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Brightside General dentistry

Bad breath usually
has a cause.

Persistent bad breath is not a hygiene failing and it is rarely fixed by mouthwash. Most of the time there is something specific producing it, and it can be found.

Call (778) 754-4488 Hours and location

What it is

Mouthwash treats the symptom.

The common dental causes are gum disease, deposit under the gumline, a decayed tooth, an old restoration that traps food, and bacteria on the back of the tongue. Dry mouth from medication is another frequent one. Occasionally the cause is not dental at all, in which case we will say so rather than keep treating.

  • It persists through brushing and mouthwash
  • Someone close to you has mentioned it
  • There is a bad taste as well as a smell
  • Your gums bleed when you brush
  • You take medication that dries your mouth
  • It got worse after a tooth started bothering you

What the visit is like

How it gets sorted out.

  1. An honest conversationNobody enjoys this appointment. It is a routine one for us and it goes better if you say how long it has been happening and what you have already tried.
  2. A full look, including the gumsPocket depths, decay, failing restorations and the tongue. Most causes are visible once someone looks for them specifically.
  3. Treat the cause, not the smellThat might be a deep cleaning, a filling replaced, or a tooth dealt with. Where dry mouth is the driver we will talk about what actually helps.
  4. Referred on if it is not dentalSome causes sit with your physician or an ENT. We will tell you that rather than keep you coming back.

Cost and coverage

You should never be surprised by a bill.

Every plan arrives with the fee beside each line and the insurance estimate beside that, before you agree to anything. We submit to your plan directly where it allows it, and we are set up for the Canadian Dental Care Plan.

Fees for this are quoted in writing after an exam, per tooth and per surface. Nobody can price it accurately from a website or over the phone.

Common questions

Asked on the phone most weeks.

Is bad breath always a dental problem?
No. Most of the time there is a findable dental cause, but sinus conditions, reflux, some medications and a few other things produce it too. If your mouth is healthy we will say so and point you at who to see.
Will a deep cleaning fix it?
If gum disease is the cause, it usually helps a great deal. If the cause is a cracked tooth or dry mouth, a cleaning will not touch it, which is why we look before treating.
Is scraping my tongue worth doing?
For a lot of people, yes. The back of the tongue holds a surprising amount of what produces the smell, and it is the part most people never touch.

Booking

Say what it is when you call.

If it is pain, say that -- it changes how the day gets arranged. If it is a checkup for three people, say that too and we will try to put you in one morning.

Also at Brightside

Call (778) 754-4488 Hours and location