BAD BREATH

10 FACTS EVERYONE NEED TO KNOW ABOUT BAD BREATH

Bad breath can negatively impact your life, as well as those around you. It can isolate and make you feel self-conscious, and that's assuming you’re even aware of it! Friends and colleagues may keep their distance if your bad breath is a chronic problem and you may never even realize how much it impacts your relationships and opportunities. ^[1] However, knowledge is power. Being armed with the following 10 facts about bad breath is one step closer to never falling prey to bad breath, and living a more rich and confident life. Let's take a look...

Fact #10. ‘Halitosis’ is a New ‘Problem’

It was only as recent as the 1920's that halitosis became a plague to our mouths when Gerard Lambert of Listerine took an obscure term for bad breath…and turned it into a marketing bonanza. Bad breath has been acknowledged for millennia, but until Listerine began telling us how bad our lives were with it, bad breath, or halitosis, had never been publically viewed as a social problem. ^[2]

Fact #9. If It's Something You Ate, It Needs To Work Through Your System

If the meal you just ate included a healthy serving of onions and garlic, sorry to say, you will just have to wait. In this case, the odor you experience is a result of digesting the sulfuric compounds in the onion (these are good for your health), or the allicin (again a healthy sulfur-based food compound) from the garlic.

As your body breaks down these compounds, they travel through your blood stream and can remain in your body for days. These compounds travel through the blood for excretion by the lungs, kidneys and skin. ^[3] If you’ve brushed and flossed and still find yourself with bad breath after a good meal of garlic and onions, take comfort in knowing that the garlic is good for you and the bad breath is temporary.

Fact #8. Smoking is Bad for Your Breath

No surprise here, smoking causes many changes to the mouth. For one, you introduce to your mouth all of the chemicals contained within that tobacco smoke. Many of these chemicals dry the mouth and encourage growth from the ‘wrong’ type of bacteria. On top of all this, it can damage the tissue in the mouth leading to infection and diseases such as cancer.

If you’re wondering about the ‘right’ and ‘wrong’ bacteria, you need to know about…

Fact #7. You Don’t Want VSCs

VSCs, or Volatile Sulfuric Compounds, cause most bad breath. The waste released by these bacteria are the primary source of these compounds. This is the reason your dentist has told you to brush daily! Not all bacteria produce these VSCs, just the ones you don’t want in your mouth. For example...

Fact #6. Streptococcus salivarius is Your Friend

Like it or not, the human mouth contains billions of bacteria. ^[4] One such ‘friendly’ bacteria is Streptococcus salivarius, a naturally occurring oral bacteria. This friendly bacteria occurs in higher levels in people who do not have halitosis. ^[5] A bacteria like this doesn’t produce those nasty VSCs.

Fact #5. Xerostomia Promotes the Wrong Bacteria

Xerostomia is dry mouth. You know dry mouth, the rough, cottony feeling you may feel first thing in the morning. It occurs as a result of reduced saliva production. Some causes of dry mouth include:

• Consuming dehydrating food and drink, such as coffee and alcohol.
• Mouth breathing dries out the mouth (and is often the cause of ‘morning breath’!).
• The side effect of many medications is dry mouth. Some of these medication types include antihistamines, antidepressants, anticholinergics, anorexiants, antihypertensives, antipsychotics, anti-Parkinson agents, diuretics and sedatives. ^[6]
• Chronic or more serious medical conditions can lead to dry mouth.

If you find yourself with dry mouth, drink some water and stay hydrated. Which bring us to…

Fact #4. Saliva Reduces Bad Breath

When properly hydrated, you produce healthy amounts of saliva. Saliva prevents unwanted bacteria from moving in as it continually cleans the mouth. Healthy saliva levels also help clear food particles from the mouth and keep the tongue clean.

Fact #3. Unhealthy Dieting can Lead to Halitosis

Frequent dieting can lead the body to function improperly. Many diets focus on quick weight loss through unbalanced diets. When these diets do not create long-term results, another diet soon follows. In some cases, continual dieting can lead to higher than normal levels of ketones. ^[7] Ketones, which occur as a by-product of the breakdown of fatty acids, are expelled through the lungs. The smell is often likened to fruit or nail polish remover (acetone). ^[8]

Fact #2. Persistent Bad Breath May Indicate a More Serious Problem

Persistent bad breath may indicate a greater health concern. It could indicate your body has a more serious medical condition, and the smell comes from exhaling chemical compounds, such as in the breakdown of the ketones noted in Fact #3.

Fact #1. Covering It Up Doesn't Work

Often we try to cover up our bad breath with mouthwashes or gum. These typically only try to overpower the odor, rather than making it go away. To eliminate bad breath, you need to clean the mouth and reestablish the natural balance of saliva flow and healthy bacteria. To do this you need to brush and floss daily to keep your mouth clear of food particles and prevent plaque development. Plaque feeds the nasty bacteria that create those noxious VSCs!

To assist your brushing and flossing, you may want to consider an all-natural mouth rinse

TOOTH DECAY OR DENTAL CARIES

FACTS YOU SHOULD KNOW ABOUT TOOTH DECAY

If you have ever had tooth decay, you should know:

1. Tooth decay is one of the most common of all diseases, second only to the common cold.
2. Tooth decay affects more than one-fourth of U.S. children ages two to five, half of those ages twelve to fifteen, and more than 90 percent of U.S. adults over age 40.
3. Tooth decay causes pain, suffering and disability for millions of Americans each year — even more disturbing, tooth decay is preventable.
4. If it is not treated, in extreme and rare cases tooth decay can cause death. Infection in an upper back tooth can spread to the sinus behind the eye, from which it can enter the brain and cause death.
5. Tooth decay is an infectious process caused by acid-producing bacteria. Your risk for decay can be assessed in our office with a simple test for specific bacterial activity.
6. Three factors are necessary for tooth decay to occur: susceptible teeth, acid producing bacteria and a diet rich in sugars and refined carbohydrates.
7. Babies are not born with decay-causing bacteria in their mouths; they are transmitted through saliva from mothers, caregivers, or family members.
8. Fluoride incorporated into the tooth structure protects teeth against decay by making the enamel more resistant to acid attack.
9. Sealants — sealing the nooks and crannies in newly erupted teeth, stops bacterial collection where a toothbrush can’t reach. Teeth with sealants have been shown to remain 99 percent cavity-free over six years.
10. Restricting sugar intake is important in preventing tooth decay: your total sugar intake should be less than 50 grams a day (about ten teaspoons) including sugars in other foods. A can of soda has up to six teaspoons of sugar — or more!

TOOTH SENSITIVITY

10 BIGGEST CAUSES OF TOOTH SENSITIVITY

1. You brush with too much gusto. Sometimes tooth sensitivity comes from brushing with too much force or using a hard-bristled toothbrush. Over time, you can wear down the protective layers of your teeth and expose microscopic hollow tubes or canals that lead to your dental nerves. When these tubes are exposed to extreme temperatures or acidic or sticky foods, tooth sensitivity and discomfort can result. The simplest solution is to switch to a toothbrush with softer bristles and to be gentler when brushing.

2. You eat acidic foods. If the pathways to your nerves are exposed, acidic foods such as tomato sauce, lemon, grapefruit, kiwi, and pickles can cause pain. But avoiding these foods can help you avoid any tooth discomfort.

3. You’re a tooth-grinder. Even though tooth enamel is the strongest substance in your body, grinding your teeth can wear down the enamel. By doing so, you expose the dentin, or the middle layer of the tooth, which contains the hollow tubes that lead to your nerves. Talk to your dentist about finding a mouth guard that can stop you from grinding.

4. You use tooth-whitening toothpaste. Many manufacturers add tooth-whitening chemicals to their toothpaste formulas, and some people are more sensitive to them than others. If your toothpaste contains whitening agents, consider switching to one that doesn’t.

5. You’re a mouthwash junkie. Like whitening toothpaste, some over-the-counter mouthwashes and rinses contain alcohol and other chemicals that can make your teeth more sensitive — especially if your dentin’s exposed. Instead, try neutral fluoride rinses or simply skip the rinse and be more diligent about flossing and brushing.

6. You’ve got gum disease. Receding gums, which are increasingly common with age (especially if you haven't kept up with your dental health), can cause tooth sensitivity. If gum disease or gingivitis is the problem, your dentist will come up with a plan to treat the underlying disease, and may also suggest a procedure to seal your teeth.

7. You have excessive plaque. The purpose of flossing and brushing is to remove plaque that forms after you eat. An excessive buildup of plaque can cause tooth enamel to wear away. Again, your teeth can become more sensitive as they lose protection provided by the enamel. The solution is to practice good daily dental care and visit your dentist for cleanings every six months — or more frequently if necessary.

8. You’ve had a dental procedure. It’s common to experience some sensitivity after a root canal, an extraction, or the placement of a crown. If symptoms don’t disappear after a short time, you should schedule another visit to your dentist, as it could be a sign of infection.

9. Your tooth is cracked. A chipped or cracked tooth can cause pain that goes beyond tooth sensitivity. Your dentist will need to evaluate your tooth and decide the right course of treatment, such as a cap or an extraction.

10. There is decay around the edges of fillings. As you get older, fillings can weaken and fracture or leak around the edges. It’s easy for bacteria to accumulate in these tiny crevices, which causes acid buildup and enamel breakdown. Be sure to see your dentist if you notice this type of tooth sensitivity between visits; in most cases, fillings can be easily replaced.

BABY TEETH

10 COOL DENTAL FACTS ABOUT BABY TEETH

1. The first baby tooth should break through the gums between the ages of 6 months and 12 months.
2. Some babies are actually born with teeth! Experts say about 1 in every 3000 babies will be born with a neonatal tooth.
3. All of the baby teeth, 20 in total, should be erupted between the ages of 2 and 3 years old.
4. The first baby teeth to erupt are the 2 front teeth, called incisors. The 2 lower incisors will typically grow in first, followed by the 2 upper incisors.
5. Studies show that as many as 40% of children have cavities in their baby teeth. That’s why cleaning the gums and teeth is advised after every feeding.
6. You can brush your child’s teeth with a pea-sized amount of fluoride toothpaste after the age of 3 to strengthen the teeth and fight cavities.
7. Approximately 15% of children continue to suck their thumbs after the age of 5, and pediatric dentists warn that this habit can distort the shape of the jaw as well as damage the permanent teeth.
8. You can protect your baby of early tooth decay by only filling the bottle with water, milk, or baby formula. Taking the bottle away whenever the baby is in the crib is also recommended.
9. The first grown-up tooth (permanent) should break through the gums around the age of 6.
10. You can schedule an appointment with a West borough pediatric dentist as soon as the first tooth grows in the mouth to learn more about your child’s growth and development.