Does tooth decay easily cause bad breath?

Written by Fang Xiao
Dentistry
Updated on October 24, 2024
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Cavities can easily cause bad breath. If there are cavities, food will remain in the holes of the cavities, get stuck, and ultimately compress the gums, and it will be difficult to clean. Foods are prone to ferment and produce acids causing bad odors, and the gums can also become inflamed, and even suppurate, which also produces bad smells. Therefore, if you have cavities, you should go to a regular hospital's dental department and receive targeted treatment under the guidance of a dentist. It is essential to develop good oral hygiene habits, brush your teeth in the morning and evening using the internationally recognized Bass brushing technique, rinse your mouth after meals, learn to use dental floss to remove food residues in tooth gaps, and treat cavities promptly to prevent them from deepening and causing more severe consequences.

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Written by Fang Xiao
Dentistry
1min 48sec home-news-image

If a cavity doesn't hurt, is it better not to treat it?

Cavities are primarily caused by poor oral hygiene and the effects of bacteria in the mouth, among other factors, leading to chronic progressive destruction of the hard tissues of the teeth. Generally, the progression is slow, initially appearing as yellowish-brown spots or defects on the tooth surface without causing any pain symptoms, making the treatment fairly straightforward—simply removing the decay and filling it can often be completed in one session. However, many cavities are not treated during this optimal period and progress to the dentin, causing sensitivity to hot and cold and leading to toothache. If not treated promptly, the cavity will enlarge, and in severe cases, lead to pulp infection, causing spontaneous pain, episodic pain, and pain from temperature stimuli. At this stage, the treatment becomes more complex and painful, requiring root canal therapy, typically needing three to four follow-up visits, and thus, costing more than a simple one-time treatment. If the condition is not controlled, it may develop into apical periodontitis or apical abscess, leading to space infections. The treatment then becomes even more complicated and painful, requiring incision and drainage, along with systemic anti-inflammatory treatment. If the tooth is severely damaged, the remaining roots and crowns can become a focal point for bacterial infection, potentially inducing other diseases. Therefore, it is crucial to detect and treat cavities early—the smaller the cavity, the better the treatment outcome, also saving time and money.

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Written by Li Bao Hua
Dentistry
46sec home-news-image

The difference between dental caries and tooth decay.

Cavities, also known as dental caries, are essentially the same thing. Cavities are a disease caused by bacterial infection of the hard tissues of the teeth, resulting in black holes on the tooth surface. If the cavity is deep, reaching or approaching the dental nerve, external stimuli from hot, cold, sweet, or sour sources can cause tooth pain. The term "tooth decay," commonly referred to as "worm teeth" by the public, fundamentally describes the same condition as cavities, not caused by any sort of worm but by bacterial pathogens. Thus, there is no difference between cavities and tooth decay; both are infectious diseases of the hard tissues of the teeth.

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Written by Li Bao Hua
Dentistry
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What should I do about permanent tooth decay?

Permanent tooth decay refers to the decay that occurs in children's newly emerged permanent teeth or already replaced permanent teeth. Once decay occurs in a permanent tooth, it is necessary to fill the tooth as soon as possible. Decay is removed by drilling out the decayed hard tissue of the tooth. After removal, direct pulp capping treatment for the tooth is performed. If the decay in the permanent tooth is deep and has reached the tooth nerve, pulp treatment is needed. Vital pulpotomy can be used to retain the root pulp of the root part to promote further development of the tooth root. If the apex of the root has already formed in the permanent tooth and decay occurs, and the tooth nerve cannot be preserved, we can directly proceed with root canal treatment.

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Written by Li Bao Hua
Dentistry
1min 2sec home-news-image

What will happen if tooth decay is not treated?

If dental caries are not treated, they may further infect and cause inflammation of the dental nerves, leading to pulpitis or apical periodontitis, causing severe pain. When apical periodontitis occurs, it may sometimes lead to a space infection, which is facial swelling. If the inflammation is not controlled in time, it may also cause osteomyelitis of the jawbone. Therefore, dental caries need to be treated as early as possible. Dental caries are caused by bacterial infections that lead to the decay of the hard tissues of the teeth; in the early stages of decay, using a drill to stop the development of the disease—namely, timely filling—can effectively control the further progression of dental caries. If dental caries further infect and cause inflammation of the dental nerves, it can lead to pain while eating or sleeping, sometimes waking from sleep due to pain, and in severe cases, it can cause facial swelling.

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Written by Li Cui
Dentistry
45sec home-news-image

Can you ignore a cavity if it doesn't hurt?

When patients develop dental caries, it is recommended that they visit a formal medical institution for treatment. If the tooth decay is not addressed, it may worsen significantly. While it may not always cause pain, the teeth can still be damaged. Over time, the teeth might deteriorate severely, potentially leaving only the roots. This could also lead to damage to the tooth roots, causing inconvenience in the patient's dietary life and might lead to severe complications later on, including pain and irritation to the gum tissue. Therefore, it is advised that patients seek early medical treatment and undergo appropriate therapeutic measures based on the condition of their dental caries.