What should I do about bad breath caused by dental caries?

Written by Wang Peng
Dentistry
Updated on February 16, 2025
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If a patient is suffering from dental caries that have already caused bad breath, the situation requires active treatment targeting the dental caries. Due to the ease with which food residue and bacteria can accumulate in cavities, this will cause an odor in the mouth. Initially, it is essential to clear out food debris, bacteria, and any decayed material from the cavity. If the cavity is shallow, it can be directly filled with light-cured resin material. After the cavity is filled, the patient's bad breath symptoms should be alleviated. However, if the cavity is deep, it should first be treated with a pulp-protecting base before filling. If the dental nerve is affected, causing pulpitis, root canal treatment must be conducted first.

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Written by Li Bao Hua
Dentistry
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Can a cavity that exposes the dental pulp be filled?

Cavities that expose the dental pulp cannot be directly filled in one session. Treatment of the tooth must be carried out before filling. In the early stages of a cavity, only the hard tissue of the tooth is damaged. If the decayed part is removed promptly and the dental nerve is not exposed, the tooth can be directly filled in one session. However, if the cavity progresses to the point where the dental pulp, or nerve, is exposed, this requires a nerve removal procedure. After the nerve is killed, the root canal is sealed with medication, and following inflammation control, the root canal is filled. Only after root canal treatment can the tooth be filled. Otherwise, the inflammation may further develop into apical inflammation, or even lead to space infections causing facial swelling.

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Written by Li Bao Hua
Dentistry
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What causes cavities in children?

There are many causes of dental cavities in children, with bacterial infection being a common one. During childhood, if teeth are not brushed promptly after eating, the amount of bacteria in the mouth increases. These bacteria then break down food, producing glucose or lactic acid, which leads to demineralization on the surface of the teeth, eventually causing cavities over time. Additionally, it might be related to the sleep patterns during childhood, as children have longer sleep durations. During sleep, the brain inhibits saliva production, which reduces its effectiveness in washing away food residue on the teeth, thereby making cavities more likely to develop. Furthermore, children's preference for sweets also contributes to the high incidence of cavities.

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Written by Li Bao Hua
Dentistry
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Tooth decay lacks what element

Cavities are a type of dental hard tissue defect caused by bacterial infections. The factors leading to cavities primarily include bacteria, food, host, and time, mainly due to bacteria using food residues to produce acid demineralization in teeth, resulting in cavities. Cavities may also be due to incomplete enamel development during the prenatal calcification of teeth, which can occur if there is a calcium deficiency in the mother during pregnancy. Therefore, teeth are more susceptible to decay after they emerge, so cavities might be caused by a calcium deficiency during prenatal development. In addition, cavities are also related to postnatal factors, such as not brushing or rinsing promptly which allows food residues to remain, or due to the consumption of sweet foods, especially sugars, which bacteria break down to produce acids that cause tooth decay.

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Written by Wang Ji Zhong
Internal Medicine
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Is tooth decay a contagious disease?

Cavities occur due to a large amount of dental plaque and tartar on the teeth, which erodes the teeth over time, causing damage to the enamel and dentin. This results in the appearance of black spots, black patches, and cavities. However, cavities are not contagious because there are always a large number of bacteria in the mouth due to eating and other reasons, so it is important to develop good brushing habits and the correct technique. Although brushing can remove some dental plaque, its effect is limited. It is best to undergo dental and gum cleaning treatments to significantly improve the removal of dental plaque and eliminate the harm of cavities to the human body.

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Written by Li Bao Hua
Dentistry
49sec home-news-image

Is a cavity the same as tooth decay?

Cavities, also known as dental caries, are a chronic progressive destructive disease caused by bacterial infection of the hard tissues of the teeth. Once a tooth is affected by a cavity, it is necessary to fill the tooth as soon as possible. Otherwise, the bacteria will further infect the tooth, causing inflammation of the dental nerve. Inflammation results in significant pain, including sensitivity to hot and cold, pain intensified by temperature changes, and even symptoms of nighttime pain. The most typical symptom of pulpitis is nighttime pain, which can wake someone from sleep. Therefore, once cavities occur, it is crucial to remove the decayed part of the tooth and fill it promptly to prevent potential tooth loss.