Cavities are common in many people and it is important to know how these cavities form. Teeth are surrounded by a protective enamel and while it is smooth to the visible eye there are actually many microscopic voids where bacteria can settle in. When this happens, bad breath follows.

When it comes to fighting cavities, fluoride is one of the best combatants against cavities and other dental problems. This can be found in fluoridated toothpastes and mouthwash that you can purchase over the counter and it is available from fluoridated municipal water supplies in many areas of the country. For some people, the fluoride found in these resources isn’t enough, especially if you live in an area where fluoridated water is not available, so your dentist can prescribe additional levels of fluoride through supplemental products such as drops, tablets or specially formulated mouthwash.

You should contact us at Spring Cypress Dental immediately if you believe that cavities are forming in your teeth. Small cavities can become larger over time, especially since they tend to collect so much debris and bacteria over time. As these cavities become deeper, they can infiltrate the root of your tooth, which can be extremely painful. As infection sets in you can experience a wide range of issues that all lead to severe pain and horribly bad breath.

If you do experience a dental infection, you may also experience a condition known as a dental abscess. This is an accumulation of pus that forms in your dental tissues and there are three different types to be aware of. A gingival abscess forms in the gum tissues only, a periodontal abscess forms in the bone tissue structures of your teeth, and a periapical abscess forms in the soft pulp of your tooth. All three of these can be painful and require immediate dental care and they can all contribute to severely bad breath.

The bad breath primarily results from the accumulation of bacteria associated with a dental infection at this stage, and while antibodies engage to fight the infection, the resultant dead tissue contributes to the bad breath condition. Abscesses are a serious dental condition that extends beyond the effects to the smell of your breath. These can cause serious damage to the bone tissue around your teeth.

If you experience toothaches, or sore gums you may have cavities forming. You may also experience headaches and/or swollen gums. Bad breath is a sure sign that bacteria is collecting on your teeth so you should always be concerned about dental problems if you begin to notice bad breath.

If you are concerned about the causes of bad breath and the potential for infection to your teeth, gums and supporting bone tissue, contact us at Spring Cypress Dental today for a consultation and cleaning. We can evaluate whether you are developing cavities, and we can identify the source of any bad breath issues you may be experiencing.