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Reasons You May Have Bad Breath | Kenilworth Dentist

Fresh Breath

Nobody wants to realize that they have bad breath. We can’t always have minty fresh breath, but if it’s a common occurrence, it may be because of a more serious issue. So, pop a stick of sugar-free gum in your mouth and take a look at reasons you may have bad breath:

Food. Stinky foods enter your bloodstream as we digest them, travel to your lungs and affect your breath. But food in general increases the bacteria that causes bad breath as it breaks down.

Tobacco products. Tobacco products stink as is, but smokers and oral tobacco users are also more likely to have gum disease, another source of bad breath.

Poor dental hygiene. If you don’t brush and floss daily, food particles remain in your mouth, including your tongue, causing bad breath.

Dry mouth. Saliva helps cleanse your mouth, removing particles that cause bad odors. Dry mouth can contribute to bad breath as saliva production decreases. Dry mouth naturally occurs during sleep, leading to the dreaded “morning breath”.

Medications. Some medications can indirectly produce bad breath by contributing to dry mouth. Others can be broken down in the body to release chemicals that can be carried on your breath.

Infections in your mouth. Oral surgery, tooth decay, gum disease or mouth sores, can all cause your breath to turn.

Other mouth, nose and throat conditions. Infections or chronic inflammation in the nose, sinuses or throat, which can contribute to postnasal drip, also can cause bad breath.

Other causes. Diseases, such as some cancers, and conditions such as metabolic disorders, can cause a distinctive breath odor as a result of chemicals they produce.

For more information regarding bad breath, contact Drs. Freund and Waterloo today at 847-251-8990 or visit www.villagedentalpc.com.

Drs. Chad Freund and Cathy Waterloo proudly serves Kenilworth and all surrounding areas.

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Don’t Become Stressed out by Your Resolutions | Kenilworth Dentist

We are days away from 2022 – are you ready for it? Does it include making resolutions? For many of us, a new year means a fresh start at creating the life we always wanted. We improve our health, our financial situations, even our relationships with each other. We make a list of promises and hope to be able to achieve those promises as the year progresses.

Unfortunately, this list of to-dos can become daunting. No one want to be stressed out trying to achieve these goals they’ve set for themselves, but studies over the past two decades have shown a direct link between stress, anxiety and gum disease. Heightened stress contributes to the lowering of the body’s immune system. So, if you are feeling overwhelmed working on yourself, take a moment to calm yourself down a bit. Because stress can cause other dental health risks:

Bruxism. This is a condition where sufferers grind their teeth unconsciously, especially while they’re asleep. If diagnosed, wear a custom night guard while sleeping.

Canker sores. While experts have yet to pinpoint the exact cause of canker sores, stress has been known to cause it. 

Dry mouth. Certain medications used to treat depression, which by the way may be caused by stress, can cause dry mouth.

Burning mouth syndrome. Characterized as a burning sensation on either the tongue, lips, gums or palate.

Lichen planus. This is a condition where white lines, sores and ulcers appear in the oral cavity somehow caused by the body’s reaction to the viral infections brought about by stress.

TMJ/TMD. The trauma from the constant tooth grinding is, as well as anxiety and depression, are all very well-known causes of TMJ.

For more information regarding stress, contact Drs. Freund and Waterloo today at 847-251-8990 or visit www.villagedentalpc.com.

Drs. Chad Freund and Cathy Waterloo proudly serves Kenilworth and all surrounding areas.

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What You Need to Know About Oral Cancer | Kenilworth Dentist

While some think this is a rare cancer, mouth cancers will be newly diagnosed in about 132 new individuals each day in the US alone, and a person dies from oral cancer every hour of every day. When found at early stages of development, oral cancers have an 80 to 90 % survival rate. Late-stage diagnosis is not occurring because because of a lack of public awareness coupled with the lack of screenings. Worldwide the problem is far greater, with new cases annually exceeding 640,000.

Oral cancer refers to cancer that develops in any of the parts that make up the mouth. Oral cancer is one of several types of cancer grouped in a category called head and neck cancers. Mouth cancer and other head and neck cancers are often treated similarly.

If you notice any of the below changes, contact your dentist or health care professional immediately.

  • Swellings/thickenings, lumps or bumps, rough spots/crusts/or eroded areas on the lips, gums, or other areas inside the mouth
  • The development of velvety white, red, or speckled (white and red) patches in the mouth
  • Unexplained bleeding in the mouth
  • Unexplained numbness, loss of feeling, or pain/tenderness in any area of the face, mouth, or neck
  • Persistent sores on the face, neck, or mouth that bleed easily and do not heal within 2 weeks
  • A soreness or feeling that something is caught in the back of the throat
  • Difficulty chewing or swallowing, speaking, or moving the jaw or tongue
  • Hoarseness, chronic sore throat, or change in voice
  • Ear pain
  • A change in the way your teeth or dentures fit together
  • Dramatic weight loss

For more information regarding oral cancer, contact Drs. Freund and Waterloo today at 847-251-8990 or visit www.villagedentalpc.com.

Drs. Chad Freund and Cathy Waterloo proudly serves Kenilworth and all surrounding areas.