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Your Bad Breath<br />
By: James J. White, D.D.S. / Your Dentist<br />
There are many sources for bad breath. Some<br />
are more serious than others.<br />
They include the following: dentures (not<br />
cleaning them daily), certain foods, alcoholism, abscessed teeth/tooth<br />
decay, gum disease, respiratory, throat and/or sinus infections, and of<br />
course, smoking.<br />
Additional sources of bad breath are acute renal failure (can<br />
have ammonia or urine smell), kidney failure (breath can smell of<br />
ammonia), diabetes (with ketoacidosis can be a sweet chemical smell,<br />
almost fruit-like, or like the chemical acetone) and an obstructed<br />
bowel (breath like feces).<br />
Bad breath that does not come from foods, alcohol, or smoking is<br />
generally as a result of sulfur compounds produced by bacteria that<br />
live on the soft tissues. The base of the tongue is a great hiding place for<br />
these bacteria and is why your dental hygienist recommends brushing<br />
the tongue and/or using a tongue scraper.<br />
Additionally, good oral hygiene as a result of brushing and daily<br />
flossing is the easiest, most predictable, and cheapest way of preventing<br />
bad breath. Food particles not removed begin to decompose by the oral<br />
bacteria.<br />
One could liken the condition to a garbage pail that is never washed<br />
out. Yuck!<br />
Generally bad breath will be the result of infected gums and/or bone<br />
(periodontitis/gingivitis). With this disease, bacteria are necrotizing the<br />
gums and bone.<br />
Good oral hygiene is<br />
one of the best preventions.<br />
With untreated gum<br />
disease, there is recession of<br />
the gums and bone around<br />
the teeth.<br />
The teeth appear to be<br />
getting longer. Gum disease<br />
used to be associated with older people, hence the description “getting<br />
long in the tooth.”<br />
Offensive odor resulting from gum/bone disease must be addressed<br />
by your dental professionals. Visiting them frequently is the best<br />
ammunition for killing this source of bad breath and tooth loss. The<br />
old cliché is indeed true: “An ounce of...”<br />
Breath odor from systemic problems will most often have other<br />
symptoms that will precipitate a visit to your physician. Here are some<br />
examples:<br />
Patients with Diabetes: If the breath develops a fruity or sweet<br />
smell that will occur during an attempt to rid the body of acetone,<br />
seek the attention of your physician immediately as this condition is<br />
potentially life threatening.<br />
Chronic Kidney Failure: A “fishy” or urine-like odor may develop.<br />
Contact your physician ASAP.<br />
Remember: A pleasant breath is the added sunshine to every smile<br />
and conversation.<br />
Tired of wearing dentures that<br />
don’t stay in place, won’t chew food<br />
well or cause mouth sores from time to time?<br />
Make an investment in yourself!<br />
What would it be worth not to have dentures anymore?<br />
Eat and chew ANYTHING you want. Laugh out loud<br />
without the fear of your teeth falling.<br />
Corn on the cob? Stop remembering “when.”<br />
Get permanent teeth in one day.<br />
Today’s dentistry is amazing!<br />
Phone for a complimentary consultation.<br />
Learn more about Dr. White at:<br />
www.jameswhitedds.com<br />
James J. White DDS<br />
<strong>11</strong>40 Town Center Drive, # 170<br />
Las <strong>Vegas</strong>, NV 89144<br />
702/562-8833<br />
702/562-7910 Fax<br />
White smiles are for everyone!
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