The damaging bacteria causing Periodontitis are called anaerobes; they have a distinct odor known in the dental industry as “perio breath.” Quite frankly, it smells like death because it sets up a chronic disease in which vital bone starts to die off.
Persistent bad breath can be caused by a variety of reasons, but Periodontal Disease is a common cause. The bacteria that cause the infection also cause tissue rot and can smell over time. Since the infection is persistent, the smell is also persistent.
Periodontitis requires special treatment from your dentist to remove bacteria that is causing this disease in your gum tissue. If bad breath is being caused by gum disease, the bad breath should resolve once the gum health is better managed.
Warning signs
Bad breath or bad taste that won't go away. Red or swollen gums. Tender or bleeding gums. Painful chewing.
Stage 1: Gingivitis
Gingivitis causes inflammation of the gums. Gums that should otherwise be pink will appear red and swollen; you could experience bleeding when you brush or floss. However, at this point, gingivitis can still be reversed. The bone and fibers that hold your teeth in place have not yet been affected.
Gingivitis. In the first stage of periodontitis, called gingivitis, you may notice red, swollen gums and bad breath. Gums might also bleed when you brush or floss. Gingivitis, which is reversible, can be treated by improving at-home dental care and visiting your dentist regularly for treatment.
Mouthwash will help kill the bad bacteria in your mouth, so it can certainly help you prevent gum disease before it starts. Fortunately, it can also help reverse gingivitis, so it's definitely something to have in your arsenal against gum disease.
You can treat periodontitis on your own by reducing the number of bacteria in your mouth. This is by keeping your gums and teeth clean. There are procedures on how to use your dental floss and toothbrushes properly. Sometimes some dental hygiene products like mouthwash and water prick may also be recommended.
If it either bleeds or smells then you have gum disease and should get treatment. A quick scale and polish by a dentist will not eliminate gum disease. Patients with a history of this type treatment are often surprised to find that they have gum disease that requires several hours of treatment by a dental hygienist.
Need to check how your breath smells quickly? Try the sniff test—there are a couple of ways to do it. If you lick your wrist, let it dry for a moment, then take a whiff, you should be able to get an idea if your breath has an odor too. Another method is to floss toward the back of your mouth, then smell the floss.
GERD, or gastroesophageal reflux disease, can cause a person's breath to smell like feces because the stomach acid backs up into the esophagus. This acidic wash irritates the esophagus, which can cause extreme discomfort as well as foul breath.
Symptoms of periodontitis can include: Swollen or puffy gums. Bright red, dark red or dark purple gums. Gums that feel tender when touched.
Diagnosis. How it's done The dentist will examine your gums for signs of inflammation and use a tiny ruler called a “probe” to measure pockets around the teeth. Why it's done In a healthy mouth, the pockets around the teeth are usually between 1 and 3 millimeters. Deeper pockets can be a sign of periodontal disease.
Gum disease is often painless and without noticeable symptoms, making it hard to know if you really have it. Many symptoms may not appear until an advanced stage of the disease, called periodontitis.
Antibiotics. Topical or oral antibiotics can help control bacterial infection. Topical antibiotics can include antibiotic mouth rinses or putting gel containing an antibiotic into gum pockets. Sometimes oral antibiotics are needed to get of bacteria that cause infections.
A recent study reported that rinsing the mouth with salt water can help with your oral health. Salt is a natural disinfectant that helps with gum disease in a few ways: It removes loose debris and cleans the teeth and gums. Reduces inflammation and swelling and soothes the gums.
Saltwater rinses help with treating gum disease but are not capable of fixing the problem by themselves. You require help from a professional periodontist and maintain good oral hygiene habits if you intend to get over periodontal disease.
Even the most damaged teeth can often be saved with proper periodontal treatment in a periodontal office. Many studies have shown that teeth with advanced bone loss, even to the top of the tooth root, can be saved with advanced regeneration and instruments.
The simple answer is, no. If your gums are damaged by, for example periodontitis, the most severe form of gum disease, it's not possible for receding gums to grow back. However, even though receding gums can't be reversed there are treatments that can help to stop the problem from getting worse.
How big of a role does age play in periodontal disease? It's true; periodontitis is more common in older people, affecting 70% of adults aged 65 and above. It's also because of this that toothlessness is more prevalent in seniors.
So, how long does it take for gum disease to develop? One study found that if you're starting from level 1 gingivitis, it takes an average of 66.8 weeks, which is a little over 15 months, to develop into periodontitis. If your gingivitis is more advanced than this, it takes less time.
The progression of periodontal disease is slow but steady. It only takes four days for plaque to reach its maximum extent, so you'll be able to physically see signs of gingivitis on day 5. Advanced stages of this disease can be seen in as little as a few weeks if you have not tried to reverse the gingivitis.