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Vashi2Panvel.com: Navi Mumbai: November 23: A typical movie scene is where the heroine doesn’t want to be kissed by the hero. While the audience thinks she is shy, the reality is that she doesn’t want to because the hero has a bad breath. This is not just a movie scene, this happens in real life too. People may not want to hug or caress people with a stinky breath. As if that isn’t enough; in the professional front also, people don’t want to interact with you just because your mouth stinks the minute you open to say words of wisdom in your field. Bad breath is a hindrance to success. People say ‘Here comes the guy with a bad breath’. Sad, but true- A large population around the world suffers from bad breath or Halitosis. These people are either aware of their foul-smelling breath or made aware by others’ shirking remarks or behaviour. Yes, it is an embarrassment.

There are many causes of bad breath. Consuming articles like onion, garlic, tobacco, alcohol is just a minor cause. Another cause of offensive breath is suffering from general body diseases like diseases of the liver, kidney, and diabetes. It can be the result of some medication also. However, the major and the most important cause of bad breath is the presence of oral conditions like ‘gingivitis’ and ‘periodontitis’. Gingivitis or swelling of the gums is seen as ‘Red or puffy or Bleeding gums’. The gums may bleed on touch or while brushing. Unfortunately, quite a few people stop brushing when they find this. Please!! Don’t!! People who have bleeding gums should not neglect it. Ignorance is NOT bliss.

Head Straight To The Dentist.
Avoiding that trip to your dentist can cost you- your tooth. One stage more serious than ‘gingivitis’ is ‘periodontitis’ leading to bone loss and decreased support to the tooth resulting in wobbly teeth and increased separation between the teeth.

Hmm.. What should you do if you have a bad breath? Consult your dentist. After a check up, he/she will be able to guide you and pinpoint the cause of the bad breath. The causes have their solutions. If the reason is a dental problem then your dentist should be able to help you. If the cause is food then avoiding the food or alcohol will solve the problem. If it is a non-dental problem, then you should seek treatment from your physician.

The most common reason for gingivitis and periodontitis is poor oral care. When one doesn’t brush, saliva and bacteria form a layer on the tooth called ‘plaque’. Over some time this hardens to form ‘calculus’. Both when found close to the gum are strong irritants inciting strong inflammation and pain.
This can be treated by professional cleaning called ‘Scaling, polishing’. The dentist removes the plaque, calculus present on the tooth surface and polishes the tooth surface. A good dentist will generally give out oral hygiene instructions specific to you.

According to the status of the mouth and requirement of the patient, the dentist may advise you to go for ‘curettage’, which is cleaning of the root surface. In advanced cases, it may be necessary to cut the gum and make a ‘flap’ that allows easy vision to the dentist

Current technological trends demand the use of ‘Surgical Loupes’ or the ‘Operating Surgical Microscope’ to ensure there is no dead tissue and bacteria after cleaning the root. A magnified view (4 to 26 times) with high visual acuity is necessary while performing such a delicate procedure as it facilitates better cleaning and meticulousness.

As the disease periodontitis destroys the support of the tooth, the teeth shake. Depending on the case, one doesn’t have to remove the tooth. Thankfully, there are alternatives. ‘Splinting’ i.e. Joining of the teeth is one of the alternatives. A more advanced technique is ‘bone grafting’ in which artificial bone is put in place of the natural bone. After a healing period of a few months, the artificial bone becomes like the natural bone supporting the tooth making it stable.

Fear not, solutions for bad breath are here. Walk with the confidence that you will not repel anyone because of your breath. Care is a must from the patient’s/person’s side. Following oral hygiene instructions and timely check ups are a necessity. Be rest assured that no heroine run away from the hero and they will live happily ever after..



Dr. Manasi Bhargava (D.M.D)
Dr. Bartakke’s Dental Clinic,
Contact nos: 23893212/ 13 or 2745 4146 /3655
www.drbartakke.com
info@drbartakke.com

Disclaimer: if you have any problem with your teeth or breath, please contact your dentist for advice. Every treatment plan has necessarily to be given according to the clinical conditions of the patient, so the treatment plan is custom made and cannot be generalized.