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Halitosis, more commonly known as bad breath, is a common and embarrassing problem. Virtually everyone experiences bad breath on occasion, especially following a spicy meal. However, chronic or frequent bad breath can be a sign of a more serious oral health problem.

Causes of bad breath

Why does your breath smell foul? There are several possible answers, including:

• Gum disease – You might not expect an infection in your gums to affect your breath, but bacteria emit a foul odor. For the same reason, any infected wound or other bacterial accumulation can cause chronic bad breath.
• Food – This is the most common cause of occasional bad breath. Components of foods such as garlic and onions enter your bloodstream, and they are released through your lungs when you exhale. That is why bad breath will linger even after you have brushed and flossed.
• Tobacco use – Smoking or using smokeless tobacco products can directly cause bad breath due to chemicals in your mouth, as well as contributing to health conditions such as gum disease.
• Hygiene – Failure to brush and floss properly leads to bad breath because of food particles and bacteria in your mouth. Like tobacco, this also increases your risk for gum disease and the accompanying bad breath.
• Medical conditions – Gum disease is not the only medical cause of bad breath. It is also associated with xerostomia (dry mouth), acid reflux, postnasal drip, diabetes, and more.
• Other Causes – Alcoholism, excess supplementation of certain vitamins, some prescription medications, and other factors can also contribute to bad breath.

Prevention and treatment

Bad breath caused by food is temporary, and it can usually be controlled with good hygiene and breath mints. However, if the problem does not seem related to what you’ve eaten, it is advisable to discuss it with your dentist. In most cases, the solution revolves around improving your health and your hygiene habits. Brushing and flossing regularly, using a tongue scraper, and rinsing your mouth with water immediately after meals can go a long way toward freshening your breath.

If you have infection or oral disease, call Pleasant Dental at [phone] for more information, or to schedule a consultation. Dr. Dietrich has been providing quality care at an affordable price to residents of Dolton and surrounding areas for over 25 years.

When you brush your teeth, do you see blood in the sink? This may seem normal, especially if it is a small amount, but it is actually a sign of trouble. If you are brushing and flossing correctly, healthy gums should not bleed. It is advisable to see your dentist for a periodontal evaluation.

Causes of bleeding gums

Several factors can cause your gums to bleed easily, including:

• Periodontal disease (most likely cause)
• Sores on the gum tissue
• Poorly fitting dentures
• Blood thinning medications
• Vitamin deficiencies
• Aggressive brushing, especially with a hard-bristled toothbrush
• Medical problems such as bleeding disorders, diabetes, scurvy, leukemia, or heart disease

By far, the most common cause of bleeding gums is periodontal (gum) disease. Although it is typically painless, especially in the earliest stages, it is a serious risk to your oral and overall health. Periodontal disease is an infection of the gum tissue around the teeth. Chronic inflammation and irritation of the tissue makes it fragile, and easily injured. Although the symptoms seem quite mild, periodontal disease involves chronic inflammation and a concentration of harmful bacteria. It can lead to bone loss in the jaw, tooth loss, and an increased risk for many health problems including coronary disease.

Treatments

Dr. Dietrich will perform an examination to determine the cause before recommending a solution. Depending on the cause, treatment may be as simple as using a gentler technique when you brush or adding supplemental vitamins to your diet. However, if your gums bleed, chances are you have periodontal disease. You may need to see a specialist if the disease is in the advances stages, but it can usually be treated with professional deep cleaning and dedicated oral hygiene

Don’t take chances with your dental health. If your gums bleed easily, or you have any other signs of oral disease, visit Dr. Dietrich for an evaluation. Just call [phone] and schedule an appointment at Pleasant Dental today. Our office is conveniently located on Sibley Boulevard in Dolton, IL, proudly serving communities throughout Chicagoland.

Eating disorders such as bulimia and anorexia have serious implications on a person’s wellness and their oral health. Unfortunately millions of people across the United States are battling eating disorders. Whether triggered by the desire to be thinner or by other stress factors, eating disorders can be hard for patients and their families and friends to diagnose, treat, or provide support to.

Bulimia is an eating disorder in which patients binge eat and then cause themselves to vomit while patients with anorexia cause themselves to enter a state of starvation through not eating. Both types of eating disorders prevent the body from receiving important nutrients, vitamins, and proteins that are critical for optimal health. A patient with an eating disorder often suffers from heart problems, yellow or dried skin, hair loss, a reduction in muscle mass, osteoporosis, and other health complications.

Eating disorders are often hard to diagnose because patients tend to hide their behaviour from family, friends, and physicians. In fact, dentists are frequently the first health professional to recognize the disease because they notice physical symptoms in the mouth. In bulimic patients, the frequent vomiting causes the enamel of the teeth to begin to erode away. In anorexic patients, the teeth become brittle and weak because of the lack of nutrients entering the body. Other dental health complications include teeth sensitivity, sharp toothaches, oral sores and lesions, and a dry mouth or throat.

Eating disorders are serious health problems. Getting help can be challenging for patients and often requires medical, dental, and therapeutic specialties. However, help is available and professionals are willing and able to provide support and medical expertise to help patients overcome their disease.

Dr. Dean Dietrich knows that oral health is connected to overall health and he has a complete dedication to his patients overall health and wellness. If you’re suffering from an eating disorder, or know someone who is, Dr. Dietrich can provide you with the care, support, and referrals that you need to change your life. For more information, call the Pleasant Dental office in Dolton, IL.

Teeth are a critical part of the body. From the time a “baby tooth” erupts, parents must consider oral health care as an important part of the child’s overall health. While the primary teeth will fall out during a child’s elementary school years, they are still important to a child’s health and development. The primary teeth help a child chew, eat, and receive proper nutrition, they help kids learn to speak clearly, they boost self-esteem with a beautiful smile, and they provide a place for the permanent teeth to erupt.

That’s why even primary teeth require a great deal of dental care – both at home and in the dentist’s office. Primary teeth are susceptible to cavities just as adult teeth are. In addition to the damage a cavity can cause to oral health, having a cavity filled as a young child can be scary and overwhelming.

In addition to cavities, children can also have other oral health care problems like gum disease and other dental infections. While these are harmful to adults, they can be even more hurtful to children who don’t have fully developed immune systems.

Helping children avoid cavities with brushing and flossing is a great first step to proper oral health care. As important is the need to develop a great relationship with a dentist. These early activities not only ensure healthy teeth in the primary teeth years, they help to ensure healthy habits, and healthy teeth, in future years. As parents know, healthy permanent teeth are important to nutrition, self-esteem, and speech.

Once a child begins to lose their baby teeth and have them replaced with permanent teeth, it remains important for parents to stay involved in the teeth care process. For example, because many children are physically able at this age to brush their own teeth, parents simply ask if it was done. In addition to making sure the activity is checked off the proverbial list, parents should check to make sure that the child is properly brushing their teeth and using floss. Cavities and other dental problems often occur when the food particles get stuck in between teeth or on the hard to reach back teeth. Parents should continue to ensure the child is removing all food particles before completely handing over the tooth care duties to the child.

Dr. Dean Dietrich has been helping Illinois parents help their children install proper oral care habits for many years. He can show you different techniques to practice with your child and conduct exams to make sure that teeth brushing is effective. For more information or to schedule an appointment at the Pleasant Dental office, call today.

“Do I really need to brush my child’s tooth? He only has one.” “Should I allow my kids to have the lollipops that the tellers at the bank give to them?” “How can I help my first grader learn to floss her own teeth?”

Parents of young children have plenty of questions about oral health care. They certainly want to prevent cavities, but aren’t sure of the best approach. Dr. Dean Dietrich of Pleasant Dental has been helping parents in the Dolton, Riverdale and Chicago, IL areas learn what they need to know about proper oral health care for children.

Dentists recommend running a damp cloth over the gums before the teeth even erupt. This removes harmful bacteria from the mouth and helps parents get into the habit of making oral health care a priority. Once the tooth erupts, parents can use an infant toothbrush with a very tiny amount of toothpaste and water. Once the child is old enough to spit, dentists recommend using a pea-sized amount of toothpaste. Whether parents are directed to use fluoride toothpaste depends largely on your unique situation and whether fluoride is added to the water source.

Children should also begin visiting the dentist at an early age. Not only does this help the child become comfortable with the dentist, his team, and the office, it also ensures that any early problems are spotted quickly. For most children these visits, in conjunction with brushing and flossing at home, are good steps to help prevent cavities from erupting. If a child appears to be at risk for cavities, the dentist may apply fluoride to harden the enamel and prevent cavities from forming.

As the child ages and his permanent teeth begin to grow, dentists can also “seal” the teeth. Most of the time this treatment is applied to the back teeth, where most chewing occurs and where it’s hardest to reach with a toothbrush. Sealing keeps bacteria from getting into the enamel of the tooth. It’s important to note that fluoride and sealants alone will not prevent cavities, the first step is proper brushing and flossing in order to remove food particles from the teeth.

If a trouble spot is identified in your child’s early childhood years, treatment will depend on your dentist and your child’s unique situation. Some dentists will simply watch the area and make sure it doesn’t get worse. Other times, or if the cavity is already deep into the tooth, it will need to be filled. Dr. Dietrich is skilled at treating children with gentle and respectful care. He and his team work carefully and cautiously to ensure that children feel safe and at ease during their treatment.

For more information or to schedule an appointment for your child, call the Pleasant Dental office today.

Mouth ulcers, canker sores, cold sores. The words are often used interchangeably to describe the painful lesions on the inside of the mouth or on the lips. They can range in severity from uncomfortable to annoying to downright painful. Often certain foods or beverages or teeth brushing can exacerbate the pain. While mouth ulcers are typically harmless and clear up without medical or dental intervention, patients often look for ways to get rid of them faster or to prevent them in the first place.

No one knows for sure what causes most mouth ulcers and every patient can have different triggers. For some, stress or tissue injury can cause one or several ulcers. In other patients certain foods such as fruits that are high in acidic value, including lemons, oranges, figs, tomatoes, and strawberries. Additionally, a small cut or irritation caused by braces or dentures that don’t fit properly can cause ulcers to form. Finally, underlying health problems such as autoimmune diseases, a reaction to certain medications, oral thrush infection, and others. Still, some patients appear to get recurring ulcers for reasons that are not clear.

Although it’s uncommon, mouth ulcers can lead to complications including bacterial infections, inflammation of the oral tissue, or an abscessed tooth. Most ulcers resolve by themselves in a few days; however, some ulcers caused by infection will require patients to seek out medical or dental treatment. Once an ulcer or cluster of ulcers has erupted, patients can’t make them go away faster, but they can manage the symptoms and reduce the risk of complications.

Treatment options include not eating spicy or acidic foods while the ulcers are active, drinking plenty of water, and using salt water to rinse the mouth. Further patients can use over-the-counter pain medication or use antiseptic gel and mouthwash to relieve the pain. Depending on the type of ulcer prescription medication may be needed to help manage the discomfort and ensure the infection is cleared.

For patients wishing to prevent mouth ulcers, dentists recommend good oral hygiene habits including brushing and flossing, eating a healthy diet, and managing other health and wellness issues. Dr. Dean Dietrich of Pleasant Dental is committed to the oral health care of his patients in Illinois. Whether you’re suffering from a mouth ulcer or a toothache, Dr. Dietrich can help you find relief. For more information or to schedule an appointment, call the Pleasant Dental office today.

When talking about oral health care, the words “plaque” and “tartar” often come up. In fact, they’re often used almost interchangeably. However, they are actually different things. Plaque is a tacky and colorless deposit of bacteria on the tooth. Produced from saliva, food particles, and fluids, plaque is always on the teeth. Brushing removes it for several hours but eventually it begins to come back. When plaque remains on the teeth, it causes discoloration and the beginning stages of gum disease.

Tartar is a crusty deposit, unlike the sticky formulation of plaque. While it also causes staining and discoloration, it is harder to remove than with simple brushing and flossing. In fact, tartar that forms over plaque can make it harder for patients to remove the plaque.

Keeping your teeth free from both plaque and tartar is a lifelong task. There are several ways patients can help prevent plaque from sticking to teeth and tartar from building up, including:

• Brush and floss. You’ve heard it all your life. Every dental commercial and every visit to the dentist stress the importance of brushing your teeth at least twice a day and flossing at least once. This habit helps to remove plaque and keep the surface of the tooth from becoming weakened or damaged.
• Choose a toothpaste that includes pyrophosphate, which adheres to the surface of the tooth and makes it challenging for calculus crystals (tartar) to grow.
• Visit the dentist. Twice a year, patients should visit the dentist. Not only does this provide the dentist with a chance to examine the teeth and identify any potential trouble spots before they develop, patients also receive a professional cleaning which removes the built up tartar that’s on the teeth.

A healthy mouth and a happy smile begins with keeping the teeth clear from both plaque and tartar. Brushing, flossing, and a trusted relationship with your dentist are all critical to ensuring that your smile stays white and that your teeth and gums stay healthy. Dr. Dean Dietrich of Pleasant Dental in Illinois believes that prevention of dental problems is critical to overall health and wellness. For more information about how plaque and tartar can impact your oral and overall health, call the Pleasant Dental office today.

Parents of young children have a lot to do in the mornings and at night. Getting children dressed, fed, and out the door to school in the mornings and into pajamas, with a story read, and to bed at night can seem like a never-ending task. However, it’s critical that along with all the other items on the must-do checklist, parents remember that brushing and flossing are critical to their child’s oral health.

It can be challenging to teach toddlers and preschool-aged children the proper brushing technique, but Dr. Dean Dietrich offers a few tips and items for consideration:

• Start early. As with most habits, the younger you introduce the activity the easier it will be to make it a lasting habit. You can begin brushing your child’s teeth with a soft-bristled toothbrush as soon as the first tooth erupts. Prior to that, parents should wipe the baby’s gums with a washcloth to remove bacteria and food particles.
• Make it fun. Let the child pick out his toothbrush and use a flavor of toothpaste that he likes. Tell the child you’re searching for “sugar bugs” as you brush his teeth. Or make a game out of brushing or sing songs while you brush the teeth. Singing the alphabet song two times is the approximate length of time that brushing properly should take.
• Set a good example. Parents know that their children are always watching their actions and behavior. There’s no exception when it comes to oral health care. Children who see their parents brushing and flossing are more likely to accept and imitate the habit.
• Let the child try. At some point the child who never wanted to have his teeth brushed will likely fight you for the toothbrush. Go ahead and let him try. Just be sure to take your turn brushing his teeth as well until you know for certain that he’s mastered the technique.

Children’s teeth are susceptible to cavities and gum decay just like adult teeth. Even though baby teeth aren’t permanent it’s important to keep them healthy and teach your child that oral health care is critical. For more information about oral health care and children, call Dr. Dean Dietrich of Pleasant Dental. He has been helping patients in the Dolton, IL, region keep their family’s oral health in check for many years.