Having bad breath can be embarrassing, especially if other people notice. Learn the answer to "Can cavities cause bad breath?" here.
What Is a Cavity?
Before you can understand how cavities lead to bad breath, learning what a cavity is is helpful. In simple terms, a cavity is tooth decay that develops on a tooth.
Dentists can spot it during a dental visit shortly after it begins developing. It begins as a small sticky spot on a tooth. This spot is decay, and it eats away at a tooth.
It begins by targeting the tooth enamel, as this is the outermost layer of a tooth. Next, it moves to the inner parts of a tooth. It can break down an entire tooth if left long enough.
Cavities begin when you leave plaque on your teeth. Plaque naturally forms, but you can remove it by brushing and flossing. When you miss some of it, the plaque feeds on starches and sugars, creating a cavity.
Plaque is sticky, and you can feel it on your teeth. Unfortunately, plaque contains a lot of bacteria.
The combination of the bacteria in plaque and sugars and starches creates acid. The acid is what destroys your tooth structure.
Therefore, a cavity is decay-and decay is bacteria and acids.
How Does a Cavity Cause Bad Breath?
If you ever scrape your teeth with your finger and smell it, you'll likely smell a bad odor. What you're smelling is bacteria.
Your mouth is full of bacteria, but not all of it smells bad. The bacteria found in plaque is typically smelly. As a result, the bacteria in a cavity is the real cause of the bad breath cavities cause.
It isn't so much the actual cavity that causes the odors. Instead, it's all the bacteria found within the cavity.
Many people describe this smell as sulfur. In fact, halitosis generally smells like sulfur regardless of its cause.
If you have bad breath and suspect it's from a cavity, visit a dentist in Bedford, NH for help. The dentist will take a few steps to determine if you have any cavities, which include:
- Physically examining your tooth
- Using a scaler dental tool to look for sticky spots
- Taking X-rays of your teeth
These steps will reveal if you have cavities. A dentist will then recommend removing and filling them. This process is a standard process general dentists perform often.
After removing your cavities, you'll hopefully see an improvement in your breath. However, halitosis occurs for
many reasons. As a result, you might need to complete other steps to treat the problem.
What Can You Do to Resolve the Problem?
As stated, removing the cavity is essential if it's causing bad breath. Removing cavities is also critical for other reasons.
First, an untreated cavity can lead to tooth loss. The decay spreads in and around a tooth, which could cause problems with other teeth.
The decay can also spread into your tooth roots, leaving you with an infection. Additionally, the bacteria in decay can spread into your gums, causing gum disease.
Removing the decay quickly is the best approach. However, it might not cure your halitosis. Cavities are not the only cause of bad breath.
Are Cavities the Only Cause of Bad Breath?
Bad breath occurs for various reasons. Learning the causes can help you treat your bad breath if cavities are not the cause. Here are some reasons halitosis occurs:
Dry Mouth
Saliva cleans your mouth and removes bacteria. Dry mouth interrupts this process and can lead to halitosis.
Dry mouth occurs from a lack of hydration. It can also occur from certain
medical conditions and medications.
Smoking
Smoking is a habit that also causes bad breath. Cigarettes contain contaminants and create smoke that makes breath smell bad. Smoking also dries out the mouth, leaving you with a lack of saliva.
Certain Foods
The things you eat can also make your breath smell bad. Of course, garlic is one of the most common, but there are others. Coffee, pasta sauce, and cheese can also have the same effect.
Poor Oral Care Habits
Failing to properly care for your teeth and gums also affects your breath. For example, you'll have an increased risk of halitosis if you rarely brush your teeth.
How Can You Prevent It?
Additionally, you can
prevent halitosis by taking a few steps. Try these:
Get Routine Cleanings
Your dentist might recommend getting a professional teeth cleaning procedure twice a year. This procedure removes built-up plaque and tartar and helps you avoid halitosis.
Improve Your Oral Health Routine
Your breath can also stay fresher if you keep your mouth cleaner. Try brushing twice a day and flossing once daily. Use a mouth rinse product to remove trapped bacteria and food.
Avoid Foods That Cause It
Avoiding foods that cause bad breath is also helpful. If you eat these foods, rinse your mouth out afterward with water.
Stay Hydrated
Finally, stay hydrated. Drinking plenty of water keeps your saliva levels normal. With enough saliva, you can avoid dry mouth and its effects.
Can Cavities Cause Bad Breath? Seek Help
So, can cavities cause bad breath? Yes, they can. Unfortunately, bad breath isn't the only effect cavities have on your oral health.
Untreated cavities lead to tooth loss, gum problems, and much more. If you have a cavity, seek treatment from Dental Arts of Bedford in Bedford, NH.
We offer comprehensive treatment plans for general and cosmetic dentistry needs. We focus on offering excellent services and providing a pleasant experience to everyone who trusts us with their dental care.
Would you like to learn more?
Contact us to schedule a free new patient consultation appointment.
