Bad Breath and Oral Health

If you have chronically bad breath, there may be more to it than just what you eat. At Bayberry Dental Care in Tinley Park, we are concerned with the relationship between oral health and the rest of the body. Halitosis, or bad breath, could be an indicator of an issue related to oral infection or a condition with consequences for the oral cavity.

When food particles get trapped, the bacteria that consume them give off a foul odor. Bacteria can also eat things we wouldn’t find appetizing, such as nasal drip that lands on the tongue. For that reason, patients should use a tongue scraper each day and brush their tongue along with their teeth. They may also want to try antibacterial mouthwash, which comes in nonalcoholic varieties for children.

Halitosis can also be caused by dry mouth. Saliva neutralizes acid and helps wash away food debris. Medications commonly cause dry mouth as a side effect. Patients should ask their doctor about changing them if this is causing bad breath and caries, but they should not stop taking medication on their own. An autoimmune disorder could cause the salivary glands to become inflamed, preventing them from secreting adequate saliva. Diabetes can also contribute to bad breath due to changes it causes in how the body breaks down chemicals, as well as its suppression of the immune system and diabetic people’s resulting vulnerability to gum disease. This becomes less of an issue when insulin levels are controlled.

Kathleen M. Falsey, D.D.S., operates Bayberry Dental Care at 8014 West 171^st St, Tinley Park, Illinois, 60477. To schedule an appointment, call 708-802-8300 or visit Bayberry Dental Care and fill out a contact sheet.

 

Diabetes and Gum Disease

If you suffer from diabetes, you are especially vulnerable to gum disease. We treat all our patients with compassion at Bayberry Dental Care, and we want them to understand how their oral health ties into their overall health. In the cases of people with diabetes, we are committed to providing the support they need to keep their gums strong and free of pain, and we want them to know more about why working with us is so important.

Studies consistently show that people with uncontrolled blood sugar have elevated levels of gingivitis symptoms such as bleeding gums, redness, and soreness. The exact connection is not completely understood, but we do know that people with diabetes have a more difficult time fighting infections in general. Inflammation is the immune system’s initial response to an infection or injury. It helps to isolate pathogens, but prolonged inflammation can ultimately damage tissues. If gingivitis progresses into periodontal disease, the gums and jaw bone tissue will recede, leaving teeth loose and sensitive.

At regular dental examinations, we provide thorough cleanings that will help stop gingivitis from developing. We also provide scaling and root cleaning to remove decay from the gum pockets that patients can’t reach on their own. Despite their elevated risk, it is possible for people with diabetes to maintain good oral hygiene. Best of all, there is evidence that other diabetes-related inflammation tends to improve as patients’ oral health improves.

Kathleen M. Falsey, D.D.S., operates Bayberry Dental Care at 8014 West 171^st St, Tinley Park, Illinois, 60477. To schedule an appointment, call 708-802-8300 or visit Bayberry Dental Care and fill out a contact sheet.

 

Tooth Sensitivity in Children

As a practice that serves entire families, Bayberry Dental Care regularly uncovers the causes of tooth sensitivity in children. The reasons why children get toothaches differ somewhat from the reasons commonly seen in adults and it’s important when making a diagnosis to try to get them to be as specific as possible about what they are experiencing.

It may be that there is no problem at all. New teeth are often sensitive when they first erupt through the gum line and for a while afterward while they are first exposed to the air. This soreness will dissipate in time. However, since children are the demographic which most often gets cavities (also known as caries), a cavity is the most obvious problem to look for. Children can easily develop cavities by not brushing properly, but improper brushing itself can cause sensitivity if it damages the gums.

Another possible cause of dental pain is a sinus infection. This most commonly affects the upper back teeth. Children with diabetes are also at a high risk of developing gum disease, and gum recession leaves teeth’s roots exposed. Lastly, the misalignments common in children’s teeth often cause them to engage in tooth grinding, which erodes the teeth and causes jaw pain.

Kathleen M. Falsey, D.D.S., operates Bayberry Dental Care at 8014 West 171^st St, Tinley Park, Illinois, 60477. To schedule an appointment, call 708-802-8300 or visit BayberryDentalCare.com and fill out a contact sheet.