mouth isn’t being cleaned as much as it should be. Dry mouth can be caused by certain medications, salivary gland problems or by simply breathing through your mouth.
Gum Disease-Bad breath can be a warning sign of gum disease.
Food-The list of breath-offending foods is long, and what you eat affects the air you exhale.
Smoking and Tobacco-Smoking stains your teeth, gives you bad breath and puts you at risk for a host of health problems. Tobacco users are also more likely to suffer from gum disease.
Medical Conditions-Mouth infections can cause bad breath. However, if your dentist has ruled out other causes and you brush and floss every day, your bad breath could be the result of another problem, such as a sinus condition, gastric reflux, diabetes, liver or kidney disease. In this case, see your healthcare provider.
Meet Our Doctor:
Dr. Marie Johnson DDS
Dr. Marie Johnson grew up in southern Maine, where her father and grandfather were dentists. She went to St. Mary’s College of Maryland and graduated cum laude with a BA in biology after spending time both in the Gambia, West Africa and Australia during her studies. She attended the University of Maryland School of Dentistry graduating magna cum laude. Dr. Marie moved to Seattle to complete a General Practice Residency at the University of Washington. She worked in private practice in the Baltimore area as well as in the Sultanate ...