Patty Jackson, host of the WDAS-FM 105.3 a iHeart Media Radio Station interviewed Dr. Glenn Wolfinger in September on her radio show. During the interview, they discussed the cause of bad breath, treatment options, and night guards.
Causes of Bad Breath:
Patty Jackson — Sometimes people don’t realize that they have bad breath…until someone says, “Your breath, it’s constant!” What causes bad breath? And what can people do to battle chronic bad breath?
Dr. Glenn Wolfinger – That’s a very good question. And again, that can be an embarrassing situation when somebody has to tell you that you have bad breath. Many people lose teeth as a result of periodontal disease. Periodontal disease is probably the number one factor for tooth loss. When people have periodontal disease, they may have issues like bad breath, swollen gums and bleeding gums. All those issues can be a big factor when it comes to their overall health. So, tooth replacement becomes a really important factor when you get to periodontal disease. The cause, I’d say, in most cases, it’s caused by periodontal disease, untreated periodontal disease.
People should be going to see a dentist at least twice a year for regular cleanings. And, if you do that, you may be able to control the situation. And if the situation is advanced, a dentist may recommend that you see a periodontist for more frequent cleanings. If you do have periodontal disease, your gums are going to be swollen, and they’re going to be bleeding. Those might be signs for you that there is something not right. Something’s going on there. And at that point, you should really address that situation. We recommend normal oral hygiene on a daily basis. People should be brushing and flossing their teeth at least twice a day.
Dental Implant Treatment:
Dr. Glenn Wolfinger – Now, a lot of people will come in and say I want to have dental implants, and that’s great, because dental implants are probably the most viable way of replacing natural teeth. It gives you back what you’re missing with your fixed natural teeth. Not everybody can afford it, though. And sometimes people come in and find out they are not a candidate for it because they just cannot financially afford to do that. And if that’s the case, there are other options as well.
Before dental implants, we used to do bridges when somebody would miss a natural tooth. We would do partial dentures; we would do complete dentures. And those are still options for patients if they cannot afford to move forward with dental implant treatment. And that doesn’t preclude them from ever doing dental implants down the road. I always tell patients the most important thing is , let’s eliminate the disease, let’s get you to a healthy situation, and we can always provide a removable partial denture, a complete denture. And, in most cases, patients seem to do OK with those treatments and at least they’ve eliminated the disease process. And, if they can later afford to do something more, we can still look at the possibilities of dental implants down the road.
Patty Jackson – Wow, how can they find out more information?
Dr. Glenn Wolfinger – They can look us up online at pidentalcenter.com. We are located in Fort Washington, PA. It is very easy to give a call and come on in for a new patient evaluation.
Patty Jackson – A healthy mouth is so important in our lives. A lot of people may say, oh, it’s not that important, but it is. And it’s best to get it treated, so you can live a healthier life.
Night Guards and Occlusal Guards:
Patty Jackson – Let’s talk about night guards. I’m noticing more people are talking about it, doc. How important is it? Does it happen at a certain age? How important for people who grind? You, know, their grinding down their teeth. You know, they need to wear the retainers or the night guards. I saw the night guard on the nightly news. I bust out laughing, because night guards are a part of my life. It is becoming something more that people are talking about.
Dr. Glenn Wolfinger — That’s a great question. I wear a night guard every single night, because I’m a high stress individual and if I don’t I’m going to grind my teeth away. So, it does protect the teeth. It prevents the wear and tear of the teeth. And most patients who have dental reconstructions really should have an occlusal guard or a night guard made to help protect their investment. So I think they are very important.
Dr. Glenn Wolfinger – I know myself, if I lay down at night to go to sleep without my night guard in, I gotta get back up and put that in there. I’ll never fall asleep without it. And a lot of patients tell me the same thing. You get used to it. It’s more comfortable with it.
Patty Jackson – It is. But I’m seeing it more. And when the nightly news did it, I just bust out laughing and said to myself, Wow, this is becoming a thing.
Dr. Glenn Wolfinger – Yes absolutely.
Definition:
Occlusal Guard: An occlusal guard, also known as a night guard or bite guard, is a dental appliance designed to protect teeth and jaw joints from damage caused by clenching or grinding the teeth during sleep.
