Bad Breath Origins & How To Keep It At Bay

Posted on Jan 20, 2016 by William J. Claiborne, DDS MS

If you wonder, “Do I have bad breath?” you probably do.

Occasional bad breath, though unwanted, is not unusual. After morning cups of coffee or an onion-laden meal, we can all emit less-than-welcome odors. Unfortunately, bad breath can have a lasting impression, a negative one. Frequent bad breath can even cause others to avoid close encounters as they anticipate having to inhale an offensive odor.

Bad breath can be the result of several problems. Some health problems can contribute to bad breath, including acid reflux and illnesses such as sinus infections, bronchitis and liver problems.

However, the most common cause of bad breath is the result of accumulated oral bacteria. Bacteria are living organisms that eat, reproduce and emit waste on a continual basis. Inadequate oral hygiene enables oral bacteria to develop into bad breath.

Without regular brushing and flossing, oral bacteria reproduce and plaque forms. Plaque is the sticky film you feel on teeth. When not removed, plaque hardens into a substance known as calculus. This is an accumulated colony of oral bacteria that attaches to tooth surfaces and dines on tooth enamel and gum tissue.

Sugary drinks and foods high in carbohydrates are the ideal food for oral bacteria. Consumption of these enable bacteria to reproduce more rapidly, accelerating their ability to grow and thrive in your mouth.

Persistent bad breath is also a symptom of gum disease. Other signs are gums that are tender and bleed when brushing. The color of your gum tissues may also seem darker in color than a healthy pink.

If signs of gum disease are present, there are various treatments that can restore your mouth to a healthy state depending on the level of gum disease present. As with anything, the earlier you have treatment, the less involved the process will be. Early treatment can mean a significant savings in treatment time and money.

If gum disease is not the source of your breath odor, another reason could be ‘dry mouth.’ Dry mouth causes your mouth to become stale and sticky. An example of dry mouth is when you first wake up. Since saliva flow is reduced during sleep, oral bacteria are not removed efficiently. This causes oral tissues to dry out and allows bacteria to accumulate.

The tendency to snore or breath through the mouth are habits that also contribute to dry mouth. If you smoke, dry mouth is a common side effect. Cigarette smoke contains chemicals that are severely drying to oral tissues. Alcoholic beverages are drying, as well, as is coffee. Some medications also have side effects that include oral dryness.

When you examine the true origin of most bad breath, oral bacteria is at the root of the problem in the majority of cases. To avoid (or greatly minimize) bad breath, begin with a clean, healthy mouth. If you haven’t had regular dental check-ups and cleanings, see a periodontal specialist to help you establish a foundation of good oral health. A Periodontist is a dental specialist who has advanced training in the treatment of gum tissues in the mouth. He or she is your best choice for establishing a mouth with minimal bacteria influences.

Once your oral health is in good shape, it’ll be easy to keep it there with the following steps:

– Brush at least twice daily for at least two minutes each time. Finish up by brushing your tongue to loosen embedded bacteria there, including the back of the tongue.
– Floss daily. If this is difficult, invest in an electronic flosser.
– Keep your mouth moist by drinking lots of water. If you take medications that have dying side effects, ask about oral rinses that can help to boost saliva flow.

Why worry about your breath when you can speak, laugh, whisper and kiss with confidence! Call 828-274-9440 and begin with a no-cost consultation. During this time, we’ll discuss your current oral health and how to achieve a healthy mouth and fresh breath.

How Gum Disease Forms – Dental Terms Made Easy

Posted on Jan 15, 2016 by William J. Claiborne, DDS MS

A friend who recently acquired a sail boat loves to talk about his new passion. Unfortunately, as he casually throws out terms such as halyard, fife rail, and jibe when describing his outings, I become “lost at sea” (pun intended!). Rather than stop his conversation at each unfamiliar term for an explanation, I tend to try to absorb what I can. More than not, I fail to truly grasp the actual picture of what he is sharing.

As a Periodontal Specialist, I have to continually remind myself that some dental terminology that’s second nature to me isn’t as clear to the patients with whom I’m communicating. Just as jibe means very little to me, terms like osseointegration and mandibular are not familiar ones, often leaving the patient drifting as the conversation begins to fall apart.

Although dental implant placement and gum recontouring are regular treatments our office provides, gum disease is the most frequent problem we treat. Gum disease in the U.S. affects over 70% of adults at some level. It is the leading cause of tooth loss and has been linked to heart disease, high blood pressure, stroke, memory loss, arthritis, diabetes, preterm babies and impotency.

Because gum disease (also known as periodontal disease), begins without obvious symptoms, people often ignore the warning signs, which merely allows the disease to progress further. In order to help people have a clear, concise picture of how gum disease forms, I’ve broken the stages down in language that removes dental jargon.

• Oral bacteria – We all have bacteria in our mouths. That’s normal. However, it’s the excess of bacteria that is at the root of the problem. When oral bacteria are not brushed, flossed or rinsed from the mouth properly and on a daily basis, they band together and form plaque.

• Plaque – This is a sticky film that coats teeth. It also covers the gums and tongue but is not as obvious as what can be felt by running the tongue over teeth. The presence of plaque means the mouth contains more bacteria than saliva flow can handle. When plaque is not removed, oral bacteria continue to reproduce, thrive and form calculus.

• Calculus – Also known as tartar, this is actually a hardened form of bacteria that emerges from plaque. As a condensed colony of bacteria, calculus attaches to teeth and can only be removed with special instruments used by dental professionals. This is why your 6-month check-ups and cleanings are so important. By scraping away buildup on a regular basis, you can halt damage to gums and enamel.

• Gingivitis – This is actually the first stage of gum disease. In this stage, oral bacteria are attacking gum tissues and tooth enamel as they reproduce at a rapid rate. Signs of gingivitis are gums that bleed when brushing, sore spots and frequent bad breath. It is this stage, however, that can be self-treated. That is to say that an immediate response with proper measures can combat the problem before it worsens. This includes a minimum of twice daily brushing (at least two minutes each time) with a soft to medium bristle tooth brush and flouridated tooth paste. Daily flossing is also needed to remove food particles and bacteria between teeth. Tongue scraping is advised, also. This removes oral bacteria that is embedded in the grooves of the tongue. When a tongue scraper is not available, brush the tongue with your tooth brush after brushing teeth. Be sure to get to the back of the tongue where the greatest concentration of bacteria live. Drink lots of water and swish daily with an oral rinse that kills bacteria and provides added protection to enamel.

• Periodontal (Gum) Disease – When gingivitis is not resolved, the next stage you can expect will be periodontal disease. This is when the bacteria have moved down into the gum tissues and are eating away at gums and tooth enamel at a rigorous rate. Typical symptoms are red and swollen gums, gums that bleed easily when brushing, gums that pull away or loosen from teeth, exposing sensitive tooth root areas. Persistent bad breath is another symptom, which occurs even after brushing or chewing gum.

• Periodontitis – At this stage, gum disease is running rampant in your mouth. Gums are red and tender all the time. Pus pockets form at the base of some teeth. Some teeth will begin to loosen as bacteria eat away at the structures that support tooth roots. Eventually, some (or all) of your natural teeth will need to be removed.

I believe if the general population were more aware of the sequence that leads to full-blown gum disease, we’d have far less adults walking around with bacteria that causes internal inflammation. When oral bacteria enter the bloodstream through tears in diseased gum tissue, it can trigger inflammatory reactions that are the foundation of the severe health problems mentioned prior (heart disease, arthritis, etc.). We’d also have fewer adults dealing with the ordeals surrounding tooth loss.

I hope I’ve provided a helpful explanation of how oral bacteria progresses and how it effects your oral and overall health. For an examination to determine the health of your gums, along with recommended treatment options, call 828-274-9440 to request an appointment.

Remember, if you are having any symptoms, these will only worsen when treatment is delayed. This typically means more treatment time and greater expense.

Master The Fine Art Of Flossing

Posted on Dec 08, 2015 by William J. Claiborne, DDS MS

If you don’t know how to ice skate, watching someone who does can be mesmerizing. Seeing a skater glide easily across the ice on a thin blade, turning and shifting with seemingly little effort, makes one rather envious.

When I try to urge a patient who has never flossed to do so, and to do it every day, I used to be so perplexed at their resistance. “Wonder why this is such a big deal?” I’d think. Yet, to me flossing is as natural a motion as gliding across the ice is to an ice skater.

As a periodontist, I’m naturally a proponent of flossing as a valuable aid in removing food particles and bacteria buildup from the mouth. Flossing dislodges bits of food stuck between teeth and scrapes the edges where a tooth brush has difficulty reaching.

People who floss on a daily basis require only a minute or so. Many don’t need a mirror since they can ‘feel’ their way along. Some floss while watching television, reading or catching up on emails. However, be prepared to rely on a mirror until you’ve mastered the technique. The point is, flossing, once a habit, can be a simple action that blends easily into one’s day.

Flossing is best done with about 18 inches of floss. We recommend unwaxed but people with tight teeth find waxed helps them to avoid having the floss ‘pop’ between teeth and cut into tender gum tissues. Wrap both ends of the floss around the forefingers. You’ll use your thumbs and middle fingers to help maneuver the floss.

The key to flossing is to slowly move it back and forth teeth to get in-between and then scrape down each tooth’s side several times. Move the floss just slightly below the line where teeth meet gum tissues to dislodge bacteria at the base of teeth. Adjust the floss so you have a clean section after flossing every 3-4 teeth. Be sure to scrape the backs of molars (or the farthest back teeth) on top and bottom.

For those who try to floss and find it too difficult, we recommend purchasing one of the electronic flossers on the market today. These are effective and do a good job at removing debris and oral bacteria from the mouth. If you can’t handle traditional floss, these are the next best thing.

Flossing helps to lower oral bacteria that can accumulate and lead to cavities, gum disease and eventual tooth loss. This can save you treatment time and expense. Another incentive is (drum roll) you’ll be so much more comfortable during your dental cleanings! Healthy gums are not as sensitive and gum probing and any scraping needed will be an easy process for you!

Make a commitment to be a flosser! Add daily flossing to your New Year’s Resolutions. You’ll be rewarded with a healthier mouth and possibly prevent costly problems.

Begin the new year with a clean mouth by calling 828-274-9440 to arrange an examination and cleaning. Our Hygienist will be happy to give you flossing instructions while we get your mouth to a healthy state.

Easy Ways To Lower Your Costs For Dental Needs

Posted on Dec 01, 2015 by William J. Claiborne, DDS MS

It is wise to care for our health (and the health of our loved ones) by taking proactive measures. Having annual exams and screenings can help prevent or minimize expenses for more-complex needs in the future. As a dental specialist, I see firsthand the many problems (and subsequent expenses), many that could have been avoided in the first place. Spending a few minutes each day and having 6-month exams and cleanings can save you greatly.

It’s actually easy to prevent oral problems and costs for repairs. Your regular oral hygiene visits are opportunities to remove buildup that can lead to problems. They can also catch problems that may have arisen since your last visit. Early treatment will help you minimize time and expenses needed for repairs.

Your home care regimen can help you avoid problems by keeping oral bacteria under control. You may feel that twice-daily brushing and flossing routines have minimal impact on avoiding problems. However, these steps are actually very effective in reducing oral bacteria and preventing buildup. Be sure to brush twice a day (for at least two minutes) using a soft to medium bristle brush and fluoridated tooth paste.

Flossing is another powerful way to reduce bacteria in the mouth. Even after brushing, food particles can remain between teeth. These particles literally rot over a day’s time. Oral bacteria feed on this and quickly reproduce. This is why you feel a sticky coating on teeth and gums, known as plaque. Plaque is an accumulation of oral bacteria.

Daily flossing takes only a minute or so once you are in the habit. Our hygienist can demonstrate how to comfortably hold floss and move it easily between teeth (even those hard-to-reach teeth). If preferred, an electronic flosser can be purchased to make the task easy yet effective. These are especially helpful for people with dexterity problems, such as adults with RA.

Dry mouth is a another reason for oral bacteria growth. Saliva in the mouth continually rinse oral bacteria away. When saliva levels are low, these bacteria can multiply quickly. Smoking, alcohol, caffeine, some medications and mouth breathing (such as snoring) are all drying to oral tissues. Some health conditions, including anemia, hypertension, arthritis and diabetes, also have symptoms of dry mouth.

Dry mouth can be improved by drinking plenty of water and using an over-the-counter oral rinse designed for those with dry mouth. If you are taking medications that have drying side effects, ask your doctor about alternative options.

Oral bacteria can also be reduced by using a tongue scraper. This uproots deeply-embedded bacteria in the tongue. Scrape 2 or 3 times over the tongue, starting at the back of the tongue where most bacteria exist. Scrape forward and rinse after each pass. An alternative is to brush your tongue after each tooth brushing.

To protect the tooth’s protective shell of enamel, avoid brushing right after eating. Whenever you consume food or beverages, an acid attack begins in your mouth as part of the digestive process. Unfortunately, these acids soften tooth enamel for about 30 minutes after eating. Brushing can wear away this precious enamel so wait 30 minutes after eating before you brush.

Crowning a tooth before problems begin can prevent costly future problems, including tooth loss. Missing teeth affect the alignment of neighboring teeth, increasing the risk for broken, chipped or worn teeth as well as migraines, sore jaw joints and ear ringing.

Be committed to spending wisely this year by being committed to your dental health every day. You’ll likely spend far less over time while enjoying a confident, healthy mouth and appealing smile.

If you are experiencing problems with missing teeth or have tender gums, call 828-274-9440 for an appointment.