Smile with Confidence: A Comprehensive Guide to Dental Health and Care

Tag: oral hygiene care

What Causes Morning Breath?

We all hate that icky feeling we get when we get up in the morning with “morning breath” and we often scurry right away to the bathroom to brush our teeth before we offend our significant other.  Heck – sometimes we even offend ourselves.

Morning breath

Halitosis, or bad breath, in general, may be caused by several factors, only one of which is poor dental hygiene.  The foods you enjoy eating, like curry, garlic or onions, are a major culprit and emit a foul odor, no matter how much you brush and floss. In the case of garlic and onions, they actually go right into your pores and the smell emits from your lungs, not just your mouth.  Garlic may keep you healthy but you might lose a friend or two along the way as well.

Other foods besides onion and garlic cause morning breath and this is because they are notorious for creating a sticky film on your teeth.  One infamous offender is spinach. It’s believed that the residue spinach leaves on the teeth is from oxalic acid, which also can be found in beets, kale and rhubarb.

The biggest reason for bad morning breath is because when we are unconscious and sleeping during the night, many of our bodily functions stop or slow down, and this includes our salivary glands.  Saliva is very important in fighting bad breath because it is high in oxygen and this kills the anaerobic bacteria.  It also helps break down the food particles and remove them from the mouth when the saliva is swallowed.  Due to the lower amounts of saliva during sleep, the mouth is exposed to less oxygen and there is less of it circulating to cleanse and remove particles from the mouth.  Thus, before going to bed you should ensure your mouth is as free from particles of plaque and food as possible because those items are like magnets that drag bacteria toward them and cause them to multiply.  Bacteria in the mouth thrive in an alkaline environment that inhibits the growth of bacteria.

How to Clean The Tongue

To keep your mouth healthy and avoid committing the dreaded social blunder of having halitosis, otherwise known as “bad breath”, dentists recommend that you do the following:

  • Brush your teeth twice daily
  • Floss at least once per day
  • Use a tongue brush or scraper daily.

So, what the heck is a tongue scraper, and, furthermore – why did my dentist never recommend doing this?

Well, the concept has been around for a long time; in fact, tongue cleaning was performed by the Romans, and was recorded in Europe back in the 18th and 19th centuries.

Causes of Tooth Discoloration

Over time many people discover that the pearly white teeth they had in their youth have become discolored. It can become quite unsightly and some people become embarrassed to smile. Once you have discovered that your teeth have become discolored, you can ask your about the treatment options you have available.  Your dentist has many options when it comes to teeth whitening such as an in office tooth whitening, or something as simple as suggesting a change in your diet. If your teeth are discolored you should ask your dentist about the options you have for teeth whitening.

Dental Care for College Students

College can be one of the most fun and most rewarding times of your life. You are finally out of the house and on your own, there are plenty of social activities and you are probably going to make some life long memories and friendships. It’s also a very defining time of your life and you get to discover many things about yourself that you perhaps didn’t know before. With this hurried and busy campus lifestyle filled with social events and studies it can be far too easy to get out of some of your routines. Not only might you gain the infamous “Freshman 15” but you can also develop a variety of other health conditions. One thing you can do to ensure your health is to maintain your daily oral regimen. It will ensure your teeth remain healthy despite the craziness of college and it can protect your overall health as well. Here are some tips recommended by your dentist. Prior to heading off to college you should visit the dentist for your routine check up and you should continue to see your dentist regularly when you come home for breaks. Maintaining a good oral hygiene regime with the help of your top dentist can ensure that your teeth stay healthy when you are older.

What Is A Tongue Cleaner?

A tongue cleaner? Say what?! Whoever heard of such a thing? Well, not many people. In fact, studies show that less than 20 percent of Americans have ever used a tongue cleaner. Even most people who pride themselves on their excellent oral hygiene practices don’t routinely use a tongue cleaner, and many never have. But tongue cleaners are wonderful and inexpensive little devices that can do wonders for the health of your mouth, especially if you’re someone who faces challenges with your teeth or even with chronic bad breathe. But what is a tongue cleaner? Why should you use one? Will it really make that big a difference to your teeth, gums, or breathe? The answer to this question? Absolutely! And the great news is that it takes just a minute or two a day. Here’s more information from general dentists about tongue cleaners and, most importantly, why you should add a tongue cleaner to your daily oral hygiene regimen.

How to Keep Gums Healthy

Observing a good oral hygiene routine is important in keeping teeth clean, white, and vibrant. But what about your gums? Do you consider their health when you’re brushing or flossing? Do you consider the health of your gums when choosing to eat one food over another? Your gums are vital to your teeth. They house and protect them and, frankly, when your gums are unhealthy, so goes the health of your entire mouth. But what exactly does it take to keep your gums healthy? Do you have to take extra steps over and above your regular oral hygiene regimen to keep gums functioning optimally? Top family dentists suggest the following tips for keeping your gums as healthy as they can be, and when your gums are healthy, your mouth is healthy, your teeth are healthy, and it shows in your smile.