How do you know if you have bad breath?   The fact is one out of four people have it with some studies reporting that half of the adult population has it.  So what causes the bad odor in your mouth? Eating certain foods, health conditions and habits are major causes.  In many cases, the problem can be resolved with proper dental hygiene. If you’ve tried improving your dental hygiene through better brushing and flossing and still don’t see improvement, you should consult with your Orange dentist or doctor to rule out a more serious health problem as a cause of your condition.

External Causes: There are external and internal causes.  External causes can be the kinds of foods you eat, especially if you eat spicy or smelly foods (such as cooking spices, garlic, onions, and even tuna).  If you suspect the odor in your breath is caused by this reason, you may want to make entries in a food log to see if the problem appears when you eat certain foods.  Individuals who use alcohol and tobacco can also have bad breath.

Internal Causes: Internal causes are conditions in your mouth that can affect the whole body.  Your tongue provides a breeding ground for bacteria to attach and grow.  Bacteria that produce odor release a chemical called volatile sulfur compound (VSC’s).  The VSC’s that cause odor are hydrogen sulfide and methyl mercaptain.  These odor causing bacteria live in the back area of your tongue.  Some Orange dentists specialize in treating bad breath and use special equipment designed to measure the level of VSC’s in your breath.

Other Causes:  There are other factors that can cause odors in your mouth including: Dry Mouth from lack of saliva flow.  Reduced saliva can be caused by medications or radiation therapy for cancer; Dental issues like poor dental hygiene, gingivitis and gum disease cause odors to develop in your mouth; Poor denture cleaning habits can cause food and plaque to stick to the denture leading to odor formation; Sinus or Throat Infections; Systemic diseases such as diabetes, kidney/liver failure, GI problems, and lung infections or abscesses; and patients who diet regularly.

If you have a bad breath problem that won’t resolve itself with daily dental hygiene, have your Orange dentist determine the cause of the problem.  He or she may also prescribe special mouthwashes designed to fight bad VSC’s in your mouth.  Meanwhile, you should continue to focus on proper dental hygiene care by brushing with a flouridated toothpaste, flossing or using other aids such as a gum stimulator or interproximal brush cleaner, and cleaning your tongue with a tongue scraper.

If you see a general practice Orange dentist, you’ll get a dentist trained to do all types of treatment.  Depending on the education and practice experience, some general dentists offer specialized services including braces, gum surgery, and implants.  But what happens when you have difficult or unusual problems?  Most likely your Orange dentist will refer you to a specialist trained to handle your particular problems.

A general practitioner has completed a minimum of four years of post-graduate study while a specialist must complete an additional one to two years of advanced study for their specialty.  A general dentist and a specialist are degreed as either a D.D.S. (Doctor of Dental Surgery) or a D.M.D. (Doctor of Dental Medicine), depending on the school he/she graduated from.

Let’s examine the seven different dental specialists you’ll find:

1)  Pediatric

This specialist limits the scope of their practice to seeing only children.  Children who are very young, uncooperative, have disabilities, or require extensive dental treatment are referred here.

2)  Periodontists

This specialist diagnoses and treats patients with all forms of gum disease.  If you begin to develop deep gum pockets or your existing gum disease can’t be controlled with regular visits to your general Orange dentist, you will be referred to a periodontist for advanced care.  Periodontists are also able to place implants.

3)  Endodontists

If you’ve been suffering from constant tooth pain or the tooth’s nerve tissue dies, you’ll have a good chance of needing a root canal.  A root canal removes the diseased tooth pulp to treat the infection.  While many general practice Orange dentists perform root canals, there will be circumstances where a calcified or difficult tooth will require the services of an endodontist.  An endodontist specializes in treating irreversible pulp disease.  Advanced techniques and the use of microscopes allows the endodontist to access and treat the most difficult teeth.  Once the endodontist finishes treating your tooth, they will refer you back to your Orange dentist to complete the final filling or crown.

4)  Oral/Maxillofacial Surgeons

This specialist performs surgical treatment for removal of difficult teeth, wisdom teeth, cysts, and tumors.  If you have a fractured jaw, temperomandibular joint (TMJ) problems, or require corrective jaw surgery, you would be referred to this specialist.  Oral surgeons also perform implant placements for missing teeth.

5)  Prosthodontists

This specialist focuses on treating patients with missing teeth.  You would be referred to this specialist by your Orange dentist if you need implant crowns, fixed bridges, removable dentures, and major reconstructive work.

6)  Orthodontist

This specialist corrects improperly aligned teeth with braces and other appliances.  Your Orange dentist will refer you to this specialist if you have gaps, crowding, misaligned teeth, and problems with the jaw or temperomandibular joint (TMJ).

7)  Oral Pathologist

This specialist identifies and treats diseases of the mouth and its relationship to diseases of your body.  In addition to the oral exam, an oral pathologist will use lab work as one of his/her diagnostic tools.  Forensic dentistry is also provided by this specialist.