Tag Archives: Causes of bad breath

Lumineers

Are off-brands of Lumineers causing bad breath?

I worked hard to get my body and teeth in shape.  I went through a gazillion deep cleanings to try and get rid of my gum disease. I finally got to the point that my dentist would let me get lumineers. Now, though, a couple of months later and I have horrible bad breath. I know my dentist used an off-brand of veneers. Could that be the problem?

Chloe S. – Arkansas

Chloe,

I can’t be definitive with you because diagnosing bad breath over a computer isn’t actually a great idea. But, I have a couple of thoughts.

Porcelain veneers don’t really cause bad breath. Bacteria does. That bacteria can be from poor hygiene or from an illness you have.

Has your doctor checked you for something like strep? Normally you have a high fever and a sore throat with it, but not always.

More likely, though, it’s your gum disease raising its ugly head again.  You may not have noticed before, because you’d been living with it a long time. Now, that you had it gone, you would notice a difference if it returned.  You were doing lots of deep cleanings to help with the bacteria. However, you’re in your normal routine again now.

You many need to go back and deal with the potential gum disease and find out where your oral hygiene issue is.  It may be your not brushing or flossing correctly. Let your dentist see how you’re doing it and he or she may have some advice for you.

This blog is borught to you by Dr. Kevin Peck.

Pediatric Dentistry

Dated my pediatric dentist, plus bad breath

I went out with my son’s pediatric dentist. It was nice while it lasted, especially the free dental care. But, now we’ve broken up and I’m uncomfortable going back. However, my son as the most horrid bad breath. I’m afraid there is something…dental going on. Do I have to go to a pedatric dentist? Will a general dentist do?

Jeanette Marie K. – New Jersey

Jeanette Marie,

First let’s address  the bad breath. It could be a matter of oral hygiene issues, but it could also be an infection like strep throat or also diabetes.  I think your first  order of business would be to take him to a doctor and eleminate some medical reasons for the breath.

Next, lets address your choice in dentists. To answer your question, no, your son doesn’t have to go to a pediatric dentist. For routine issue, any general dentist will do, as long as they enjoy treating children.

If there are any serious issues that arise, you can always go to a different pediatric if necessary…. or you could temporarily get back together with your fella until this issue resolves itself.

Just like there are more fish in the sea when it comes to men,  there are probably other pediatric dentists in your area.

This blog is brought to you by Phoenix dentists Drs. Kevin and Hillary Peck.

Oral Hygiene

Bad Breath

Can you tell me what causes bad breath? I know I’ve got a bad case of it, but I don’t know why. Breath mints don’t help for long.

Name Withheld

Breath mints don’t deal with the causes of bad breath, they just mask it. Beware of just using breath mints over and over. Many of them contain sugars that not only can contribute to bad breath, but can also quickly lead to tooth decay.

Sometimes bad breath can be the result of acid reflux, or an infection such as strep throat. Those causes have medication that can help, but you need to get them diagnosed by a physician.

Other times it is a matter of the types of food you eat, or even oral hygiene issues. First, I’d make sure you are practicing good oral hygiene. Do you brush and floss regularly? If not, start there. You’ll notice a real difference just from that. Even with good hygiene, your mouth is filled with bacteria designed to help break down the proteins in your mouth. As they break down, a sulfur gas is left behind in your mouth which can have a foul odor. There is a Smart Mouth rinse that can eliminate the sulfur gas from forming and prevent bad breath for about twelve hours.

I hope this helps.

You may also be interested in learning about Teeth Whitening.

This blog is brought to you by Phoenix Dentist Dr. Kevin Peck.