Part of presenting our best faces to the world is making sure our smiles are bright and our breath is fresh. Sure, we’ve all been embarrassed by an occasional pungent reminder of that garlic bread we just couldn’t pass up, but with daily brushing and flossing, fresh breath is the norm. Until it isn’t.
If you’ve been carefully avoiding strong foods in your diet, if you’ve started brushing a lot more often, if you’re relying on mints and mouthwash to get you through the day, and you still have bad breath, it’s time to see your dentist or doctor.
Chronic bad breath can be a symptom of tooth decay, dry mouth, oral infections, diabetes, kidney disease, and many other medical or dental problems. It can also be a red flag for infections within or around your tooth.
How does an infected or injured tooth cause persistent bad breath? Bacteria produce compounds that have distinct and unpleasant odors. A damaged or seriously decayed tooth provides an opening for these bacteria to reach the pulp of the inner tooth and its canals, causing persistent bad breath.
And, while bad breath is an embarrassing consequence of an injured or decayed tooth, there are other consequences that are far more serious. Without prompt treatment, bacteria and infection can spread from the inner tooth and root to the bone and tissue surrounding the tooth. Infection causes inflammation, and untreated infection and inflammation lead to the breakdown of surrounding gum and bone tissue and, eventually, tooth loss.
If your dentist recommends a root canal or other root treatment, it’s time to give an endodontist like Drs. Manzoli, Russo, Pauk, Desrosiers, Sahakyants a call! Because this dental specialty requires years of additional study after dental school focused on the diagnosis of tooth pain and the treatment of the interior of the tooth, endodontists have the knowledge and experience to treat your inner tooth, its roots, and the surrounding bone and tissue.
What can your endodontist do to help save your tooth?
- Root canal procedures remove damaged or infected pulp tissue and clean, fill, and seal the inside of the tooth.
- An apicoectomy can treat recurring infections at the root tip and any infection or inflammation in the bone tissue surrounding it.
- Endodontic surgeries can be used to locate and treat hard-to-find canals and repair damaged roots.
- Surgical procedures can remove sections of severely damaged or decayed teeth in order to save as much of the natural tooth as possible.
If you are experiencing persistent bad breath, talk to your dentist or doctor about the possible causes, and whether a visit to our Worcester office is in order. Endodontic treatment can stop the progression of tooth and bone damage, and save your tooth for a lifetime of natural smiles.
And one additional bonus? The return of your fresh breath and social confidence. If you need root canal or any other endodontic treatment, your endodontist can help you breathe easy once again!