Pediatric Dentist in Rockville

Dentist Rockville MD, Pediatric Dentistry

Call our Rockville Dentist Today at
(301) 330-3222 for your Appointment



  • Home
  • Patients
    • New Patients
    • Patient Review
  • Education
    • Teething To Wisdom Teeth
      • Permanent Teeth
      • Primary Teeth
      • Wisdom Teeth
    • Care Of Child’s Teeth
      • Brushing
      • Preventing Cavities
      • Semi Annual Check-ups
      • Flossing
      • About Fluoride
      • About Mouth Guards
      • Overview and General Tips
      • What is Plaque?
      • Mouth Rinses
      • Sealants
      • Techniques
      • Toothbrush Selection
    • Common Conditions
      • Bulimia Nervosa
      • Canker Sores/Cold Sores
      • Cavities & Tooth Decay
      • Gingivitis/Gum Disease
      • Teeth Grinding (bruxism)
      • Sore Gums/Teething
      • Impacted Teeth/Wisdom Teeth
      • Jaw disorders/TMD (Temporomandibular disorders)
      • Pacifiers and Thumb and Finger Sucking
    • Emergencies
      • Bitten Lip or Tongue
      • Problems with Braces and Retainers
      • Broken, Fractured, Displaced Tooth
      • Sports Injuries
      • Toothaches
      • Trapped Debris/Objects Between Teeth
    • Treatments
      • Air Abrasion: The Drill Alternative
      • Bonding, Veneers, Contouring & Reshaping
      • Extractions
      • Fillings
      • Guidance Eruption
      • Root Canal
      • Teeth Whitening
      • X-Rays
    • Orthodontics
      • All About Braces
      • Common Conditions
      • Orthodontics Overview
    • Nutrition and Your Child’s Teeth
    • Oral Health Topics
      • Introduction
      • Fluoride
      • The Preventive Program
      • Fillings
      • Infection Control
      • Medication & Heart Disease
      • Latex Allergy
      • Age and Oral Health
      • Tobacco
      • Oral Piercing
    • Tooth Care
      • What is Tooth Decay?
      • Brushing
      • Flossing
    • Dental Problems
      • Abscessed Tooth
      • Bad Breath (Halitosis)
      • Bulimia Nervosa
      • Canker/Cold Sores
      • Cavities & Tooth Decay
      • Toothaches
      • Diabetes
      • Dry Mouth
      • Fluorosis
      • Gum Disease (Gingivitis)
      • Patient Education
      • Lacerations and Cuts
      • Oral Cancer
      • Plaque
      • Sensitive Teeth
      • Teeth Grinding (Bruxism)
      • Jaw Disorders
    • Treatment
      • Braces (Orthodontia)
      • Sealants
      • Missing Teeth
      • Bridges
      • Crowns
      • Root Canal Therapy
      • Extractions
      • Scaling & Root Planing
      • Flap Surgery
      • Dentures
      • Maxillofacial Surgery
      • Jaw/TMJ
      • Cosmetic Dentistry
    • Pain Management
      • Overview
      • Managing Pain
      • Anesthesia
      • Air Abrasion
      • Medications
    • Patient Information
      • Your First Dental Visit
      • Dental Emergencies
      • Your Rights as a Patient
    • Product Reviews
      • Oral Health Products
      • Choosing a Toothbrush
      • Types of Floss
      • Water Picks
      • Mouth Guards
    • Glossary
    • Useful Websites
  • Our Doctors
    • Dr. Ophir Alalouf
    • Dr. Hilary Sherman Weiss
    • Dr. Steven Tan
  • Our Team
  • Office
    • About Insurance
    • About Treatment
    • Dental Emergencies
    • Special Needs Dentistry
    • Your Kids’ Comfort
  • Services
    • Dental Treatments
    • Technology
  • Kids Zone
    • Bongo & Friends
    • Fun Stuff
  • Contact Us
    • Contact Us
    • Make An Appointment
  • Pay Online

Bad Breath (Halitosis)

An estimated sixty-five percent of Americans have bad breath. Over forty-million Americans have "chronic halitosis," which is persistent bad breath. Ninety percent of all halitosis is of oral, not systemic, origin.

Americans spend more than $1 billion a year on over the counter halitosis products, many of which are ineffective because they only mask the problem.

What causes bad breath?

Bad breath is caused by a variety of factors. In most cases, it is caused by food remaining in the mouth – on the teeth, tongue, gums, and other structures, collecting bacteria. Dead and dying bacterial cells release a sulfur compound that gives your breath an unpleasant odor. Certain foods, such as garlic and onions, contribute to breath odor. Once the food is absorbed into the bloodstream, it is transferred to the lungs, where it is exhaled. Brushing, flossing and mouthwash only mask the odor. Dieters sometimes develop unpleasant breath from fasting.

Periodontal (gum) disease often causes persistent bad breath or a bad taste in the mouth, and persistent bad breath may mean a sign that you have gum disease.

Gum disease is caused by plaque – the sticky, often colorless, film of bacteria that constantly forms on teeth. Dry mouth or xerostomia may also cause bad breath due to decreased salivary flow. Saliva cleans your mouth and removes particles that may cause odor. Tobacco products cause bad breath, stain teeth, reduce your ability to taste foods and irritate your gum tissues. Bad breath may also be a sign that you have a serious health problem, such as a respiratory tract infection, chronic sinusitis, postnasal drip, chronic bronchitis, diabetes, gastrointestinal disturbance, liver or kidney ailment.

Here are characteristic bad breath odors associated with some of these illnesses:

  • Diabetes – acetone, fruity
  • Liver failure – sweetish, musty
  • Acute rheumatic fever – acid, sweet
  • Lung abscess – foul, putrefactive
  • Blood dyscrasias – resembling decomposed blood
  • Liver cirrhosis – resembling decayed blood
  • Uremia – ammonia or urine
  • Hand-Schuller-Christian disease – fetid breath and unpleasant taste
  • Scurvy – foul breath from stomach inflammation
  • Wegner`s granulomatosis – Necrotic, putrefactive
  • Kidney failure – ammonia or urine
  • Diphtheria, dysentery, measles, pneumonia, scarlet fever, tuberculosis – extremely foul, fetid odor
  • Syphilis – fetid

Bad breath may also be caused by medications you are taking, including central nervous system agents, anti-Parkinson drugs, antihistamines/decongestants, anti-psychotics, anti-cholinergics, narcotics, anti-hypertensives, and anti-depressants.

Caring for bad breath

Daily brushing and flossing, and regular professional cleanings, will normally take care of unpleasant breath. And don’t forget your often overlooked tongue as a culprit for bad breath. Bacterial plaque and food debris also can accumulate on the back of the tongue. The tongue’s surface is extremely rough and bacteria can accumulate easily in the cracks and crevices.

Controlling periodontal disease and maintaining good oral health helps to reduce bad breath.  If you have constant bad breath, make a list of the foods you eat and any medications you take. Some medications may contribute to bad breath.

Improperly cleaned dentures can also harbor odor-causing bacteria and food particles. If you wear removable dentures, take them out at night and clean them thoroughly before replacing them.

If your dentist determines that your mouth is healthy and that the odor is not oral in nature, you may be referred to your family physician or to a specialist to determine the cause of the odor and possible treatment. If the odor is due to gum disease, your dentist can either treat the disease or refer you to a periodontist, a specialist in treating gum tissues. Gum disease can cause gum tissues to pull away from the teeth and form pockets. When these pockets are deep, only a professional periodontal cleaning can remove the bacteria and plaque that accumulate.

Mouthwashes are generally ineffective on bad breath. If your bad breath persists even after good oral hygiene, there are special products your dentist may prescribe, including Zytex, which is a combination of zinc chloride, thymol and eucalyptus oil that neutralizes the sulfur compounds and kills the bacteria that causes them. In addition, a special antimicrobial mouth rinse may be prescribed. An example is chlorhexidine, but be careful not to use it for more than a few months as it can stain your teeth. Some antiseptic mouth rinses have been accepted by the American Dental Association for their breath freshening properties and therapeutic benefits in reducing plaque and gingivitis. Instead of simply masking breath odor, these products have been demonstrated to kill the germs that cause bad breath. Ask your dentist about trying some of these products.

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kidsteeth

15200 Shady Grove Rd., Suite 450
Rockville, MD 20850
(301) 330-3222
team@kidsteeth.net

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Doctor 1

Dr. Ophir Alalouf

Doctor 2

Dr. Hilary Sherman Weiss

Doctor 3

Dr. Justin Milo

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Hours:

Mon: 8:00am – 5:00pm
Tue:  8:00am – 5:00pm
Wed: 8:00am – 5:00pm
Thu:  8:00am – 5:00pm
Fri:    Closed
Sat:   Closed
Sun:  Closed

Contact:

Kids Teeth, LLC
Phone: (301) 330-3222
URL: kidsteeth.net

15200 Shady Grove Rd Ste 450
Rockville, MD 20850

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MENU
  • Home
  • Patients
    • New Patients
    • Patient Review
  • Education
    • Teething To Wisdom Teeth
      • Permanent Teeth
      • Primary Teeth
      • Wisdom Teeth
    • Care Of Child’s Teeth
      • Brushing
      • Preventing Cavities
      • Semi Annual Check-ups
      • Flossing
      • About Fluoride
      • About Mouth Guards
      • Overview and General Tips
      • What is Plaque?
      • Mouth Rinses
      • Sealants
      • Techniques
      • Toothbrush Selection
    • Common Conditions
      • Bulimia Nervosa
      • Canker Sores/Cold Sores
      • Cavities & Tooth Decay
      • Gingivitis/Gum Disease
      • Teeth Grinding (bruxism)
      • Sore Gums/Teething
      • Impacted Teeth/Wisdom Teeth
      • Jaw disorders/TMD (Temporomandibular disorders)
      • Pacifiers and Thumb and Finger Sucking
    • Emergencies
      • Bitten Lip or Tongue
      • Problems with Braces and Retainers
      • Broken, Fractured, Displaced Tooth
      • Sports Injuries
      • Toothaches
      • Trapped Debris/Objects Between Teeth
    • Treatments
      • Air Abrasion: The Drill Alternative
      • Bonding, Veneers, Contouring & Reshaping
      • Extractions
      • Fillings
      • Guidance Eruption
      • Root Canal
      • Teeth Whitening
      • X-Rays
    • Orthodontics
      • All About Braces
      • Common Conditions
      • Orthodontics Overview
    • Nutrition and Your Child’s Teeth
    • Oral Health Topics
      • Introduction
      • Fluoride
      • The Preventive Program
      • Fillings
      • Infection Control
      • Medication & Heart Disease
      • Latex Allergy
      • Age and Oral Health
      • Tobacco
      • Oral Piercing
    • Tooth Care
      • What is Tooth Decay?
      • Brushing
      • Flossing
    • Dental Problems
      • Abscessed Tooth
      • Bad Breath (Halitosis)
      • Bulimia Nervosa
      • Canker/Cold Sores
      • Cavities & Tooth Decay
      • Toothaches
      • Diabetes
      • Dry Mouth
      • Fluorosis
      • Gum Disease (Gingivitis)
      • Patient Education
      • Lacerations and Cuts
      • Oral Cancer
      • Plaque
      • Sensitive Teeth
      • Teeth Grinding (Bruxism)
      • Jaw Disorders
    • Treatment
      • Braces (Orthodontia)
      • Sealants
      • Missing Teeth
      • Bridges
      • Crowns
      • Root Canal Therapy
      • Extractions
      • Scaling & Root Planing
      • Flap Surgery
      • Dentures
      • Maxillofacial Surgery
      • Jaw/TMJ
      • Cosmetic Dentistry
    • Pain Management
      • Overview
      • Managing Pain
      • Anesthesia
      • Air Abrasion
      • Medications
    • Patient Information
      • Your First Dental Visit
      • Dental Emergencies
      • Your Rights as a Patient
    • Product Reviews
      • Oral Health Products
      • Choosing a Toothbrush
      • Types of Floss
      • Water Picks
      • Mouth Guards
    • Glossary
    • Useful Websites
  • Our Doctors
    • Dr. Ophir Alalouf
    • Dr. Hilary Sherman Weiss
    • Dr. Steven Tan
  • Our Team
  • Office
    • About Insurance
    • About Treatment
    • Dental Emergencies
    • Special Needs Dentistry
    • Your Kids’ Comfort
  • Services
    • Dental Treatments
    • Technology
  • Kids Zone
    • Bongo & Friends
    • Fun Stuff
  • Contact Us
    • Contact Us
    • Make An Appointment
  • Pay Online