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What causes bad breath? If you don't brush and floss daily, particles of food remain in the mouth, collecting bacteria, which can cause bad breath. Food that collects between the teeth, on the tongue and around the gums can rot, leaving an unpleasant odor. Dentures that are not cleaned properly can also harbor odor-causing bacteria and food particles. One of the warning signs of periodontal (gum) disease is persistent bad breath or a bad taste in the mouth. Periodontal disease is caused by plaque, the sticky, colorless film of bacteria that constantly forms on teeth. The bacteria create toxins that irritate the gums. In the advanced stage of the disease, the gums, bone and other structures that support the teeth become damaged. With regular dental checkups, you can detect and treat periodontal disease early. Bad breath is also caused by dry mouth (xerostomia), which occurs when the flow of saliva decreases. Saliva is necessary to cleanse the mouth and remove particles that may cause odor. Dry mouth may be caused by various medications, salivary gland problems or continuously breathing through the mouth. If you suffer from dry mouth, artificial saliva may be prescribed, or using sugarless candy and increasing your fluid intake may be helpful. Tobacco products cause bad breath, stain teeth, reduce one's ability to taste foods and irritate gum tissues. Tobacco users are more likely to suffer from periodontal disease and are at greater risk for developing oral cancer. If you use tobacco, ask for tips on kicking the habit. Bad breath may be the sign of a medical disorder, such as a local infection in the respiratory tract (nose throat, windpipe, lungs), chronic sinusitis, postnasal drip, chronic bronchitis, diabetes, gastrointestinal disturbance, liver or kidney ailment. If your dentist determines that your mouth is healthy, you may be referred to your family doctor or a specialist to determine the cause of bad breath. Eliminating periodontal disease and maintaining good oral health is essential to reducing bad breath. Schedule regular dental visits for a professional cleaning and checkup. If you think you have constant bad breath, keep a log of the foods you eat and make a list of medications you take. Some medications may play a role in creating mouth odors. Let your dentist know if you've had any surgery or illness since your last appointment. Brush twice a day with a fluoride toothpaste to remove food debris and plaque. Brush your tongue, too. Once a day, use floss or an interdental cleaner to clean between teeth. If you wear removable dentures, take them out at night. Clean them thoroughly before replacing them the next morning. Mouthwashes are generally cosmetic and do not have a long-lasting effect on bad breath. If you must constantly use a breath freshener to hide unpleasant mouth odor, see your dentist. If you need extra help in controlling plaque, your dentist may recommend using a special antimicrobial mouthrinse. A fluoride mouthrinse, used along with brushing and flossing, can help prevent tooth decay.
Regular checkups will allow your dentist to detect any problems such as gum disease, a dry mouth or other disorders that may be the cause. Maintaining good oral hygiene, eliminating gum disease and scheduling regular professional cleanings are essential to reducing bad breath. Regardless of what may be the cause, good oral hygiene is essential. Brush twice a day and clean between your teeth daily with floss or interdental cleaners. Brush your tongue, too. If you wear dentures, be sure to remove them at night and clean them thoroughly before replacing them the next morning. What is the treatment for bad breath? If your dentist determines that your mouth is healthy and that the odor is not of oral origin, you may be referred to your family physician or to a specialist to determine the cause of the odor and for treatment. Of course, if the odor is of oral origin, as it is in the majority of cases, your dentist can treat the cause of the problem. If the odor is due to gum disease, your general dentist can either treat the disease or refer you to a periodontist, a specialist in treating gum tissues. Gum disease can cause gum tissues to pull away from the teeth and form pockets. When these pockets are deep, only a professional periodontal cleaning can remove the bacteria and plaque that accumulate. Sometimes more extensive treatment is necessary. If you have extensive build-up of plaque, an invisible
layer of bacteria, your dentist may recommend using a special antimicrobial
mouthrinse. Your dentist may also recommend that when you brush your teeth,
you also brush your tongue to remove excess plaque. After determining the cause of your halitosis, your dentist will be able to prescribe or recommend those products that can be helpful for you. In our office, many patients have found CloSYS II Mouthwash and Toothpaste to be highly effective in treating their bad breath. Instead of simply masking breath odor, these products have been demonstrated to kill the germs that cause bad breath. Click here for more information on
CloSYS
II Products.
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Dental Amalgam: Myths vs. Facts The following information from the American Dental Association corrects much of the misinformation about silver-colored fillings known as amalgam. Myth: Dental amalgam causes numerous health problems. Fact: Not true. You should feel very secure that the many organizations responsible for protecting the public's health have said time and time again that amalgam fillings are safe. Those organizations include the World Health Organization, United States Public Health Service, the National Institutes of Health and the Food and Drug Administration. Myth: There are better materials for treating cavities, but the ADA continues to promote use of dental amalgam because it receives money from amalgam manufacturers through its Seal of Acceptance program. Fact: Be assured that the ADA does not profit from amalgam, nor does it promote the material. The cost of maintaining the ADA Seal program is financed primarily through ADA member dentist dues. What the ADA does promote is having patients make informed decisions about their dental care in consultation with their dentist. The choice of a particular filling material is determined in partnership by the dentist and patient, and based upon a variety of considerations, including size and location of the cavity, patient history, cosmetic concerns and cost. Myth: The ADA justifies amalgam use by saying the filling has been around for 150 years. Fact: When making treatment
recommendations, dentists rely on the best-available science and their own
clinical experience. Because amalgam has been around so long, the dental
profession and scientific community have learned a great deal about its
durability, reliability and safety. Just like aspirin, amalgam has withstood
the test of time and is still a valued option for patients. Fact: It is unconscionable to lead people to believe that their serious illnesses may improve by undergoing unnecessary dental treatment. In fact, leading medical experts and health organizations have negated such statements and conclusions. For example:
Myth: Dental amalgam fillings release
mercury vapors that are harmful to the body. Myth: Dentists cannot tell their patients that amalgam contains mercury. Fact: Actually, the ADA encourages
dentists to discuss the full range of filling options with their patients so
together they can decide what is the most appropriate treatment.
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Is Someone Snoring in Your House? While snorers often do not seem to suffer from snoring themselves (excluding Sleep Apnea Disorder), their spouse and children are often repeatedly disturbed during their sleep cycles. Unfortunately, left untreated, snoring can produce tensions and even animosity among family members. Today, however, thanks to extensive research and documented effectiveness, an affordable, custom made SILENT NIGHT snoring prevention device can be prescribed. What Causes Snoring? During sleep, the muscles and soft tissues in the throat and mouth relax making the breathing airway smaller. This decrease in the airway space increases the velocity of air flowing through the airway during breathing. As the velocity of required air is increased in the constricted space, soft tissues like the soft palate and the uvula vibrate. These vibrations of the soft tissues in the mouth and throat result in what is called "noisy breathing" or snoring. I t should also be noted that sleep studies have shown that excess body weight, heavy alcohol consumption and other sedatives have been shown to increase the severity of snoring. Surgical techniques to remove respiration impairing structures such as the uvula, enlarged tonsils and adenoids have been among the many attempted snoring remedies. These soft tissue surgical procedures have shown only moderate success rates (e.g. 20 to 40%). At certain levels of severity, complete blockage of the airway space by the soft tissues and the tongue can occur. This is called Obstructive Sleep Apnea if the period of asphyxiation lasts longer than 10 seconds. For the majority of snorers however, the most affordable, noninvasive, comfortable, and effective snoring solution remains the dentist prescribed oral snoring preventive device, such as the SILENT NIGHT. How Does the SILENT NIGHT Prevent Snoring? Snoring research has shown that the custom fabricated dental devices worn at night that move the jaw into a forward position, increase the three dimensional space in the airway tube which reduces air velocity and soft tissue vibration. By increasing the volumetric capacity of the airway and preventing soft tissue vibrations, snoring is eliminated. In clinical research studies, these oral devices have exhibited initial snoring prevention success rates of between 70 to 100%. The SILENT NIGHT device positions the jaw into a forward position by means of special connectors that are attached to transparent flexible upper and lower forms. The forms are custom laminated with heat and pressure to the dentist's model of the mouth. The fit is precise and comfortable. Breathing Is Easier With A SILENT NIGHT SILENT NIGHT devices do not interfere with breathing through the mouth. Even in cases of congested nasal passages the device prevents snoring and allows uninhibited oral breathing. Small movements of the jaw are possible while wearing the SILENT NIGHT device. This movement potentially helps minimize stiffness in the joints of the jaw in the morning. The SILENT NIGHT may produce a slight sensation of the jaws being out of alignment upon wakening. This feeling is due to lymphatic fluid buildup in the jaw joint that occurs overnight and will rapidly subside in minutes. SILENT NIGHT devices help promote deeper., more restful sleep by preventing snoring.
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Any mouth sore that persists for more than a week should be examined by your dentist. Leukoplakia is a thick, whitish-color patch that forms on the cheeks, gums or tongue and is caused by excess cell growth. It is common among tobacco users and can also result from irritations such as ill-filling dentures or a habit of chewing on one's cheek. The danger of leukoplakia is that it can progress to cancer. Your dentist may want to take a biopsy if the leukoplakia appears to be threatening.
Eliminate any risk factors such as tobacco and alcohol and regularly visit your dentist. Periodic dental exams allow early detection and appropriate treatment if cancer develops. If at any time you notice any changes in the appearance of your mouth or any of these signs and symptoms, contact your dentist at once:
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Thanks to The Wisdom Tooth Home Page. |
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What do I need to know about dry mouth? Everyone has a dry mouth once in a while--if they are nervous, upset or under stress. But if you have a dry mouth all or most of the time, it can be uncomfortable and can lead to serious health problems. Dry Mouth...
Dry mouth is not a normal part of aging. So if you think you have dry mouth, see your dentist or physician--there are things you can do to get relief. What is Dry Mouth? Dry mouth is the condition of not having enough saliva, or spit, to keep your mouth wet.
Symptoms Include...
Why is saliva so important? Saliva does more than keep the mouth wet.
Without enough saliva you can develop tooth decay or other infections in the mouth. You also might not get the nutrients you need if you cannot chew and swallow certain foods.
What causes Dry Mouth? People get dry mouth when the glands in the mouth that make saliva are not working properly. Because of this, there might not be enough saliva to keep your mouth wet. There are several reasons why these glands (called salivary glands) might not work right.
What can be done about Dry Mouth? Dry mouth treatment will depend on what is causing the problem. If you think you have dry mouth, see your dentist or physician. He or she can try to determine what is causing your dry mouth.
What can I do?
Tips for keeping your teeth healthy Remember, if you have dry mouth, you need to be extra careful to keep your teeth healthy. Make sure you:
For more information on Sjogren's Syndrome... Sjögren's Syndrome is a major cause of dry mouth. You can get information about dry mouth related to Sjögren's Syndrome from: Sjögren's Syndrome Clinic Sjögren's Syndrome Foundation, Inc. |
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