You try hard to keep yourself healthy and happy. You pay your bills on time, drink plenty of water, get the kids to school, and work hard at your job. You brush twice daily, floss at least once, and steer clear of foods that stain your teeth. Why, then, do you still have that awful taste lingering in your mouth even after brushing? Poor oral hygiene, the leading cause of bad breath and unpleasant tastes, isn’t your problem, so what gives? Dr. Corbet Locke, who provides advanced dentistry in Waco, TX, offers a few possibilities.
Is Gum Disease to Blame?
Many factors predispose an individual to developing periodontal disease. For example, researchers estimate that up to 30{dcbe0cd52ce35e2f156887e14605e24111ce99c14f01d3853732956d43020bdd} of the popular may be genetically predisposed to periodontal disease. If this is the case, adopting the standard oral hygiene routine reduces your risk, but you may require a more stringent regimen to keep gum disease at bay. When you discuss your oral health with Dr. Locke, he will determine an appropriate treatment and hygiene plan. Common indicators of periodontal disease include:
- Tender, inflamed gums that appear more red than pink
- Loose teeth
- Heightened sensitivity
- Gums that bleed during brushing and flossing
- Chronic bad breath and bad taste
If you notice one or more of these symptoms, we recommend scheduling an appointment as soon as possible. Without treatment, a mild case of gingivitis escalates into periodontitis, a severe infection that has major consequences for your health.
You’ve Ruled Out Gum Disease—What Else?
If you’ve eliminated periodontal disease and poor oral hygiene, ask yourself these questions:
Do I take prescription medications? Dozens of prescription medications list metallic, salty, or bitter taste as a known side effect. Certain antidepressants, antibiotics, diabetes medications, and blood pressure medications can cause this effect, which may be listed as dysgeusia. This information will be helpful when you visit our Waco dentist office.
Am I pregnant? Many pregnant women notice a bitter taste during their first trimester. This effect, which we attribute to a surge in the hormone estrogen, typically disappears around the second trimester.
Do I often have acid reflux? Problems with indigestion and excess stomach acid could be to blame. Stomach acid travels upward to your esophagus, resulting in an unpleasant, bitter taste. If Dr. Locke determines that this is the case, he may recommend that you visit your physician for help controlling the condition.
Did I recently eat without brushing afterward? Bad breath, also called halitosis, could be behind the bad taste. That candy bar you enjoyed on your lunch break? If you didn’t rinse or brush after eating it, you may have traces of food between your teeth or just beneath the gum line. Leftover food particles stimulate bacterial growth, resulting in foul-smelling sulfur compounds.
Had enough of that mysterious funk? We can help. To schedule an appointment with Dr. Corbet Locke, contact our office at 254-776-4888. Dr. Locke provides advanced preventive and cosmetic dentistry to patients living in Waco, Woodway, McGregor, Hewitt, and the surrounding areas. You can also find us on Facebook.