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.
A tooth may begin to smell bad for a number of reasons. The most common cause of this, however, is tooth decay. When bacteria in the mouth begin to feed on the tooth, they can emit an odor and the tooth smells bad.
Gingivitis can cause your breath to smell like sulfur or rotten eggs. This is because of the bacteria in your mouth releasing chemicals that smells like these things. If you have gingivitis, you may also notice that your gingiva, or gums, are red and swollen. You may also bleed when you brush or floss your teeth.
Without correct and regular brushing and flossing, and routine dental exams, food remains in the mouth. This is a breeding ground for bacteria. Food that collects on the teeth, gums, and tongue may rot. This causes an unpleasant odor and taste in the mouth.
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. If you try everything that you can to improve the smell, but it won't go away, then it is likely that you need treatment for Periodontal Disease.
Cavities can make it easier for bacteria to evade a toothbrush. Even with the most thorough brushing, you might not be able to reach bacteria lurking deep inside a cavity. These odor-causing bacteria can also hide in deep gum pockets, usually caused by gum disease, which afflicts over 47% of adults over 30.
The stink of halitosis will linger on your dental floss after you have flossed your teeth. Take a whiff of your floss when you're done. If it smells, that means you have bad breath and the smell on the floss is coming out of your mouth. If the floss does not have a strong odor, it likely means you're in the clear.
Gingivitis can cause dusky red, swollen, tender gums that bleed easily, especially when you brush your teeth. Healthy gums are firm and pale pink and fitted tightly around the teeth. Signs and symptoms of gingivitis include: Swollen or puffy gums.
Hydrogen sulfide is a gas that smells like rotten eggs and is produced by the bacteria in decaying teeth.
Issues with Your Gums
If your gums seem swollen and start to bleed, this is another sign of tooth decay. Healthy gums are an important part of your overall dental health. If you see pus oozing out of your gums, this is even worse than swelling or bleeding and could be a sign of infection.
Warning signs
Bad breath or bad taste that won't go away. Red or swollen gums. Tender or bleeding gums. Painful chewing.
Gum disease can be cured. Essentially, it's all about removing bacteria from your mouth and allowing the gums to heal back to a healthy state. If you want to get rid of gum disease, the first step is to get the right education so that you know how to clean your teeth effectively at home.
Gingivitis usually clears up after a thorough professional cleaning — as long as you continue good oral hygiene at home. Your dentist will help you plan an effective at-home program and a schedule of regular professional checkups and cleaning.
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.
One of the primary symptoms is that gums will be red and swollen. They will also be tender to the touch. While gingivitis may result in some minor swelling or darkening of the color of the gums, an infection will result in even more swelling and deeper redness. Bleeding gums is another sign of infection.
It looks like a small red ball pushing out of the swollen gum. An abscess can occur with serious gum disease (periodontitis), which causes the gums to pull away from the teeth. This leaves deep pockets where bacteria can grow. If tartar builds up too much, or if food gets stuck in the pockets, pus forms.
A regular bad smell or taste after flossing could indicate that you have a dental problem, especially if you've noticed that your breath smells less than pleasant at other times. For example, you could have hidden decay on a tooth or problems with your gums.
The most common reason for malodor on the floss is gum disease or periodontal disease. The anaerobic bacteria that are responsible for gum disease reside under the gums and these produce what are known as volatile sulfur compounds, otherwise known as VSCs.
It's never too late to start flossing. Older adults can still floss and they would greatly reap its benefits, as they are susceptible to gum disease.
Breath that smells like feces can occur with prolonged vomiting, especially when there is a bowel obstruction. It may also occur temporarily if a person has a tube placed through the nose or mouth to drain their stomach.
YOU MAY BE ON THE WAY TO GUM DISEASE
Halitosis can be one of the early signs of gum disease, as this is also caused by a build-up of plaque bacteria along the gum line that may be responsible for bad breath. If it's not removed then plaque can cause bleeding and swollen gums, the symptoms of gingivitis.
For the most part, chewing gum may give halitosis-causing oral bacteria something to chew on themselves.