Bad breath or halitosis, can result from poor dental health habits and may be a sign of other health problems.

All the food eaten begins to be broken down in your Mouth.

If you eat foods with strong odors (such as garlic or onions), brushing and flossing — even mouthwash helps to get rid of the odor temporarily.

The odor doesn’t go away completely until the foods have passed through your body.

If you don’t brush and floss teeth daily, food particles can remain in your mouth, promoting bacterial growth between teeth, around the gums, and on the tongue. This causes bad breath.

How to Prevent bad breath??

1. Practice good oral hygiene.
2. Brush twice a day with fluoride toothpaste to remove food debris and plaque.
3. Brush teeth after you eat (keep a toothbrush at work or school to brush after lunch).
4. Don’t forget to brush the tongue.
5. Replace your toothbrush every 2 to 3 months or after an illness.
6. Use floss or an interdental cleaner to remove food particles and plaque between teeth once a day.
7. Rinse with an antibacterial mouthwash twice a day.
8. Dentures should be removed at night and cleaned thoroughly before being placed in your mouth the next morning.
9. See your dentist regularly — at least twice a year for oral examination and professional teeth cleaning and detect and treat periodontal disease, dry mouth, or other problems that may be the cause of bad mouth odor.
10. Stop smoking and chewing tobacco-based products.
11. Drink lots of water. This will keep your mouth moist.
12. Chewing gum (preferably sugarless) or sucking on candy (preferably sugarless) also stimulates the production of saliva, which helps wash away food particles and bacteria. Gums and mints containing xylitol are best.
13. Keep a log of the foods you eat. If you think they may be causing bad breath, bring the log to your dentist to review.
14. Make a list of the medications you take as drugs cause bad breath.

Dry mouth,  refers to a condition in which the salivary glands in your mouth don’t make enough saliva to keep your mouth wet. Dry mouth is often due to the side effect of certain medications or aging issues or as a result of radiation therapy for cancer. Less often, dry mouth may be caused by a condition that directly affects the salivary glands.

Saliva helps prevent tooth decay by neutralizing acids produced by bacteria, limiting bacterial growth and washing away food particles. Saliva also enhances your ability to taste and makes it easier to chew and swallow. In addition, enzymes in saliva aids in digestion.

Decreased saliva and dry mouth can range from being merely a nuisance to something that has a major impact on your general health and the health of your teeth and gums, as well as your appetite and enjoyment of food.

Signs And Symptoms :

• Sensation of dryness in mouth or throat, and saliva that seems thick and stringy.
• Halitosis
• Difficulty in chewing, speaking and swallowing
• Alterations in sense of taste
• Discomfort when wearing dentures
• Frequent occurrences of tooth decay/dental caries
• Gum irritation and periodontal disease
• Dry or grooved tongue
• Mouth sores and dryness, cracked lips.

Causes

Dry mouth is caused when the salivary glands in the mouth don’t make enough saliva to keep your mouth wet. These glands may not work properly as the result of:

• Medications like anti epileptics, anti cholinergics
• Aging
• Nerve damage
• Other health conditions like Cancer , HIV Infections etc.
• Tobacco and alcohol use
• Recreational drug use

Treatments:-Treatment is indicated according to the cause. Various treatment modalities are :

1. Change medications that cause dry mouth.
2. Recommend products to moisturize your mouth.
3. Prescribe medication that stimulates saliva production.
4. Protect your teeth by regular check ups
5. Sip water frequently
6. Chew sugar-free gums
7. Breathe through your nose, not your mouth
8. Try over-the-counter saliva substitutes

1. Cavity prevention

The whitish film that builds up on your teeth is called plaque and is the leading cause of tooth decay. This acidic substance eats away at the tooth and leads to cavities. Plaque can be removed by brushing, flossing and dental cleanings.

2. Stop tooth loss

Gum disease, is a major cause of tooth loss in adults. As gum disease advances, plaque moves further down the tooth where it can destroy the supporting bone in your jaw, causing teeth to loosen and fall out. The chance can be greatly reduced through regular dental cleanings combined with good oral hygiene habits.

3. Bright smile

Drinking coffee, tea and wine or using tobacco can stain your teeth. A dental cleaning removes stains and you get the clean polished teeth.

4. Fresh breath

Good oral hygiene is the best way to prevent persistent bad breath. Even if you brush and floss regularly, getting a cleaning is a great way to keep your mouth healthy.

5. Boost your overall health

Regular dental cleanings lower your risk for some diseases, like heart disease and stroke. Many life-threatening medical conditions can be detected in their early stages during a routine oral exam.

6. Save money

You may be able to save money in the long run by helping to protect your oral health and potentially avoiding more costly and extensive procedures.

How to get rid of stains?

Stained teeth can have several causes like poor oral hygiene, consumption of tobacco etc. So, it is important to change your habits in order to have a good smile. Get professional cleaning done and maintain hygiene.

 How to fight bad breath?

Foods like onion or garlic are notoriously known for causing bad breath. Other items that can be responsible for it are coffee, alcohol and cigarettes. Eating a healthy balanced diet, staying hydrated, washing your mouth at regular intervals, brushing right and giving up on smoking can help. Mouthwashes can help for transient time. Start flossing and cleaning tongue.

 Toothaches are really painful. What to do?

There can be causes like accidents or falls, misaligned or impacted wisdom teeth, gum disease, caries, etc. If your tooth is hurting, it is recommended that you visit a dentist to get relieved of your pain, instead of self medication.

 After how much time, toothbrush should be changed?

Replace your toothbrush when the bristles start splaying or bending, or every three months, whichever comes first.

    Why is smoking bad for my teeth?

Smoking or chewing tobacco can leave extrinsic stains on the enamel of the teeth. Tobacco contains staining elements that cause a gradual yellowing of teeth and affect the appearance of your teeth.

   What can be reason of dry mouth?

Dry mouth is not a disease, it’s a symptom of other diseases like diabetes, hypertension, Parkinson’s or a side effect of several medicines. A dry mouth can increase your risk for dental decay and fungal infections of the mouth.

 How many times should I brush?

While it is ideal to brush thrice a day, brushing twice everyday for 2 minutes can be sufficient to prevent germ build up and maintain good oral hygiene.

What do you mean by Oral hygiene?

To have a healthy body, you need a healthy mouth.

Oral hygiene is an important part of a daily routine. It is the practice of keeping one’s mouth clean and free of disease, by regular brushing and cleaning in between the teeth.

It is important oral hygiene is completed on a regular basis, as it can prevent dental disease from occurring.

The most common types of dental disease is dental decay (also known as dental caries), gingivitis and periodontitis.

Regular brushing consists of brushing twice a day after breakfast and before going to bed.

Cleaning in between your teeth is called interdental cleaning and it is equally important as tooth brushing.

This is because a toothbrush cannot reach between your teeth, therefore only cleaning 50% of the surfaces.

There are many tools to clean between the teeth, these include floss, flossettes, interdental brushes, wood sticks and gum picks.

It is generally up to each individual to choose which tool they would prefer to use.

How can I improve my oral hygiene?

 Brushing Your Teeth Properly twice daily

Brush with short, gentle strokes.

Hold the brush at a 45 degree angle to the gums

Use a soft-bristled toothbrush that fits your mouth

Using Good Flossing Technique

Proffesional cleaning every 6 months by a dentist.

How can i take care of my oral health?

Removing and Preventing Stains of Teeth

Choose Your Beverages Wisely (Avoid carbonated drinks)

Avoid smoking

Rinse your mouth after consuming staining food

Brush and floss teeth daily.

Avoid sticky and junk foods.

Controlling Bad Breath

Eat a well-balanced diet.

brush your tongue.

Use an antiseptic mouthwash

Drink water.

Beware of pungent foods

Eat plenty of fruits and vegetables

Avoid tobacco

Ask your dentist for help

Why is oral hygiene important?

Prevention is always better than cure.

Good oral hygiene habits will prevent  most of the dental problems saving you from toothaches and dental treatments.

A great initiative was taken by the team of Cipla Pharmaceuticals by organising a Medical and Dental check up Camp yesterday in their premises, Baddi, Himachal Pradesh…. Dental check up was done for about 200 people that included the Senior Executives, Employees and students as well….. Pulmonary check up and Orthopedic check up was also done by a great team of doctors…… It was a great experience full of fun and interaction for the team of The Dental Arcade….

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

In continuation of the human endeavours , an effort was made by the team of The Dental Arcade by participating in the camp conducted for Chandigarh Homeguards on 1st May 2018 at Auditorium, Police Lines, Sector 29, Chandigarh…. Dental check up of around 200 people was done preceded by a lecture on importance of Oral hygiene by Dr Vijita Mehta to impart knowledge amongst all…. Apart from dental check up, Orthopaedic check up and pulmonary function tests were also carried out…It was a great experience for our team to be a part of the camp….