Halitosis

You Need A Breath Mint...And A Trip To The Dentist

Everyone has someone in their group of friends and coworkers that has halitosis, commonly called bad breath. You may not mention it to them, but you talk about it when they're not around. If you can't think of anyone that suffers from this, are you sure it's not you? 

Bad breath is nothing to be embarrassed about; it has many causes, ranging from diet to infection, but many causes are treatable. The most common reason for bad breath is oral hygiene, which means a trip to your dentist can help it go away, and with a membership in a discount dental plan like Careington Dental your visit could cost hundreds of dollars less than it might otherwise.

There are several types of oral problems that can contribute to bad breath, including a simple cavity, which is nothing more than a partially decayed tooth...and decay has never had a pleasant aroma. However, there can be more serious problems that might not be immediately apparent, such as an abscess in a tooth.

An abscess is a serious infection, usually starting with a cavity or a chipped or cracked tooth. This allows bacteria to enter the interior of the tooth, infecting the root, gum tissue and bone in the jaw. This infection leads to a pocket of puss and decay inside the tooth (a pleasant thought, isn't it?) that can give off a rather pungent odor.

When an abscess occurs, the only remedy is to open the tooth and clean out the decay, usually with a root canal procedure. However, in severe cases the tooth will be removed to make sure they get every last bit of decay. If untreated, an abscess can lead to life-threatening complications.