Hello, Dr. Dayanayev here from Steinway Family Dental Center. We get a lot of questions about bad breath, and today we're going to answer some of the most common questions that we receive about bad breath.
What is bad breath?
When you stand next to somebody and they start talking to you, and you can smell their breath and it's unpleasant—that's bad breath.
How is it defined clinically?
Interesting question, because there are different reasons why people have bad breath. You have halitosis as one of them. That's pretty much it.
What are the most common causes of bad breath?
Number one, of course, it could come from not getting your cleaning, like unclean teeth and gums. If you have inflammation or infection, there is very smelly bacteria, and we do introduce bacteria with our food. Some are good bacteria, some bad, but some are so smelly that you can actually smell it a distance away that somebody has bad breath.
What is halitosis and how is it different from occasional bad breath?
Halitosis actually refers to bad breath that comes from the mouth and is caused by bacteria. When we have bad breath simply because we did not brush our teeth, and as soon as we're done brushing, we're good, then some of it is more reversible than others. That's the difference between the two. If you have decay in the tooth, and you smell the decayed tooth, that could be a cause of bad breath, as well as tonsil stones. When people have them, they get really bad breath. It depends on what's wrong. I would recommend that you see a dentist to determine why exactly you have bad breath.
Can wisdom teeth contribute to bad breath?
It depends. If the wisdom teeth have grown up, healthy, fully exposed, and you can easily clean them, then probably not. However, a lot of times we get wisdom teeth, and the soft tissue is covering them, which is just like a big pocket for all the food that gets stuck there. The bacteria get inside, and all this food is basically oxidizing and becomes smelly, with the bacteria also contributing to this factor. There's inflammation and infection at the same time. Then, of course, it stinks, and that is bad breath.
Is it normal to have bad breath after tooth extraction?
Most of the time, people do get bad breath after a tooth extraction. They can't really keep it clean because there's a wound, and they're trying to baby it. Because of that, there's an accumulation of different particles inside the area where the tooth extraction happened, leading to some bad breath. However, this is a temporary bad breath, and compared to halitosis, this is reversible.
What are some of the signs that bad breath is rather chronic than occasional?
Occasional bad breath, like after an extraction, is a temporary condition. As soon as it heals, you would be back to cleaning it well, and the bad breath is gone. However, if you have a chronic condition, like gum disease, and you haven't seen the dentist and you think you're brushing and flossing, you might wonder why you have bad breath. Meanwhile, subgingival bacteria are hiding underneath the gum line, and it's completely painless. You don't feel anything, but in reality, people around you don't want to be too close to you. Usually, it's our close ones, like spouses, who would tell us, or even children when they're little. They're so straightforward. They love you, but they're like, "Oh, daddy, your breath stinks." This is when you should get a clue and see the dentist about that.
What dental treatments are available for bad breath?
First of all, you need to diagnose it. You have to know where it is coming from. Is it coming from your teeth, your throat, or your stomach? All of these have a place. But let's assume it does come from your mouth, and you want to treat it. The way to treat it would be to start with good cleaning and see if that's going to resolve it. If you don't have any cavities, most likely that's going to help you. If there are cavities or gum disease that regular cleaning won't resolve, then there are other procedures that can be done for it.
What kind of mouthwash or toothpaste would you recommend for getting rid of halitosis or bad breath?
It really does not matter. Something that has xylitol in it will help you with that. If you're keeping your mouth clean, regular water would do the same thing. Mouthwash does not matter. As for toothpaste, the toothpaste has a slightly different purpose, and we often choose it based on taste rather than function. So it really does not matter. The purpose is to keep the area moist when you brush your teeth so you don't damage your gums or teeth by brushing. Any toothpaste, any mouthwash, or just water would do the trick.
What are the home remedies to reduce bad breath?
Number one, of course, is getting your teeth cleaned. Get a floss, floss between every single tooth, and use your toothbrush. Spend time with it. It should take you at least 1 minute per arch—1 minute on the bottom, 1 minute on the top. If you haven't seen a dentist, maybe spend double the time. Make sure everything is clean and see if that helps you. But the best way is still to see a dentist.
How can someone tell if you have bad breath?
Interesting question. If you have loved ones, they can totally tell you. But if you live by yourself, you're alone. A lot of people do this test where they breathe into their hand and then smell it. Sometimes you can smell it, sometimes you cannot. It's similar to someone using a lot of cologne; they apply it, and after a while, they don't even know if they did it or not because they can't smell it, but people around them can. The best way is if somebody will do that for you.
Is it possible to get rid of bad breath permanently?
The answer is yes. It is possible, but it depends on what is the cause of the bad breath.
I hope I've been able to shine some light on this subject for you. If you have any more questions or specific questions that we did not answer today, you can call us or request an appointment with me. I will look at it with you directly, and we will find out exactly why you have bad breath or if you have bad breath and how we can remedy this. You can give us a call at (718) 728-3314 or find us online at alldentalneeds.com and request an appointment, and someone will get back to you.