Causes of Bad Breath

If you frequently have bad breath, there may be a bigger issue at play than smelly food. We at the Miami Beach dental offices of Drs. Ressler, Hirschl, and Lelchuk are attentive to our patients’ oral pathologies and contributing conditions. Bad breath, also known as halitosis, is often related to dry mouth and gum disease.

As oral bacteria produce acid, they give off a bad smell. Brushing and flossing teeth is essential to depriving bacteria of food, but they may still find a home in the papillae of the tongue. There, they consume food particles as well as nasal drip that can land on the tongue when the patient has a cold or nasal blockage. As part of their daily hygiene routine, we recommend that patients brush their tongue, clean it with a scraper, and use antibacterial mouthwash.

Adequate saliva is necessary for clearing the mouth of food debris and preventing the spread of bacteria and fungus. A lack of saliva can result in bacterial growth and bad breath. Patients should inquire with their doctors about changing medications that can cause dry mouth or getting tested for related rheumatic diseases. Halitosis is also associated with diabetes due to chemicals diabetic people’s bodies produce as they break down fat and diabetes’s suppression of the immune system. Acid reflux can also cause halitosis due to stomach acid burning the esophagus and entering the oral cavity. Bad breath can be combatted by drinking lots of water, but patients with chronic health conditions should make sure they’re aware of whether halitosis means they need to consult their physician.

Dr. Allen Ressler, Dr. Andrew Hirschl, and Dr. Ira Lelchuk operate from two locations. To schedule an appointment at the location at Mount Sinai Medical Center, 4300 Alton Road, Suite 1190, Miami Beach, Florida, 33140, call 305-532-1444. To schedule an appointment at Intracoastal Mall, 3909 NE 163^rdSt, Suite 310, North Miami Beach, Florida, 33160, call 305-949-2630. They can also be reached on their website, Miami Dental through a contact form.

 

Bite Checks

The bite check is one of the most important parts of a biannual dental check-up. We provide thorough cleanings at the dental offices of Doctors Ressler, Hirschl, and Lelchuk and do examinations for oral cancer, but the bite check allows us to identify issues with a patient’s teeth and jaw alignments that could have implications for their head, neck, and shoulders.

Bruxism (night time teeth grinding) wears down enamel and can push teeth out of place. In the most extreme cases, it can even cause teeth to crack. Although people are often unaware of whether they are grinding their teeth in their sleep, our hygienists can identify unusual wear patterns in a patient’s enamel. If they see something, they can perform a tactile inspection of the temporomandibular joints, which connect the mandible to the rest of the head and which can radiate soreness to the neck and shoulders when jaws are misaligned. We also ask patients to demonstrate closing their teeth together and will ask them about any feelings of discomfort they’ve had while chewing or after getting up in the morning.

Bite checks are particularly important for pediatric patients. The eruption of wisdom teeth may cause overcrowding and cause soreness. Children often begin orthodontic therapy when they are around eleven years old, but it is possible for adults to undergo some orthodontic procedures, as well. We’ll also want to ensure that an adult’s implant-supported prosthetic teeth are still stable and ascertain whether dentures need to be refitted.

Dr. Allen Ressler, Dr. Andrew Hirschl, and Dr. Ira Lelchuk operate from two locations. To schedule an appointment at the location at Mount Sinai Medical Center, 4300 Alton Road, Suite 1190, Miami Beach, Florida, 33140, call 305-532-1444. To schedule an appointment at Intracoastal Mall, 3909 NE 163^rdSt, Suite 310, North Miami Beach, Florida, 33160, call 305-949-2630. They can also be reached on their website, Miami Dental through a contact form.

 

Children's Dental Health Month

At Miami Dental, we advise our patients to practice good oral hygiene starting at a young age. Children's baby teeth act as placeholders for their permanent teeth as the jaws develop, which is why it is important to encourage good cleaning habits. Every February the American Dental Association promotes National Children’s Dental Health Month to raise awareness for children.

Tooth decay is the most common chronic disease among children. To prevent tooth decay, we encourage parents to brush their babies' teeth. With just a dab of toothpaste, gently brush the surfaces of your children’s teeth with a soft-bristled toothbrush. When your children are old enough, teach them how to brush and floss (and spit toothpaste) on their own, and ask us if you are unsure of the proper technique. Inspect your children's mouths for signs of gingivitis, such as red gum tissue.

Don’t forget, good hygiene starts at a young age and lasts for a lifetime. Remember to schedule a cleaning with us twice a year to maintain healthy teeth.

Dr. Allen Ressler, Dr. Andrew Hirschl, and Dr. Ira Lelchuk operate two locations. To schedule an appointment at the location at Mount Sinai Medical Center, 4300 Alton Road, Suite 1190, Miami Beach, Florida, 33140, call 305-532-1444. To schedule an appointment at Intracostal Mall, 3909 NE 163^rd St, Suite 310, North Miami Beach, Florida, 33160, call 305-949-2630. They can also be reached on their website, Miami Dental through a contact form.

Infections around Crowns

When a tooth is unable to fully push through the gum line, it isn’t just uncomfortable or awkward-looking. It also creates a trap for decay-causing bacteria. We provide thorough cleanings at the Miami Beach dental offices of Ressler, Hirschl, and Lelchuk, but an impacted tooth can result in a kind of infection called pericoronitis (inflammation around a crown) which requires special attention.

The lower wisdom teeth are the ones which most often get trapped while emerging. They usually erupt in late adolescence, after all the other teeth are in place and there isn’t enough room in the jaw for them. The emerging teeth are often partially trapped under a flap of gum tissue called an operculum. The space between the operculum and the tooth may be too small to be brushed, but acid and food debris can accumulate there, allowing decay to set in and spread to the surrounding gum tissue.

We can clean an operculum and may recommend that a patient use oral antibiotics and wash their mouth with salt water. But a long-term solution will likely require us to cut away the operculum, remove the tooth, or both. When adolescent patients maintain regular check-ups, we can monitor the progression of their teeth with x-rays and anticipate whether a tooth is likely to be impacted.

Dr. Allen Ressler, Dr. Andrew Hirschl, and Dr. Ira Lelchuk operate from two locations. To schedule an appointment at the location at Mount Sinai Medical Center, 4300 Alton Road, Suite 1190, Miami Beach, Florida, 33140, call 305-532-1444. To schedule an appointment at Intracoastal Mall, 3909 NE 163^rdSt, Suite 310, North Miami Beach, Florida, 33160, call 305-949-2630. They can also be reached on their website, Miami Dental through a contact form.