The answer is no! While bad breath is a possible sign of gum
disease, other common causes crop up as well. For example,
tonsil stones can cause bad breath. Tonsil stones are created
when decaying food debris collects in the crevices of the
tonsils and becomes compacted into what are referred to as
"stones." You can have bad breath from tonsil stones without
having any gum disease at all.

Post-nasal drip can also cause bad breath, as the discharged
mucous provides a rich food for the anaerobic bacteria that
cause bad breath, helping them to multiply rapidly. Again, this
sort of bad breath isn't by itself a sign of gum disease.

However, the most common cause of bad breath is a lack of
adequate oral hygiene. Improper brushing and flossing, or
simply too little of it, can leave large amounts of plaque
still stuck to and growing on your teeth and gums. If this
growth is allowed to continue unchecked, the anaerobic bacteria
has the opportunity to burrow down beneath the gum line, where
they form unwelcome pockets of bacterial colonies, ones that
are devilishly hard to reach and clean without the help of
specialized tools.

Anaerobic bacteria give off a smell much like sulfur, and it is
exactly that smell that's most closely associated with bad
breath. Occasional bad breath may merely be a signal that it's
time to brush again, but persistent or chronic bad breath can
be an early warning sign of gum disease.

If you have chronic bad breath as well as tender or inflamed
gums, there's a good chance that you are experiencing some
level of gum disease. It's important to see your dentist as
soon as possible to seek treatment, not only for social
reasons, but your overall state of health.


About The Author: Blake Kritzberg is proprietor of
CuresForBadBreath.com. Stop by to learn more about bad breath
cures and home remedies for halitosis.
http://www.curesforbadbreath.com/