Are you Satisfied with your Overall Breath?

Are you Satisfied with your Overall Breath?

If you are one of those people who performs the palm exercise many times a day this dental article from Metro Dental is for you!

Dr. Jeff agrees that this is a very personal and careful subject. Many people are embarrassed to accept they have this problem and the need of an oral treatment. There are many ways to treat this type of problem (which we call Halitosis), and have been proven to have excellent long term results. Dr. Jeff at Metro Dental shares some vital information in order to explain to his patients some of the causes and prevention tips for this truly unwanted condition.

How do I know if I have bad Breath?

If you can’t smell it right away you can try these techniques:

• Lick your wrist, wait a few seconds while the saliva dries, and then smell it. That can give you an idea of how your breath smells.
• Exhale into your palm and analyze how it smells.

Bad Breath Causes

Bad breath or Halitosis stems from different sources, from which the most common are:

• Foods, such as: garlic, onions, fish, meat, cheese, etc.
• Poor oral hygiene
• Smoking
• Obesity
• Fasting
• Nasal and sinus infections
• Throat infections
• Defective dental restorations
• Gum disease
• Dry mouth
• Other underlying health conditions

Once you are aware of the causes of bad breath it will be easier to determine, which are the most appropriate measures to prevent and fight it.

Preventive Measures

• Brush your teeth at least twice daily, better after each meal
• Floss once a day
• Brush your tongue
• Drink water regularly
• Change your toothbrush every 3 months
• Do not smoke

Sweets and your Teeth!!

Having a clean and healthy smile is always important. That is why it’s best to brush after every meal and avoid food and drinks that are bad for your teeth.

We all know that sweets are not always the best choice for your mouth but this is only true for certain sweets. According to Richard D. Price, D.M.D and spokesman for the American Dental Association, chocolate is okay because sweets that are coated in fat slip out of your mouth.

The sweets you must be aware of are the ones that stick to your mouth such as lollipops, caramels, and raisins. Dr. Price states that chocolate actually causes fewer cavities than raisins and gummy bears because they wash out much easier and does not stick to the tooth enamel.

This is also true of starchy foods such as potato chips because tiny bits get caught in between your teeth. Carbonated drinks are also bad for your teeth not only because of high sugar content but because of the citric acid most of them contain that start to erode the tooth enamel.