Category: Blog

We have all had bad breath at some point. It’s just one of those disgusting phenomena that happen sometimes. In fact, studies show that about 50% of adults have had chronic bad breath, or halitosis, at some point in their adult lives.

What Causes Bad Breath?

There are a variety of things that may be the suspect of putrid breath. Some of these are harmless causes, and others can be more serious, but here are the main reasons people have breath that smells terrible:

1. Bacteria: Considering how many hundreds of kinds of bacteria live in your mouth it’s no wonder that an imbalance of certain ones can cause your breath to smell terrible. The bacteria in your mouth is fed by the food you eat, which can produce foul smelling odors left in your mouth.
2. Dry Mouth: If your mouth is not producing enough saliva this can also result in terrible-smelling breath. Dry mouth can be caused by some medications, and sometimes it can also be a result of your salivary glands not working properly, or even can result from breathing through your mouth too often.
3. Gum Disease: Bad breath that won’t go away or breath that won’t smell better no matter how many mints you have or how many times you brush your teeth may mean that the problem is deeper in your mouth than just on your teeth. It may be a problem that is lurking underneath the surfaces of the mouth such as in your gums. Usually this will be from plaque and tartar buildup on the teeth, and at this point the gum disease will be pretty advanced.
4. Foods/Drinks: Certain foods and drinks can make your breath temporarily less than pleasant to smell. Some of the worst offenders include onions and garlic as well a coffee. Others will notice the effects when you exhale!
5. Smoking & Tobacco: Over time, smoking will stain your teeth, which will give you wretched breath and put you at risk for a host of other oral health problems including irritated gums and the inability to taste food well as you would be able to if you didn’t use tobacco products.
6. Medical Conditions: Mouth infections can cause bad breath. However, sometimes if your dentist has ruled out other causes and you are brushing and flossing on a committed basis every single day you may look for other underlying conditions. Some of these conditions include things like sinus conditions, gastric reflux, diabetes, or liver/kidney diseases. In this case you will need to seek your healthcare provider’s intervention to help treat the problem.

How Can I Keep Bad Breath Away?

Here are 7 ways:

1. Brush & Floss Regularly: Probably the easiest and most effective way to keep bad breath at bay is to commit to a regular schedule of brushing/flossing daily. This includes brushing at least 2-3x per day and flossing at least 1x per day. Keeping the food and bacteria particles from building up in your mouth can help avoid the nasty odors and stenches that come with it.
2. Take Care of Your Tongue: When you are cleaning your mouth don’t forget about that floppy thing called your tongue. If you see a white or brownish coating on your tongue that is a good clue that it has been neglected in the past, and needs some extra TLC. That film can be bacteria or even fungi that have grown in the mouth because it has been left without being cleaned for too long. Ensure you are cleaning your tongue on a regular basis along with the rest of your mouth.
3. Mouth Washes: There are many over-the-counter mouthwashes available that can help keep your teeth squeaky clean. These washes neutralize bacteria and also can temporarily make breath smell a lot better. It’s a temporary solution, but be sure to brush and floss on a regular basis as well.
4. Clean Your Dentures: If you happen to have dentures be sure you are taking them out at night and that you are soaking them in the appropriate solutions to keep them sanitary and brush them with a soft bristle brush and water or toothpaste as instructed by your dentist.
5. Keep That Saliva Flowing: Make sure you are getting that saliva flowing throughout the day. Promote saliva creation by eating a variety of foods that require your mouth to produce more saliva throughout the day. You can also try chewing sugar-free gums and sucking on extra sugar-free candies to help promote extra saliva production.
6. Quit Smoking: Tobacco will make your breath smell even worse than it would otherwise, and it promotes tooth decay and rotting so kick the tobacco habits ASAP! This can also help improve breathing and lower chances of cancers. It improves your life in many ways past oral health!
7. Visit Your Dentist Regularly: If you are concerned about chronic bad breath visit the dentist regularly to ensure you are not having any gum disease such as gingivitis or even periodontitis, and make sure your teeth are free from tartars and plaques that can cause odors. Ensure you are not experiencing tooth decay or rot as well.

If you have any questions or would like to learn more about us visit us here or call us 909-465-1016.

The Ramona Dentistry Team

“Where Family Comes First”

There are several common myths that seem to follow gum disease, but these misunderstandings are important to clear up before they perpetuate into false information for patients. Here are some of those myths we often hear that are simply untrue:

1. Gum Disease Is Not That Common: Actually, the truth is quite the opposite. Gum disease is actually quite common, much more common than we would like to think. About half of adults age 30 and older have or have had some form of gum disease in their lifetime. The gum disease is often caused by that stick layer of film that can form over teeth and eventually turn into calcified tartar if not removed through brushing and flossing regularly.
2. I Have No Cavities So I Can’t Have Gum Disease: This is also untrue as the cavities occur in the teeth themselves, whereas the gum problems occur in the gum line. Gums that bleed easily or are very red in nature already are infected with gingivitis, and if left untreated can turn into a periodontal disease which gets under the gum line and can penetrate the bone. Gingivitis is usually treatable through consistently improved brushing and flossing habits, but once it advances to periodontal disease the fix is not so easy!
3. Having Gum Disease Means I Will Lose All of My Teeth: That is also not true. You don’t have to lose your teeth to gum disease if you up your oral routine and hygiene. Gingivitis is the first sign that you have to improve your oral health, and people rarely lose teeth to gingivitis alone but left untreated it can advance to periodontal diseases, which can sometimes be treated to save the teeth, but in its more advanced stages, the chances may not be so great. Why let it get there, though? Just take care of your teeth and you won’t have a thing to worry about. If you have no idea what the state of your teeth is today, contact your dentist right away so you can get an appointment scheduled to see how you are doing. If improvements need to be made, agree to make them so you don’t have oral health problems in the future.
4. Bleeding Gums During Pregnancy is Normal: Actually, on having your gums bleeding during pregnancy is not your body’s normal reaction. It’s a condition called “pregnancy gingivitis” which may mean your gums are a little bit more susceptible to infection and disease than they were when you are not pregnant. IF you have more sensitive gums, just provide extra TLC to keep them from getting infected, and most women should not have a problem averting pregnancy gum disease if they visit their dentist regularly and keep on top of things.
5. Bad Breath Can Be an Indicator of Gum Disease: Persistent bad breath or a bad taste in your mouth can be a sign of gum disease. If you constantly have that bad breath, then see your dentist for regular checkups and see how you can avoid any further problems with gum disease before it’s too late. If your dentist sees no issues, you may be referred to your physician who can do further testing for any medical abnormalities.
6. I Have Diabetes, Will I Get Gum Disease?: Diabetes is a chronic condition which effects the body’s ability to process and digest sugars. Diabetes can lower your natural ability to fight off certain conditions, including infections like gum disease in gingivitis or periodontal disease. If you have diabetes you are at greater risk of developing conditions like gum disease, but regular preventative care from your dentist should be able to help keep these problems to a minimum when combined with healthy habits of brushing 2x per day, and flossing 1x per day.

If you have any questions or would like to learn more about us visit us here or call us 909-465-1016. The Ramona Dentistry Team “Where Family Comes First”

There are many reasons that you can see a dentist, including for regular 6-month checkups, however, sometimes there are signs that you need to see your dentist ASAP. Here are a few of those clues that if you experience these symptoms you should see your dentist ASAP:

1. You have pain. You feel pain or severe swelling in/around your face, neck, or mouth area see your dentist immediately.
2. Your gums are acting up. If you have red, inflamed, painful gums and they are puffy and bleed when you brush or floss and if you have a history of gum disease it’s time to have the dentist take a look at it.
3. Your try to hide your smile. Whether you’re self-conscious about missing a tooth or hoping for a brighter smile then maybe seeing the dentist to get some pointers on how to make that happen is a good idea!
4. You’ve had work done. If you have had past dental work done, making sure the job that was done is holding up is vital to not ending up to having more work done again if something goes wrong in the future.
5. You have ongoing medical issues. Make your medical condition that can affect your oral health part of the dental problems a priority. Include your dentist as a person on your medical team so they know of any other treatment you are undergoing.
6. You’re Pregnant: It’s safe to go to the dentist while you are pregnant, especially in your first two trimesters. Ensure you are getting your regular checkups, and even more so if you are having gestational diabetes (diabetes while pregnant).
7. You’re Having Trouble Eating: If you are having trouble chewing or swallowing foods you may have something wrong that needs to be fixed. Same is true when you are experiencing pain while chewing or find yourself just gravitating towards softer foods to avoid pain.
8. You Have Dry Mouth: If you are seeming to drink nonstop but can’t satisfy that dry feeling in your mouth you may be having a side-effect from medications you are on, which can also spell dental problems if left untreated.
9. You Use Any Kind of Tobacco: If you chew tobacco or smoke cigarettes regular dental care is even more important as tobacco can cause tooth decay and loss.
10. You’re Having Jaw Pain: If your jaw is constantly in pain you may be grinding your teeth or clenching them while you sleep at night and not even know it. You may be wearing your teeth to nubs without even knowing it!
11. You Have Spots & Sores Appear in Your Mouth: If you are feeling new, funky spots on your tongue or in your mouth chances are you might have a fungus or a canker sore or cold sore or even a case of candidiasis developing. While many canker sores will heal themselves funguses or cold sores and candidiasis cases may need special treatment from your dentist. If you are having braces or other dental pieces put in and they are rubbing on your mouth you may have problems with infections if the rubbing is persistent and continues, or the area will just get rawer and more painful.
12. It’s Time for a Checkup: Even if you have no symptoms you should be visiting your dentist every 6 months anyways to make sure everything is good and that no problems are beginning. Problems are easier to catch in the beginning, and much less costly in many cases, too!

If you have any questions or would like to learn more about us visit us here or call us 909-465-1016. The Ramona Dentistry Team“Where Family Comes First”