The Mouth is the Gateway to the Body

Why do I still have bad breath even after brushing and flossing?

One common cause of bad breath is not brushing the tongue, especially the back of the tongue which can harbor bacteria and food debris. Try using a tongue scraper or your toothbrush to clean your tongue every time you brush your teeth. Other causes of bad breath are gum disease, plaque under the gumline, or tartar that’s harboring bacteria and isn’t removed by brushing alone.

What are some other common culprits?

Many people are dealing with dry mouth due to medication, mouth breathing, or salivary gland issues. Most people don’t realize the role saliva plays in the mouth. Saliva lubricates your mouth, helps you swallow, begins the digestion process, dilutes acid, and creates a balance between good and bad bacteria.

Other causes of bad breath can be ill-fitting dental work, undetected tooth decay, sinus or throat infections, post-nasal drip, or a tonsil stone. Reflux or digestive problems can also contribute.

Do you have any new technology that has you excited?

New salivary testing can distinguish which of the over 800 species of bacteria and fungi are present in your oral cavity. These can be either beneficial bacteria or pathogenic ones. These tests allow us to get to the root cause of oral health. We can look for specific bacteria causing gingivitis and can gain insight into your all-important gut health and nitric-oxide level associated with cardiovascular health.

The mouth is the gateway to the body. When your gums are infected, harmful bacteria can escape your mouth and enter your body, leading to chronic inflammation and increasing your risk of heart disease, stroke, diabetes, and other inflammatory disease — even Alzheimer’s. That’s why comprehensive dental exams are vital.

What other conditions can be impacted by swallowing bacteria?

If you think about it, we swallow one to three trillion bacteria every day, from our food, water, and our own saliva. Because the mouth is the beginning of the digestive system, swallowing harmful bacteria can have an effect not only on our digestive health but also on maternal, cognitive, cardiovascular, respiratory, and metabolic health.

Salivary testing is one more diagnostic tool we can use to help determine the best plan of care and truly tailor care to the issues that are going on in your mouth and body right now. And it’s one more reason to find a dental home where your overall and long-term health is the first priority.

Why do my gums bleed?

Bleeding gums are a sign of inflammation and often a sign of underlying periodontal infection or some other systemic issue. The longer certain “bad” bacteria are allowed to remain in the deeper pockets of your gums, the greater the risk they can travel into your blood stream increasing your risk of stroke, heart attack, difficulty managing diabetes, and other inflammatory medical conditions. A thorough dental check-up by an experienced dental professional can help determine the problem and ways to address it.