How is Bad Breath Linked to Your Wisdom Teeth? Tips to Improve Bad Breath

Wisdom teeth, also called third molars, generally appear last in your mouth at a relatively late age. Sometimes, if they do not come out of the gums fully, they can lead to bacterial infection and bad breath.
These bacteria can release Sulphur compounds with a strong foul odor. Some other symptoms of a wisdom tooth infection include pain, an unpleasant taste in the mouth, swelling, bleeding, and inflammation.

Will Wisdom Teeth Extraction Get Rid of Bad Breath Completely?

An infected wisdom tooth needs proper treatment to heal. Usually, you will need to get them extracted to get rid of the infection. Sometimes your bad breath problem might not be entirely solved by the mere extraction of the wisdom tooth. This happens because wisdom tooth extraction can lead to the formation of a “dry socket” on your gums that can act as a hiding place for infectious bacteria which cause bad breath. Your dentist may prescribe further treatment to clean the socket to help the healing process. If the dry socket does not heal in a few weeks and bad breath is persistent, then please contact your dentist.

You should practice proper oral care after a wisdom tooth extraction to keep bad breath away.

Tips for Keeping Bad Breath Away

Irrespective of whether a wisdom tooth triggers your bad breath or not, it is an embarrassing problem for most people. Here are some tips to help you combat bad breath and maintain good oral hygiene.

• Brush Teeth Twice a Day

  Make it a habit to brush your teeth for 2-3 minutes, at least twice a day. This will help to remove food debris and plaque. You can also try brushing your teeth with baking soda, which is found to help reduce the acidity in the mouth and prevent bacterial growth and bad breath in your mouth.

• Floss Daily

  Often, a toothbrush fails to remove food debris that sticks between the teeth. You should floss your teeth regularly to keep bacteria away from these areas.

• Scrape Your Tongue

  Scraping your tongue using a tongue scraper is also important as it helps to remove any residue between your tongue folds and the taste buds.

• Use a Mouth Rinse

  Using a mouth rinse can help to reduce bad breath. However, keep in mind that a mouth rinse will only conceal the odor and not cure it.

• Regularly Visit Your Dentist

  Remember that the actual culprit behind chronic bad breath is underlying dental problems. Visit your dentist to rule out any serious dental issues.

• Avoid tobacco products

  Tobacco use contributes to bad breath. Tobacco dries out your mouth and leaves an unpleasant odor that persists even after brushing.

• Drink Plenty of Water

  Drink 6 to 8 glasses of water daily to avoid dry mouth. Water will also act as a natural lubricant that can wash away bacteria and food particles and reduce bad breath.

• Chew sugarless gums and candies

  This can help in stimulating the saliva flow in your mouth, which in turn will help to wash away bacteria and food debris that contribute to bad breath.

• Munch on fresh and crispy fruits and vegetables.

  Snacking on fresh, crispy fruits and vegetables, such as carrots and apples, can improve your saliva flow and also help to wash away infection-causing bacteria from your teeth, gums, and tongue and prevent bad breath.

If you are looking for a dentist in West Des Moines for wisdom teeth odor, we are here to help you. Please give us a call to diagnose and treat the problem permanently.