what to do about bleeding gums and bad breath?

Question

A friend of mine has gums that bleed a lot and a severe case of bad breath. It's so bad that it can be smelled from across a room. What is causing this?

Answer 1

Sounds like your friend has seriously poor dental hygiene habits. S/he needs to brush his/her teeth regularly, and also to clean his/her tongue. I haven't found a tongue cleaner, but options include brushing (take care not to push the brush so far back that you gag), or, my own preference, scraping with the flat end of a small tube of toothpase. Gargling with that tartar control stuff, or even a strong saline solution would also help.

From the sound of it, your friend has gingevitis (inflamed, infected gums), and so would benefit from a visit to the dentist, and some professional help to get the process of clearing up the infections started.

Bad breath & gingevitis are caused by a build-up of germs in the tartar that occurs in the mouth. These germs then produce various wastes & by-products, that cause the stench. By at least ensuring there is a regular turn-over of germs (by cleaning out the existing ones regularly & thoroughly), a lot of problems can be prevented.

While a lot of people tend to think that gingevitis is a minor inconvenience, there was one study which found a strong positive correlation between gingevitis & heart disease. (The correlation was much stronger than that between heart disease & smoking.)

Answer 2

It might be gingivitus if her gums are also swollen. If the bleeding is random it could be because she doesn't floss enough often or at all.. and when she does brush or floss her gums bleed. Mouthwash should cover the whole bad breath thing and if she does that and the smell persists I'd be extrememly concerned... Ask the dentist again and if he has no good advice send her to her regular doctor.

Answer 3

She has the start of gingivits and needs to see the dentist ASAP. Gently tell her that her breath needs some help. Also since you seem to know that she has bleeding gums ask her what the dentist is doing for her bleeding gums as a way to open up the conversation to find out when her last dental exam was and if she has even seen the dentist about this.

Answer 4

Bleeding gums can be prevented (usually) by flossing. The more you floss, the less they will bleed because they will become stronger. About the bad breath, your friend... uh... brushes her teeth right? Tell her to brush her tongue, it really does help. Otherwise, tell her to see a dentist because she could have something like gum disease.

Answer 5

I was told by my dentist to dissolve about 1 tablespoon of table salt in a half glass of warm water and finish my brushing by taking a mouthfull and just letting it sit there and sort of marinate my gums. Helped a lot, cheap, easy.

Answer 6

overgrowth of bacteria in the mouth due to bleeding of gums---get a high vitamin-C diet

Answer 7

she needs to go the dentist for scaling and implement some oral hygiene measures.....the bleeding gingiva is due to gingivits

Answer 8

Rotten mouth. Must go to the dentist. If she does not want to, use peroxide and baking soda.

Answer 9

http://youtu.be/byV--AkiGFY
Most cases (85–90%), bad breath originates in the mouth, sinus and throat. The intensity of bad breath differs during the day, due to eating certain foods (such as garlic, onions, meat, fish, and cheese), obesity, smoking, and alcohol consumption. Since the mouth is exposed to less oxygen and is inactive during the night, the odor is usually worse upon awakening ("morning breath"). Bad breath may be transient, often disappearing following eating, brushing one's teeth, flossing, or rinsing with mouthwash.
Causes:
1, Tongue, A common location is the tongue. Tongue bacteria produce malodorous compounds and fatty acids, and account for 60 to 70% of all cases of mouth-related bad breath. Methods used against bad breath, such as mints, mouth sprays, mouthwash or gum, only temporarily mask the odors created by the bacteria on the tongue, but cannot cure bad breath because they do not remove the source of the bad breath.
Cleaning the tongue - Many companies promote tongue scrapers as a bad breath cure however the bacteria on the tongue can’t be removed with a scraper or brush as they live between the taste buds. Use a tongue scrapper to reduce the food source for bacteria but don’t expect it to cure bad breath. The method of stopping bad breath from the tongue involves rebalancing the bacteria load. Once tongue bacteria are in balance bad breath will cease. For this complex procedure you’ll need to consult Oraltech Labs program at http://www.oraltech.com.au
2. Mouth, There are over 600 types of bacteria found in the average mouth. Other parts of the mouth may also contribute to the overall odor, but are not as common as the back of the tongue. These locations are, in order of descending prevalence: inter-dental and sub-gingival niches, faulty dental work, food-impaction areas in between the teeth, abscesses, and unclean dentures. To fix you will need a dentist to examine your teeth and repair any faults found. Or use Oraltech Labs Unusual Causes Of Bad Breath.
3. Gum disease, advanced periodontal disease is a common cause. Waste products from the anaerobic bacteria growing below the gum line (sub gingival) have a foul smell and have been clinically demonstrated to produce a very intense bad breath. To fix remove the tartar or hard plaque and friable tissue with a soft bristle tooth brush angled on the gum line. This has been shown to improve mouth odor considerably.
4. Nose, in this occurrence, the air exiting the nostrils has a pungent odor that differs from the oral odor. Nasal odor may be due to sinus infections, foreign bodies & commonly Post Nasal Drip. To fix this you will need to flush your sinuses with salt water. It’s very difficult. Use Oraltech Labs program to properly clear all sinus cavities.
5. Tonsils small bits of calcified matter in tonsillar crypts called tonsilloliths that smell extremely foul when released and can cause bad breath. To fix use warm to hot salt water mix to break the stones down or use a water pic to dislodge them. This topic is covered in depth in the Oraltech Labs Program.
6. Stomach, very uncommon source of bad breath. The esophagus is a closed and collapsed tube, and continuous flow (as opposed to a simple burp) of gas or putrid substances from the stomach indicates a health problem—such as reflux serious enough to be bringing up stomach contents or a fistula between the stomach and the esophagus. To fix use Oraltech Labs program to cure bad breath caused by GERD & Acid Reflux.
Management:
1. Gently clean the tongue surface twice daily; that can be achieved using a tooth brush, tongue cleaner or tongue brush/scraper to wipe off the bacterial biofilm, debris, and mucus. Scraping or otherwise damaging the tongue should be avoided, and scraping of the V-shaped row of taste buds found at the extreme back of the tongue should also be avoided. Brushing a small amount of antibacterial mouth rinse or tongue gel onto the tongue surface will further inhibit bacterial action.
2. Eating a healthy breakfast with rough foods helps clean the very back of the tongue.
3. Chewing gum: Since dry-mouth can increase bacterial build-up and cause or worsen bad breath, chewing sugarless gum can help with the production of saliva, and thereby help to reduce bad breath. Chewing may help particularly when the mouth is dry, or when one cannot perform oral hygiene procedures after meals.
4. Gargling right before bedtime with an effective mouthwash.
5. Maintaining proper oral hygiene, including daily tongue cleaning, brushing, flossing, and periodic visits to dentists and hygienists. Flossing is particularly important in removing rotting food debris and bacterial plaque from between the teeth, especially at the gum line.
If none of the above works for you just use the Oraltech Program by visiting - http://www.oraltechlabs.ph
To Your good health, Dr Devon, M.D, D.D.S
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Answer 10

probably severe gingivitis, they need to see a dentist