Bad Breath: Where does it come from?

Bad breath can be quite the hassle! It is a very unpleasant condition that can result in embarrassment. There are numerous sources that can cause bad breath. Your dentist can be a good help in identifying the cause and recommending a solution.
What can be the causes?

1. Food: The air that your breathe out can be affected by what you eat, some examples may be garlic or onions. Remaining particles of food in your mouth collet bacteria and is a result of not flossing or brusing after consuming food. People who diet may also experience bad breath from infrequent eating.

2. Gum Disease: If you have continual bad breath it could be a warning sign of gum disease. Gum disease is caused by plaque.

3. Dry Mouth: When the flow of your saliva decreases most will experience dry mouth. Sometimes this is caused by various medications, gland problems, or breathing through your mouth continously.When you do not have enogh saliva, you lack the cleanse of your mouth and food particles are not cleaned away. Dr. Hubbs has many solutions to increase fluid intake for her patients who experience dry mouth.

4. Smoking and Tobacco: Tobacco not only stains your teeth but can cause bad breath as well. it minimizes your sense of taste and can irritate the gums and tissues inside your mouth. Ask Dr. Hubbs for dental tips to kicking the habit.

5. Medical Conditions: Some diseases are related to bad breath. Some that may be associated with bad breath are sinus or lung infections, bronchitis, diabetes, and some liver or kidney disease.

To prevent bad breath, regular checkups are helpful in determining any problems such as gum disease or bad breath. When you think about it, bad breath may be a sign of a serious medical disorder or illness. Keeping good oral health, scheduling professional hygiene appointments are essential in reducing bad breath.
Helpful tips for at home can be
1. Brush your teeth twice daily
2. Floss daily
3. Brush your tongue
4. If you wear dentures, remove them every night and clean them thoroughly before placing them back into your mouth.

Know that using mouthwash will only mask the odor temporarily. They are solely for cosmetic purposes and do not have long-lasting effects on your mouth and/or bad breath.

The Top 5 Dental Products on LifeStyle Dentistry’s “MUST HAVE” list

Are you overwhelmed by the amount of dental products that are available? Do you find yourself becoming frustrated trying to pick out the products that will work best for you? Well we have great news… We are going to break it down to make it easier for you.

Let’s start with the basics! As you know there are so many toothbrushes and toothpastes to choose from and not all of them are good for you.

1. An extra soft toothbrush. Extra soft is not always easy to find, it takes a little searching and more patience but they are so much kinder to your teeth and gums. In addition to making sure your toothbrush is extra soft, you want to also look at the head of the toothbrush. More compact heads are much easier to maneuver around in your mouth, making your brushing more effective. If you would like to try an electric, a Sonicare is on our must have list!

Now let’s talk about toothpaste!

2. Colgate or Crest Cavity Protection toothpaste. Avoiding toothpastes with whitening in them can prevent sensitivities with teeth and chemical burns with the gums. Chemical burns? Ouch! It is also important to avoid other extra chemicals that can often be found in toothpaste such as baking soda and tarter control. By sticking with cavity protection toothpaste without the extras you are avoiding unnecessary pain with teeth and gums and preventing cavities at the same time. You can also look forward to saving some money because purchasing just good cavity protection toothpaste is much cheaper. Cheaper and Healthier….Can‘t get any better than that!

What about the floss?

3. Floss that is waxed or woven. Think about it, if your floss has a texture to it, it will grab plaque and bacteria much more effectively. We really like Johnson and Johnson waxed or Oral B Glide. For all you that like floss on a handle, the Dentec floss picks can be great! Those with braces, bonded retainers or bridges, Oral B Threader floss or Super floss is good. Sometimes you can find tour favorite floss coated in fluoride, if your see this, we recommend getting it.

Mouthwash can be just as confusing to pick!

4. Listerine. Listerine can be a great mouthwash for helping to kill bacteria that likes to live on the tongue, cheeks, roof of the mouth, gums, and surface of teeth. Looking for a fluoride mouthwash is always a good idea. Again, we recommend that you stay away from anything that has whitening in it. Whitening can be done much more effectively and less painful, when done professionally.

For all of you who suffer with dry mouth...listen up!

5. Biotene. Biotene is an over the counter product that helps create more saliva. Having good salivary flow is very important in preventing cavities. Biotene makes many different types of products such as mouthwash, spray, gum, and more. For some people, over the counter products may not be the answer and prescription products may be needed. If you have dry mouth, please discuss this with your hygienist or dentist and they can help you determine what is best for your oral health.

How Being Pregnant CAN Affect your Dental Health

Congratulations on this exciting and busy time in your life! There is so much to think about during pregnancy but don’t forget about your teeth and gums. Yes, you will not want to brush or floss your teeth sometimes but you still have to. Brushing and flossing contributes to your overall health and if your mouth is healthy, it’s more likely that your baby’s mouth will be healthy also! All the changing hormone levels that occur with pregnancy can actually make some dental problems WORSE!

It is very important to continue to see your dentist and dental hygienist regularly during pregnancy. We suggest you come in to get your teeth cleaned EVERY 3 MONTHS for an oral exam and professional teeth cleaning! Good daily care is vital. That means always brushing your teeth twice a day with FLOURIDE toothpaste (such as Colgate or Crest Cavity Protection), cleaning between your teeth once a day, a.k.a FLOSS, and eating a balanced diet and limit between-meal snacks. Make sure you are drinking a lot of water if you are snacking during the day. If you are snacking here are some helpful hints on what to snack on:

·         Raw fruit

·         Raw vegetables

·         Yogurt

·         Cheese

Morning sickness can lead to dental problems. How you ask? When you get sick what is the first thing that you do? Brush your teeth? Rinse? Do nothing? If you picked Rinse, you are doing it right! Brushing just spreads the acid that has entered the mouth around and can actually cause more harm than good. If you can, rinse then wait about 15 minutes and then brush. It will save you money and time in the future.

Now more than ever, it is very important to have a well-balanced diet. That’s because what you eat during your pregnancy affects the development of your baby, including their teeth! A baby’s teeth begin to develop between the third and sixth months of pregnancy. A sufficient quantity of nutrients—especially vitamins A, C and D, protein, calcium and phosphorous—are needed. Check with your OBGYN to make sure your diet is right for you.

Being a new mom-to-be is scary, I know. As one I have had a lot of concerns, even working in a dental office. Will I get gingivitis? What medications can I take or not take? Are dental x-rays dangerous? These are all NORMAL questions that we all have and I have the answers for you.

Gingivitis

Your mouth can be affected by the hormonal changes you will experience during pregnancy. Some women can develop a condition known as “pregnancy gingivitis,” an inflammation of the gums that can cause swelling and tenderness. Your gums will also bleed a little when you brush or floss. Left untreated, gingivitis can lead to a more serious form of gum disease. This is why we suggest that you come see us every three months during your pregnancy.

Medications

Some medications can be used during and after dental treatment to make you more comfortable. Inform us of ANY prescription or over the counter drugs you are taking, at all times. Always check with your physician and determine the drugs—such as painkillers or antibiotics—you may safely take while pregnant. Discuss any concerns with Dr. Hubbs and your physician. Both are concerned about you and your baby.

X-rays

It’s possible you’ll need an x-ray if you suffer a dental emergency or need a dental problem diagnosed. Although, radiation from dental x-rays is extremely low, we will cover you with a leaded apron; make that 2, leaded aprons that minimizes exposure to the abdomen. We will also cover your throat with a leaded thyroid collar to protect the thyroid from radiation.

Being pregnant comes with many responsibilities—and oral hygiene is no exception. Routine dental visits are safe during pregnancy for most women, but let your dental office know what month you are in when you make your appointment. If you have a high-risk pregnancy or you have some other medical condition, your dent and your physician may recommend that treatment be postponed. Be sure to let your dentist know if there is any change in the medications you take or if you have received any special advice from your physician. The benefits of receiving dental care during pregnancy far outweigh potential risks. Be sure to keep your dentist informed of any changes in your mouth such as swelling, redness or bleeding.

Remember these tips for maintaining a healthy mouth during pregnancy:

·         Brush thoroughly with fluoride toothpaste twice a day.

·         Floss between your teeth daily.

·         Use a soft bristle tooth brush (even a smaller child size works well while pregnant)

·         Eat a balanced diet. If you snack, do so in moderation and make sure water is near.

·         Visit your dentist regularly for a professional cleaning and check-up.

·         If you need help controlling plaque, it is important to let us know and come in more often.

·         If you have morning sickness and are vomiting frequently, try rinsing with water before brushing. If possible, avoid tooth brushing directly after vomiting when stomach acids repeatedly come into contact with teeth, the effects of erosion can eventually cause tooth enamel to wear away.

Test your pregnancy dental IQ here: http://www.mouthhealthy.org/en/pregnancy/fact-or-fiction.aspx

Information about this story can be found at www.ada.org.

I hope this will inform you like it has me during my pregnancy.

Marguerite, R.D.A

Life Style Dentistry

Dr. Ann Hubbs

479-636-8700