Patients struggling with bad breath often come to us with a host of other complaints such as emotional distance in their marriage or social relationships, lack of confidence, or gum pain and cavities. Halitosis is a big deal for many who suffer from it, so you deserve for your general dentist to take it as seriously as you do. At Lumi Family Dentistry, our whole-patient approach means that we consider your complaints from every angle, so we can offer comprehensive, individualized care that treats the problem and improves your quality of life.
Halitosis is the more clinical term for bad breath. It can be caused by many things, including your day-to-day diet. If garlic and onions are a staple in your lunches, then the fix may be pretty easy. However, many times, bad breath is a result of an underlying health condition. For most people, it’s caused by poor oral hygiene that is infecting and damaging your gums.
The bacteria in our mouths create sulfur compounds when they interact with and digest the food particles that stick around after meals. You may already be aware that sulfur is a naturally repellent smell. With good oral hygiene, you can get rid of these stinky bacteria and restore the balance in your mouth. When bacteria aren’t removed with regular brushing and flossing, food particles stick around, harsh bacterial enzymes damage the teeth, gums become infected, and decay runs rampant. All of these things can make bad breath stick around, even after brushing your teeth.
Keep in mind that halitosis is a common symptom of many other health conditions, not to mention it’s a side effect of medication that may also cause dry mouth. Our doctors are trained to consider every aspect of your health and routine that may be leading to your bad breath, so we can create an effective treatment plan.
Your treatment may vary depending on the cause of your bad breath; however, we commonly recommend scaling and root planing (SRP) also called a deep dental cleaning for people whose halitosis is caused by poor oral hygiene or gum disease. SRP looks a lot like a regular dental cleaning, but it may be slightly more invasive.
During SRP therapy, your dentist or hygienist may use local anesthetic to keep you comfortable during treatment. You shouldn’t feel any pain or discomfort. Next, they will clean tartar from under the gum line with an ultrasonic scaler. These scalers use gentle vibrations capable of disrupting hard plaque better than manual tools. As we clear the tartar, we wash it away and suck up the water.
Next, we use what is called a root planer to smooth the roots of the teeth, clearing away tartar that may be pushing the gums away from the tooth. When gums pull back, they create what are called periodontal pockets where bacteria and food residue can collect. Eliminating tartar on the roots helps the gums to readhere and restore a healthy balance of bacteria.
When you come to us with something as personal as bad breath, we want to do everything we can to help. Our compassionate team members will assess your other symptoms and health concerns, and if a deep dental cleaning improves your symptoms, we will perform your cleaning gently and thoroughly. Call our office at 469-777-4954 to schedule your appointment, or book online with our online scheduling tool.
This office is very clean and neat. On top of that, all the staff members are so nice and always very courteous. Dr. Dang is always so thorough and professional in getting my dental problems taken care of.
Hannah M.
Dr. Dang has been my dentist for a few years now and it’s always a great experience because he is always consistent and precise with his work and always has my questions answered. I won’t go anywhere else.
Thomas L.
Dr. Dang is so incredible! I had so much fear and anxiety going to the dentist but I almost didn’t feel the dreaded ‘shot’ at all and the whole treatment was at ease and very comfortable. I’m so grateful for what he has done!
Idalia K.
This office is very clean and neat. On top of that, all the staff members are so nice and always very courteous. Dr. Dang is always so thorough and professional in getting my dental problems taken care of.
Hannah M.
Dr. Dang has been my dentist for a few years now and it’s always a great experience because he is always consistent and precise with his work and always has my questions answered. I won’t go anywhere else.
Thomas L.
Dr. Dang is so incredible! I had so much fear and anxiety going to the dentist but I almost didn’t feel the dreaded ‘shot’ at all and the whole treatment was at ease and very comfortable. I’m so grateful for what he has done!
Idalia K.
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