Bad breath is something no one wants to have, but beating it can be tough, especially if you don't treat the underlying problem. While many people look to cleaning their tongues or cheeks in order to control bad breath, one of the biggest culprits is actually gum disease. If you have gum disease and know your breath is less than fresh, here's the reason why.

The Smell of Bacteria

Bacteria can make anything stink that ordinarily wouldn't. Bacteria is responsible for sweat stink, and another kind of bacteria can make breath smell bad. In this particular case, breath can smell bad simply from the presence of too much bad bacteria, which is typically the case in people who have gum disease.

Controlling this bacteria is one of the keys to making your breath smell better. This is why mouthwash tends to improve the smell of your breath temporarily. Mouthwash kills some bacteria, but if you have gum disease, they will come back with a vengeance.

Sick Tissue

When gum disease becomes severe, gum tissue can actually begin to die. If this happens, the decaying tissue will stink badly and create bad breath. In most cases, gum disease doesn't get to this point without people seeking medical attention for their problem. However, if you put off seeing the dentist as long as you can despite pain, gum bleeding, and other symptoms, it may mean that your gum disease has progressed to this point. If you suspect that this is the case, seek help from a dentist right away, as necrotic tissue can become a life-threatening condition.

The Real Solution.

The only way to completely do away with bad breath is to handle your dental health concerns. This means visiting a dentist to have your gum disease assessed and treated.

Gum disease can typically be treated by dentists very easily. In some cases, just a thorough cleaning and removal of built-up tartar can allow the gums to drain their infection and begin healing. In other cases, small surgical procedures may be required to remove damaged tissue. Your personal needs will be determined by your dentist. However, once any infections and damaged tissue are treated, you can be assured that the smell of your breath will improve dramatically.

Having bad breath can ruin your social life, but gum disease can ruin your teeth. Don't let gum disease change your life for the worse. Talk to a dentist and get periodontal disease treatment.