Causes of Bad Breath

Bad breath is no fun, and we at Dr. Joseph Dallesandro’s Midtown dental office don’t want you to suffer from it either. That’s not just because we’re the ones who clean your mouth; halitosis could also be a sign of an oral health problem.

When bacteria build up inside the mouth, it produces a foul odor. You doubtlessly knew that any food in your mouth that doesn’t become food for you becomes food for bacteria, but you may not have known that bacteria lurk on the tongue, as well as the teeth. There, they can eat nasal discharge when the patient has a stuffed or runny nose. They may also grow on oral appliances such as night guards, or in between an implanted denture and the gum line if the patient can’t clean properly.

Sometimes, food doesn’t have to be in the mouth to cause bad breath. Garlic and onions cause halitosis by releasing chemicals into the patient’s bloodstream that eventually wind up in the lungs. They, as well as red meat, alcohol, and caffeine can also trigger acid reflux, which allows acidic gas into the mouth. People with diabetes have elevated levels of sugar in their saliva, which could fuel bacteria growth. Any food or drink that causes dry mouth will also cause bad breath, since ordinary saliva is crucial to removing food debris. For that reason, one of the best defenses against halitosis is to drink lots of water.

Joseph S. Dallessandro, DDS, and Jiah Choi, DDS, operate at 360 E 72nd St, Ste B, New York, New York, 10021. To set up an appointment, call 212-988-1089, or visit Joseph Dallessandro DDS and fill out a contact sheet.

 

Acid Reflux

Toothaches often have preventable causes. In adults, one of the most common contributing factors to tooth decay is gastroesophageal reflux disease, also known as acid reflux or GERD. At Dr. Joseph Dallessandro and Dr. Jiah Choih’s Lenox Hill office, we have a number of treatments that can mitigate acid reflux’s damage, but the patient will often have to make changes to their lifestyle to stop the disease from coming back.

Hydrochloric acid is highly corrosive to the body’s tissues. The stomach is protected from it by a layer of mucus, but if the acid escapes up the esophagus and into the mouth, it can cause quite a bit of pain. It dissolves enamel, leaving teeth sensitive and discolored, and prevents the saliva glands from keeping the mouth wet. We can strengthen enamel with fluoride treatments, but once it’s gone, it cannot grow back. However, we can replace it with fillings or partial crowns. When acid reflux causes gum recession, we can also use bonding to keep the teeth strong and brightly colored.

Avoiding acid reflux in the future may require a patient to consume less alcohol, caffeine, chocolate, fatty meat and dairy, and citrus juice. New saliva production can be stimulated by chewing sugarless gum and patients on medication may need to consider alternatives if the side effects are causing tooth decay.

Joseph S. Dallesandro, DDS, and Jiah Choi, DDS, operate at 360 E 72^nd St, Ste B, New York, New York, 10021. To set up an appointment, call 212-988-1089, or visit JosephDallessandroDDS.com, and fill out a contact sheet.