Everyone has experienced a bout of bad breath at least once in their life. Whether it was caused by a particularly potent meal, your daily cup of morning coffee, or maybe something unknown, bad breath is something that goes beyond embarrassment. In fact, the team at our dental office in McMinnville wants our patients to know that bad breath could be an early warning sign of serious gum disease and is not something to be ignored.
While there are any number of things that can cause bad breath, the short explanation is that bad breath is the result of high levels of bacteria in the mouth. When these bacteria are left alone, they begin to feed on plaque buildup and produce a stinky byproduct called hydrogen sulfide. This is what we smell when we get a whiff of bad breath.
Bad breath may be caused by something that’s temporary and, if so, we wouldn’t be too concerned about it. However, bad breath that doesn’t go away could be a sign of a serious oral health problem called gum disease. If left untreated, gum disease can cause tooth loss and even affect the rest of the body. In fact, gum disease has been linked to an increased risk of heart disease. The best way to treat gum disease is to seek treatment from your dentist in McMinnville early when the disease can often be cured successfully.
Don’t let something that seems small like bad breath create a serious problem for your overall health. If you notice signs of chronic bad breath, schedule an appointment at our McMinnville dental practice.
