Bad breath that has you reaching for mints throughout the day isn’t just embarrassing or annoying, it’s a sign that your oral health could be suffering. Bad breath is caused by a number of things, from health conditions, odorous foods, and regular tobacco use, but oral bacteria are one of the main culprits behind breath that’s less than fresh. When oral bacteria are left unchecked, your supportive gum tissue can suffer, resulting in receding or loose gums that play host to even more odor-causing bacteria for Austin TX patients. The good news is that oral bacteria growth, and the bad breath that comes from it, can be corrected by your local Austin, TX dentist.
If you are experiencing bad breath that’s affecting your quality of life, schedule an appointment with Dr. Helen Ragsdale, Austin’s Laser Dentist. Dr. Ragsdale offers minimally invasive, dental laser-technology treatments at her Austin, TX practice to help effectively treat periodontal issues with minimal discomfort to patients.
A Closer Look at Oral Bacteria
Did you know that clean, healthy teeth have anywhere from 1,000 to 100,000 bacteria living on them at any one time? And for less than clean mouths, a tooth can support between 100 million and one billion bacteria! While the presence of bacteria in your mouth may make you feel a little queasy, bacteria isn’t inherently bad. Many of the species that inhabit your mouth actually help kickstart the digestive process, and even help to fight off germs that enter through the mouth, as well as fight off harmful fungi growth. The delicate balance of oral bacteria is an essential part of your health and well-being. However, harmful oral bacteria also exists, which feeds off the leftover starches and sugars in your mouth after eating. These harmful bacteria, found in the sticky plaque substance that coats teeth and gums, release corrosive acids that can slowly destroy tooth enamel and cause cavities. When plaque isn’t properly removed through brushing and flossing, it can harden into tartar, which can continue to erode healthy tooth enamel and is only able to be removed by a dental professional.
The Effects of Bacteria on Gum Tissue
These harmful bacteria don’t just destroy tooth enamel; they can also damage healthy gum tissue. Your gums support the alignment and strength of teeth, creating a protective seal around each tooth. Plaque and tartar most commonly accumulate around the gumline of each tooth. When not properly kept in check through oral hygiene, plaque and tartar actually destroy gum tissues’ healthy seal around each tooth and create “periodontal pockets.” These pockets can deepen over time and play host to even more plaque that becomes difficult to remove. As the pockets deepen, loose gums or teeth can develop. The gum line may recede as healthy tissues are destroyed.
Banishing Bad Breath
It’s no surprise that the destructive oral bacteria causing loose gums and periodontal pockets also contributes to bad breath, as well as a bad taste in the mouth. The corrosive acids released by these bacteria can produce unpleasant odors. The only way to reduce bad breath caused by this bacteria is to remove the existing plaque and tartar, repair gum tissue damage, and prevent future plaque build-up.
If you’re experiencing loose gums, receding gum lines, bad breath, and a bad taste in the mouth, the best place to start is scheduling an appointment with Dr. Helen Ragsdale. Dr. Ragsdale can deep clean the mouth, during a procedure called scaling and root planing, to effectively remove hard-to-reach bacteria in periodontal pockets. By choosing Austin’s Laser Dentist, you can alos experience a less invasive cleaning process, since laser technology makes deep cleanings more comfortable, with shorter recovery times than traditional dental tools.
Once Dr. Ragsdale determines your mouth is on the mend, maintaining diligent at-home care is the best way to prevent future oral bacteria issues. Avoiding sugary and starchy foods can also help reduce oral bacteria growth, as well as drinking plenty of water after meals to dilute any leftover food particles.
Periodontal Treatment in Austin, TX
Ready to banish bad breath caused by loose gums? Call us at 512-346-4690, to schedule your dental cleaning and examination with Dr. Helen Ragsdale.
