If it is you with the bad breath, it can be embarrassing and may cause social anxiety. Store shelves are overflowing with all kinds of gum, mints and mouthwashes? Many of these products help but are usually temporary.

How do you get bad breath? You can get it from foods like garlic and onions but also from bad oral hygiene habits. Irregular teeth brushing of your teeth and tongue after eating, not using dental floss and avoiding drinking plenty of water will bring on the bad breath.

Here are some things to think about:

• Food particles remaining in your mouth. Your mouth collects bacteria that can emit chemicals, such as hydrogen sulfide. If you don’t know what this is, it is the same chemical that gives rotten eggs that terrible odor.
• Dry mouth can cause bad breath too. Saliva is a natural mouth cleanser. Dry mouth is even more of a problem if you breathe through the mouth at night.
• Diseases can cause bad breath. There are certain health problems and disease such as metabolic disorders, diabetes, kidney or liver failure, chronic reflux that all cause bad breath. Certain medications also can cause a release of chemicals that result in bad breath.

Bad breath is a social problem but may also be a sign of a bigger medical problem. Contacting your family dentist, like Wayzata Dental & SmileSpa, is an important step in finding out whether you are having a health issue that may be life threatening.

Bad breath is something that no one wants, especially if you are trying to get into the social circle. Food is a big culprit. Once food is absorbed into the bloodstream, it is transferred to the lungs where it is expelled. Brushing, flossing and mouthwash will only mask the odor for a little whilte. Odors continue until the body eliminates the food.

Actually, dieters may notice bad breath because they will develop unpleasant breath from infrequent eating.

Dental care and hygiene is crucial if you don’t want to experience bad breath. If you don’t brush and floss daily, particles of food remain in the mouth, collecting bacteria, which can cause bad breath. Bad breath can also be the result of medication. You should consult with your family dentist to see if there is an underlying problem.

As surprising as it may seem, bad breath is also caused by dry mouth, which occurs when the flow of saliva decreases. Dry mouth may be caused by medications, salivary gland problems or continuously breathing through the mouth.

Tobacco products cause bad breath, stain teeth, and reduce one’s ability to taste foods and irritate gum tissues. Tobacco users are at a great risk for developing oral cancer.

As with any preventive dental care, you should brush twice daily and floss. You should also visit the dentist regularly. Bad breath could also be a sign of a serious medical problem or a side effect of medication.

If it is you with the bad breath, otherwise known as halitosis, it can be embarrassing and may cause social anxiety. Bad breath brings in big money. That is why the store shelves are overflowing with all kinds of gum, mints and mouthwashes. Or, why there are so many commercials about fresh breath and avoiding a “dirty mouth.” Many of these products help but are usually temporary measures. If you have a medical problem, there is bad news: the bad breath will return.

There are a variety of reasons why bad breath occurs. Certain foods like garlic and onions are obvious culprits of bad breath. But if you’ve been told you have bad breath or are aware that you do, review your oral hygiene habits. Try making changes to your habits such as brushing your teeth and tongue after eating, using dental floss and drinking plenty of water. If these changes don’t work, then it’s something more serious.

Here are some things to think about:

• Food particles remain in your mouth if you don’t brush or floss. Then, your mouth collects bacteria that can emit chemicals, such as hydrogen sulfide (the same chemical that gives rotten eggs that awful odor!).
• Dry mouth can cause a problem too. Saliva is a natural mouth cleanser – actually removing particles that may cause bad odors. Dry mouth is even more of a problem if you are a mouth breather.
• Certain diseases can cause bad breath. For example, some types of cancers, metabolic disorders, diabetes, kidney or liver failure, chronic reflux have all been associated with bad breath. Certain medications also can cause a release of chemicals that result in bad breath.

Although you can improve bad breath with proper dental hygiene, if it’s chronic, you may want to seek the help of a family dentist. Your body is an amazing instrument. It will send you signals when there is something wrong – such as bad breath. Listen,or in this case smell your body, and then seek the advice of a family dentist. They can see if there is something serious causing your bad breath problem.

Yes, there is.

For the number one way to prevent tooth decay, proper brushing is absolutely important. Most people don’t realize that brushing should take at least two minutes. Most people feel a few seconds of quick brushing is good enough and won’t devote extra time. To get a good idea of how much time you spend taking care of your teeth, use a timer or a bathroom clock. Two minutes isn’t really that long.

How do you brush?
Do you know the actual technique to brushing your teeth? Most people don’t. Children should get into the habit of doing it correctly so they’ll develop the right techniques as adults. To properly brush your teeth, you need to use short and gentle strokes and pay extra attention to the gum line. Other areas that need attention are hard-to-reach teeth, areas around fillings, crowns or other areas with restoration.

Here are the basic steps to use:
• Start with the outer surfaces of your upper teeth, then move to the lower teeth
• Next, move to the inner surfaces of your upper teeth, then on to your lower teeth
• Then, move to cleaning the chewing surfaces
• Don’t forget about brushing your tongue for fresher breath.

When it comes to using toothbrushes, a soft-bristled brush is best for removing plaque. The tool that seems to make a difference for adults and children are powered toothbrushes — helping those who may have some problems with dexterity. Talk to you family dentist about other tools or ways to help maintain your teeth.

So, next time you pull your toothbrush out, remember that you should spend about 120 seconds on brushing. We all know that time goes by fast. Spending just a few minutes a day to take care of your own teeth may give you a lifetime of smiles.

Recent studies have found that the bacteria that cause gum disease can lead or worsen atherosclerosis, which is arterial disease that leads to heart attacks and strokes. Studies also have found that people, with the highest level of bacteria that causes gum disease, also had the worst atherosclerosis. Every day, more and more cases come up testifying to the fact that dental health is vital to your overall health.

For some, it’s hard to accept the idea that if you don’t take care of your teeth, you may end-up having heart disease. It may sound like a marketing ploy for the dental community to drum up business. But research is showing that this is indeed true.

But how?

Here’s a fictional scenario of “Joe.”

Joe is a busy fellow. He works all day and then has activities in the evening. He forgets to brush his teeth and avoids the dentist. He knows he has an infection brewing in his mouth but believes he has no time to make a dental visit. He endures the pain, which comes and goes, by taking over-the counter pain medication. Within time, the bacteria continue to grow in his mouth which triggers an inflammatory response that promotes a gradual thickening of his artery walls throughout the body. Without realizing this, Joe begins a path toward arterial disease – later ending his life with a heart attack.

Joe and many others can avoid this problem by getting a regular dental checkup, especially from a doctor that specializes in dental prevention and preservation. With proper treatment, gum disease can be identified and treated right away. If Joe would have realized this, his infection could have been found immediately and treated with a deep cleaning and antibiotics.

So go ahead and go for that run or stay at the gym for a bit longer. Just don’t forget to come home and give your heart a break by flossing, brushing your teeth and most importantly, visiting your family dentist.

• You skip a tooth or parts of your teeth while brushing.
  Bacteria can flourish in places you do not clean regularly.

• You miss brushing your teeth before going to bed.
  It is important you don’t eat anything after you have brushed your teeth. The bacteria in the residual food inside your mouth play up while you are sleeping. Make sure you do not have any food residue in your mouth when you go to sleep.

• You skip rinsing your mouth every time you eat or drink anything.
  Rinsing your mouth with plain water, better with a good mouthwash, helps keep your mouth clean and moist.

• You rub your tongue vigorously with the brush.
  Apply gentle moves to clean your tongue.

• You dislike daily flossing.
  Most of us find excuses for not flossing. We find it too troublesome. However, for healthy teeth, it is important that you floss once every day. You may fix a flossing time every day, even if it is in the latter half of the day.

• You eat sugary food before going to bed.
  Bacteria love sweet; keep your mouth clean before going to bed.

• You use a tattered toothbrush.
  Invest in a soft-bristled toothbrush when you see your toothbrush wearing out. In fact, start changing your toothbrush every three months for better dental care.

• You ignore any pain in your teeth and gums often.
  Do not wait for a problem to aggravate to visit your dentist. See your dentist as soon as you see the early signs of a problem.

Now that you know the signs, don’t ignore them.

Oh, I drink coffee throughout the day! It helps my mind work.
Coffee and tea do more than giving you that kick; they stain your teeth and cause bacteria to flourish in your mouth. Try switching to non-sweetened green tea instead. Ugh? Well, it is not that bad. Give it a try. Green tea retards the growth of plaque in your mouth.

I have a sweet tooth. So, I am in the habit of snacking on sweets between meals.
If you have a sweet tooth, it is advisable to eat all the sweets during meals, not between them. Snacking on sweets between meals increases the risk of bacteria in the mouth.

I love drinking fruit juices and fizzy drinks. I drink more than a couple everyday.
Fruit juice is good for you but the whole fruit is better. Fruit juices tend to cover your teeth, that may eventually cause bacteria or tooth erosion. Fizzy drinks are a major culprit causing tooth erosion and stained teeth. It is better to avoid drinking sweet beverages. If you have to, on some occasion, pick up the straw; it will save your teeth to an extent.

I just hit the bed after watching TV. I cannot bring myself to brushing when I am sleepy.
This is such a bad habit. The bacteria becomes all the more active when you are not fighting against them. Your body rests when you sleep giving little resistance to the bacteria in the mouth. This is why it is important to brush the teeth before going to sleep.

Take a little care of your dental health and keep smiling forever!

• Clenching and grinding of teeth: Sometimes, people do it as a way to express their anger. And at other times, they do it as an act of fidgeting. The problem with clenching and grinding is that it leads to the chipping of teeth.

• Opening bottles with teeth: Trying to use the teeth for anything other than eating, speaking and smiling has its bad effects. Using the teeth to open containers may cause the teeth to loosen. It also causes severe chipping of the teeth.
• Thumb sucking: Kids should be discouraged to stop sucking their thumbs at an early age. Otherwise, they are likely to develop buck teeth later.
• Nail biting: Now, nail biting is a bad habit no matter how you look at it. Wondering how it harms your teeth? Well, since you use your teeth to bite nails, your teeth get chipped as a result.
• Tooth picking: You should pick your teeth only when it’s required and only with a toothpick. Using anything else for picking the teeth causes damage to the gums.

Hope this post answers some of your queries. If you have more questions, let us know.

Happy smiling!

Why do you ask me not to clench or grind my teeth?

You may express your anger by clenching or grinding your teeth but you are actually causing damage to your own teeth. Clenching and grinding leads to chipping of teeth.

Why should I not open containers with my teeth?

You don’t have to prove your strength by using your teeth. Trying to use the teeth for anything other than eating, speaking, and smiling has its bad effects. Using the teeth to open containers may cause the teeth to loosen. It also causes severe chipping of the teeth.

Why is it important for kids to stop thumb-sucking at an early age?

Well, kids should be discouraged to stop sucking their thumbs at an early age because they may develop buck teeth.

Why should I not bite my nails?

You know this. Nail-biting is a dirty habit; you cannot justify it. And, yes, nail biting causes your teeth to chip.

Why is tooth-picking not recommended?

You should pick your teeth only when it’s required and only with a toothpick. Using anything else for picking the teeth causes damage to the gums.

• You should not ignore any symptom of tooth problem or gum disease. Visit your dentist as soon as you can.

• Don’t forget to brush your teeth before going to bed. Do not eat anything after you have brushed your teeth.
• Never skip any tooth or parts of your teeth while brushing. Bacteria can flourish in places you do not clean regularly.
• Don’t avoid daily flossing. Flossing makes sure that the even the farthest corners of your teeth are clean..
• Don’t rub your tongue vigorously with the brush. This dehydrates the tongue, making it a home for bacteria.
• Never use a tattered toothbrush. Invest in a soft-bristled toothbrush when you see your toothbrush wearing out.
• Don’t eat sugary food, especially before going to bed. Bacteria love sweets; keep your mouth clean before going to bed.
• Don’t skip rinsing your mouth every time you eat or drink anything. Rinsing your mouth with plain water, better with a good mouthwash, helps keep your mouth clean and moist.
• Don’t keep your mouth dry. Saliva keeps your mouth moist. Try to drink plenty of fluids throughout the day to make sure your mouth is not bereft of saliva.
• Don’t hesitate to visit your dentist for correcting uneven or chipped teeth and whitening stained, yellow teeth.

It is really not that difficult to keep these points in mind. Soon, you will be able to tell the good dental habit from the bad pretty easily.

Happy smiling!