Prevent Bad Breath in Smyrna, GA
Dr. Ryo Hosaka, your family dentist in Smyrna, GA can help you identify and solve frustrating and embarrassing cases of bad breath.
Many patients come to see Dr. Hosaka after they or their significant other has noticed chronic or occasional bad breath. Some patients notice it after eating, or while flossing and brushing; other patients may notice a constant odor. Dr. Hosaka takes this complaint seriously because bad breath may be caused by a variety of different sources.
Bad breath can also be a warning sign that may be related to problems that can lead to pain or tooth loss.
What Are Some Common Dental Related Causes of Bad Breath?
Tooth Decay
A cavity or tooth decay is an area of the tooth that is decaying or rotting. Just like other rotting materials, tooth decay has a bad odor.
There are germs that live with us in our bodies, including in our mouth. These germs eat the carbohydrates (sugars and starches) that we eat, and they make acid as a waste product. The acids in our mouth melt away at the minerals and enamel that make up our teeth.
If acid change happens often, especially in areas of our teeth that can be harder to keep clean such as the chewing surface of a tooth, or in between teeth, the impacted area of the tooth can become softened and decayed. If the decay becomes big enough, it may turn into a hole that traps food and germs and causes bad breath.
Gum Disease
Gum disease usually does not cause any pain initially, but it can cause bad breath due to a buildup of germs around the teeth and gums.
Inadequate flossing and brushing can lead to plaque buildup around the teeth. Plaque is the fuzzy, yellow and white soft buildup that gathers on your teeth daily. It is full of germs and food residue. The goal of proper oral hygiene is to clean away the plaque daily with flossing and brushing.
If the plaque is not removed adequately, it can harden into tartar. Tartar is the hard, stone-like mineral deposits that grow around the teeth.
Tartar attaches strongly onto your teeth and cannot be easily removed with flossing or brushing. It is like a wood splinter that you might get on your finger, causing redness, irritation, and swelling.
The tartar acts as a home for even more germs, which causes bleeding gums and bad breath.
Tooth Infections or Abscess
Infected teeth may become filled with pus, which is full of germs and dead cells from the body.
If you have an infected tooth, you may notice bad breath as well as occasional bad taste in your mouth.
Dr. Hosaka identifies problem areas with a thorough visual and clinical exam using high power magnifying loupes (eyeglasses) and digital x-rays. He’ll show you these areas with a photo if possible and recommend the best way to fix the problem.
Don’t let bad breath impact your life any longer! Call your dentist in Smyrna today at (770) 435-3100 to schedule your new patient exam so we can do a complete check of your oral health.
Frequently Asked Questions
Dr. Hosaka understands that sometimes, dental treatment can be daunting. He has helped many patients who have had bad experiences at the dentist in the past. Most notably, he has helped a big burly gentleman who had avoided going to the dentist for almost 40 years due to a bad dental experience he had when he was in the military! Now he is a regular patient who has had treatments like extractions, deep cleanings, and crowns without trouble.
What Will My First Dental Appointment Be Like at Hosaka Family Dental?
Dr. Hosaka will tailor your dental visit to your needs to make sure that you are comfortable. Typically, he will do a lot of explaining and show-and-tell. He will take a gentle step-by-step approach, explaining and showing you what is going to happen before doing that step of the procedure.
We have a big screen tv set up in each dental treatment room where you can learn details about your oral health and dental treatments that we recommend. During your dental treatment, we can play your favorite music, TV show, or movie to help you relax.
Does Hosaka Family Dental Utilize Nitrous Oxide Gas?
We have nitrous oxide gas (also called laughing gas) available for our patients who would like to be extra relaxed during their dental care. Nitrous gas is an odorless gas that is inhaled through a soft nasal mask. It works quickly to give you a relaxed floaty feeling. After treatment is finished, the gas is turned off, and it leaves your body in a few minutes.
You will feel perfectly normal and are able to drive home.
Contact Our Dental Office in Smyrna To Learn More
If your tooth needs to be numbed for your dental procedure, Dr. Hosaka can use an extra-strength numbing gel on your gums before putting in the anesthetic. This has helped many of our patients. When you are ready to experience dental care you can count on, contact our Smyrna, GA dental office today!
Meet Our Doctor:
Dr. Ryo Hosaka
Dentist
Hi there! I’m Dr. Hosaka (It’s pronounced like Osaka, the city in Japan, but with an H. Or, if it’s easier, you can call me by my first name Ryo, which is pronounced like the city Rio in Brazil.) I look forward to taking care of you at my dental office.
I grew up in West Palm Beach, Florida, and attended Duke University for undergrad. I am a 2012 graduate of Nova Southeastern College of Dental Medicine in South Florida, where I graduated at the top of my class. I also completed ...