So many articles has been written about the care of teeth or the cure of halitosis.The teeth is a major part of our mouth that must be given a proper care. Our teeth are very important, so we must protect them against things that can harm them. When you eat, some pieces or particles always remain around your teeth and get mixed with saliva, and this is not good for maintaining healthy teeth.
Now, here are a few tips on maintaining your teeth.
GOOD TOOTHBRUSH
Your toothbrush should be the right size for your teeth.
Your toothbrush should be yours only, that is you must not share your toothbrush with anyone.
Your toothbrush must be kept with the bristles up, so it can dry.
Your toothbrush should clean and soft.
It should also be changed every three-three months.
Brushing your teeth regularly will keep your teeth clean.
It will also keep your mouth fresh.
Prevent your teeth from decay and that prevent you from having bad breath or halitosis.
HEALH IS WEALTH
Sunday, March 29, 2009
Saturday, March 28, 2009
Dental Fear - How to Make Dental Visits a Breeze
Dental fear is the name given to a range of uncomfortable feelings associated with a visit to the dentist, or even an imagined visit to the dentist. It may be a mild feeling of anxiety accompanied by muscle tension, anxiety to the point of panic attacks or fainting, or terror so great that the person chooses to live in extreme pain rather than make that dreaded visit.
As a result, people avoid the dentist, or visit less often than they should, and suffer degraded tooth and gum health, pain, loss of teeth and bone loss from the jaw, periodontal disease, abscesses that eat away the bones of the face, and even heart disease as a result of germs entering the blood stream via the gums and then directly targeting the heart.
Other outcomes involve embarrassment or shame about the appearance of the mouth, or about mouth odour. The person often attempts to hide their teeth, avoids smiling, and tends to avoid other people, withdrawing socially and stalling in their career.
This fear is not only severe and of enormous consequence, but it is also widespread around the world.
With a mere 21 percent of the population claiming they feel no anxiety about going to the dentist, dental fear is clearly something experienced by the overwhelming majority of people, ranging from mild anxiety, right through to full-blown distress so severe that the sufferer simply cannot attend a dental clinic.
What causes this dental fear? Most experts believe that it is related to scary dental experiences earlier in life, or to scary stories about dentistry being told to children, or related to abuse or trauma that is re-triggered by the dental experience.
Lots of people can recall particularly awful dental experiences from their youth. In my own case my father, who was a carpenter/builder but I think imagined himself as a dentist, used to pull our loose teeth with nail pliers. These days that seems hilarious to the entire family and now we have great fun teasing him about it at every opportunity. But of course at the time it was traumatic, and the effects were lasting.
Given the "skills" and "technology" and attitude of dentists of years gone by (and unfortunately by some dentists even these days) it is only surprising that more people aren't terrified!
Let's face it, when we're laying back in that chair surrounded by equipment, the dentist, and the dental nurse, our mouth full of stuff and unable to communicate, if we don't trust the professionals who are caring for our teeth and gums, who wouldn't be uncomfortable, to say the least!
We need to know that these people are skilled enough to be entrusted to the task, and that they're aware of and care about our comfort at all times. Dental professionals who don't have those attributes don't deserve to practice.
This article has been written with two aims:
1 To help sufferers understand that they can have total control over the entire dental experience. That they can select skilled dentists worthy of their trust, and that they can manage themselves and their dentist for a great outcome.
2 To tell sufferers how to become ex-sufferers, explaining new techniques which actually switch off those old scared responses so that when they think about dentistry, they actually feel quite relaxed. In some cases, the person will now visit the dentist feeling quite excited instead of nervous, because they know they are safe at their dentist's, they feel deeply OK about it, and they're looking forward to a new, brighter smile!
I probably should re-assure you immediately on that last point, simply because it probably seems such an outrageous statement, to claim that even extreme anxiety (even to the point of full blown panic attacks) can be utterly eliminated.
You need to know that psychology has made huge advances over the last 12 years, and particularly over the last 5 years. However the majority of psychologists today still do not make use of these advances, either because they haven't encountered them and are thus ignorant of them, or because they have briefly reviewed them and discounted them. Many psychologists are very reluctant to give up their current "gold standard" of treatment, which is CBT, even though so many studies show that CBT is no more effective than placebo (a "dummy" or "fake" treatment).
Also, many psychologists are convinced that early trauma needs to be understood in a broader context, that the person needs to develop greater understanding of themselves, needs help to feel empowered, and that talking and understanding are the most important part of therapy. This can certainly be the case (and very often is in my own practice) but NOT for most people when it comes to dental fear.
For most people this stuff can simply be wiped out, in very few visits, with no fuss. Unfortunately the psychologist often thinks they have the right to decide what the client will get, so the client comes along for dental fear, and gets subjected to something they didn't want and didn't need. I consider that to be not only unnecessary, but an invasion of the client's privacy and in some cases an arrogant expression of power over the client.
In my view if the client wants a relatively inexpensive and fast treatment that will simply eliminate the presenting problem, they are entitled to get it. If they have a good experience, and decide they would like to work more in depth for even more benefit, then that will happen at a time of their choosing, not of mine.
The method that I use to help my clients is called BMSA (Brief, Multi-Sensory Activation) but you may not have heard of it. It always takes time before new methods are accepted, and when it comes to BMSA things are no different.
BMSA works by "confusing" the old signals that used to lead to feelings of distress. For example you might have had a thought "I need to get my teeth seen to", immediately followed by a brief imagined "movie" of being in the dental chair, causing you to promptly break out in a cold sweat. BMSA has several different ways of taking the thought, and the movie, and "switching off" the emotional or physical response to it, so that you can think the same thoughts and imagine the same scenario, but feel effortlessly calm and in control.
The beauty of BMSA is that you can actually learn to do it for yourself, and that the effects are usually permanent.
In addition to using methods like BMSA, it's important to realize that your choice of dentist is crucial. No-one can expect to feel calm and in control if they don't know what's going on, or don't know what's going to be happening next, or if they have a deep distrust that their dentist even cares about their level of comfort.
How do you choose a dentist? Certainly not through an advertisement for a dentist, or through Yellow Pages! The best way to choose a dentist is by asking friends and family members whom you trust, and then by calling the dental surgery to ask specific questions about the practice, such as their attitude to anxious clients, how they manage anesthesia, and to get an idea of their level of care and respect for their clients.
With your dental fear behind you, and with a dentist you know you can trust, dental visits will become a breeze, and you can smile with a lot more confidence!
As a result, people avoid the dentist, or visit less often than they should, and suffer degraded tooth and gum health, pain, loss of teeth and bone loss from the jaw, periodontal disease, abscesses that eat away the bones of the face, and even heart disease as a result of germs entering the blood stream via the gums and then directly targeting the heart.
Other outcomes involve embarrassment or shame about the appearance of the mouth, or about mouth odour. The person often attempts to hide their teeth, avoids smiling, and tends to avoid other people, withdrawing socially and stalling in their career.
This fear is not only severe and of enormous consequence, but it is also widespread around the world.
With a mere 21 percent of the population claiming they feel no anxiety about going to the dentist, dental fear is clearly something experienced by the overwhelming majority of people, ranging from mild anxiety, right through to full-blown distress so severe that the sufferer simply cannot attend a dental clinic.
What causes this dental fear? Most experts believe that it is related to scary dental experiences earlier in life, or to scary stories about dentistry being told to children, or related to abuse or trauma that is re-triggered by the dental experience.
Lots of people can recall particularly awful dental experiences from their youth. In my own case my father, who was a carpenter/builder but I think imagined himself as a dentist, used to pull our loose teeth with nail pliers. These days that seems hilarious to the entire family and now we have great fun teasing him about it at every opportunity. But of course at the time it was traumatic, and the effects were lasting.
Given the "skills" and "technology" and attitude of dentists of years gone by (and unfortunately by some dentists even these days) it is only surprising that more people aren't terrified!
Let's face it, when we're laying back in that chair surrounded by equipment, the dentist, and the dental nurse, our mouth full of stuff and unable to communicate, if we don't trust the professionals who are caring for our teeth and gums, who wouldn't be uncomfortable, to say the least!
We need to know that these people are skilled enough to be entrusted to the task, and that they're aware of and care about our comfort at all times. Dental professionals who don't have those attributes don't deserve to practice.
This article has been written with two aims:
1 To help sufferers understand that they can have total control over the entire dental experience. That they can select skilled dentists worthy of their trust, and that they can manage themselves and their dentist for a great outcome.
2 To tell sufferers how to become ex-sufferers, explaining new techniques which actually switch off those old scared responses so that when they think about dentistry, they actually feel quite relaxed. In some cases, the person will now visit the dentist feeling quite excited instead of nervous, because they know they are safe at their dentist's, they feel deeply OK about it, and they're looking forward to a new, brighter smile!
I probably should re-assure you immediately on that last point, simply because it probably seems such an outrageous statement, to claim that even extreme anxiety (even to the point of full blown panic attacks) can be utterly eliminated.
You need to know that psychology has made huge advances over the last 12 years, and particularly over the last 5 years. However the majority of psychologists today still do not make use of these advances, either because they haven't encountered them and are thus ignorant of them, or because they have briefly reviewed them and discounted them. Many psychologists are very reluctant to give up their current "gold standard" of treatment, which is CBT, even though so many studies show that CBT is no more effective than placebo (a "dummy" or "fake" treatment).
Also, many psychologists are convinced that early trauma needs to be understood in a broader context, that the person needs to develop greater understanding of themselves, needs help to feel empowered, and that talking and understanding are the most important part of therapy. This can certainly be the case (and very often is in my own practice) but NOT for most people when it comes to dental fear.
For most people this stuff can simply be wiped out, in very few visits, with no fuss. Unfortunately the psychologist often thinks they have the right to decide what the client will get, so the client comes along for dental fear, and gets subjected to something they didn't want and didn't need. I consider that to be not only unnecessary, but an invasion of the client's privacy and in some cases an arrogant expression of power over the client.
In my view if the client wants a relatively inexpensive and fast treatment that will simply eliminate the presenting problem, they are entitled to get it. If they have a good experience, and decide they would like to work more in depth for even more benefit, then that will happen at a time of their choosing, not of mine.
The method that I use to help my clients is called BMSA (Brief, Multi-Sensory Activation) but you may not have heard of it. It always takes time before new methods are accepted, and when it comes to BMSA things are no different.
BMSA works by "confusing" the old signals that used to lead to feelings of distress. For example you might have had a thought "I need to get my teeth seen to", immediately followed by a brief imagined "movie" of being in the dental chair, causing you to promptly break out in a cold sweat. BMSA has several different ways of taking the thought, and the movie, and "switching off" the emotional or physical response to it, so that you can think the same thoughts and imagine the same scenario, but feel effortlessly calm and in control.
The beauty of BMSA is that you can actually learn to do it for yourself, and that the effects are usually permanent.
In addition to using methods like BMSA, it's important to realize that your choice of dentist is crucial. No-one can expect to feel calm and in control if they don't know what's going on, or don't know what's going to be happening next, or if they have a deep distrust that their dentist even cares about their level of comfort.
How do you choose a dentist? Certainly not through an advertisement for a dentist, or through Yellow Pages! The best way to choose a dentist is by asking friends and family members whom you trust, and then by calling the dental surgery to ask specific questions about the practice, such as their attitude to anxious clients, how they manage anesthesia, and to get an idea of their level of care and respect for their clients.
With your dental fear behind you, and with a dentist you know you can trust, dental visits will become a breeze, and you can smile with a lot more confidence!
Tuesday, March 24, 2009
Finding a Bad Breath Remedy
Having awful breath can be really embarrassing. Many people with this condition have been constantly looking for the perfect remedy that can cure bad breath.
Your first stop should be your own doctor. Although he is likely to have any miracle cure for your bad breath, he can eliminate any underlying health problems that could cause halitosis. You should also consider visiting the dentist in case your bad breath is caused by gum disease or simple tooth decay.
Here are some simple home remedies that can improve the condition of your breath. These may not work for you but what is important is that you are doing everything to cure your unfortunate condition.
Drink More Water!
Bad breath is often due to the lack of moisture in your mouth. It is best to drink plenty of water to replenish dry tissues of the mouth and flush any food particles stuck in between teeth. It is often recommended that we drink eight glasses of water each day and this advice will go a long way to reducing bad breath. If you feel like drowning drinking the recommended dosage of water, one best way to moisturize one's mouth is by eating fresh fruits. Naturally, fruits are packed with water and also the best way to get extra water in the body. This is also a good way to alter one's poor eating habits which also affects this condition. A simple remedy but often the most effective.
Mouth Hygiene.
Negligence of oral hygiene is another obvious cause of bad breath. Brushing and flossing at least twice a day is essential.
Change the Way You Eat
Eating a lot of meat and few vegetables and fruits is one major cause of bad breath. For those who already brush and floss on a regular basis, altering their eating habits can greatly eliminate bad odors. Eat a lot of fresh food and fruits instead of protein rich food. This work best also especially to those who never had issues hydrating their bodies with water. This will also give many health benefits as well as being a bad breath remedy!
Your first stop should be your own doctor. Although he is likely to have any miracle cure for your bad breath, he can eliminate any underlying health problems that could cause halitosis. You should also consider visiting the dentist in case your bad breath is caused by gum disease or simple tooth decay.
Here are some simple home remedies that can improve the condition of your breath. These may not work for you but what is important is that you are doing everything to cure your unfortunate condition.
Drink More Water!
Bad breath is often due to the lack of moisture in your mouth. It is best to drink plenty of water to replenish dry tissues of the mouth and flush any food particles stuck in between teeth. It is often recommended that we drink eight glasses of water each day and this advice will go a long way to reducing bad breath. If you feel like drowning drinking the recommended dosage of water, one best way to moisturize one's mouth is by eating fresh fruits. Naturally, fruits are packed with water and also the best way to get extra water in the body. This is also a good way to alter one's poor eating habits which also affects this condition. A simple remedy but often the most effective.
Mouth Hygiene.
Negligence of oral hygiene is another obvious cause of bad breath. Brushing and flossing at least twice a day is essential.
Change the Way You Eat
Eating a lot of meat and few vegetables and fruits is one major cause of bad breath. For those who already brush and floss on a regular basis, altering their eating habits can greatly eliminate bad odors. Eat a lot of fresh food and fruits instead of protein rich food. This work best also especially to those who never had issues hydrating their bodies with water. This will also give many health benefits as well as being a bad breath remedy!
Sunday, March 22, 2009
Bad Breeth, Very Curerable
Having bad breath can pose a lot of problems for any person in life. When you have bad breath, there are a lot of things in life that you are unable to enjoy, like close contact with a loved one and even the taste of your food. Bad breath remedies are available for those who want to cure their chronic bad breath, and if you are one of those people who either cannot afford to visit a doctor or refuse to visit a doctor about some bad breath, here are some bad breath remedies that you can use at home to help you cure your bad breath.
Brushing and Flossing
Obviously, the biggest of the bad breath remedies is to take good care of your teeth. If you can not take good care of your teeth, then you probably do not really want to cure your bad breath because that is the number one cause of bad breath anywhere. If you want to try out some bad breath remedies make sure that you are starting with the obvious thing and taking good care of your teeth.
Avocado
Avocado is one of the lesser known of the bad breath remedies. Eating avocado can help many people to ease the chronic bad breath that ails them and everybody around them, but not eating too much avocado. It is not difficult to get rid of bad breath with avocado and it is easily found in the produce aisle of any grocery store in your local community.
Reduce Protein Intake
Proteins are one of the culprits when it comes to chronic bad breath. Eat less steak and chicken and fresher fruits and vegetables and you should surely see an increase in the number of people that are coming close to you. This is one of the most popular bad breath home remedies out there, and if you eat properly then you can make sure that you reduce your bad breath.
Drink Enough Water
If you drink enough water, you can easily cure your bad breath if it is not some more complicated medical problem. Having a dry mouth leads to bad breath and of the more common bad breath remedies water is one of the biggest ones. You can drink water out of a glass or eat fruits and vegetables, as they are packed with the water and that is a good one of the many bad breath remedies.
Brushing and Flossing
Obviously, the biggest of the bad breath remedies is to take good care of your teeth. If you can not take good care of your teeth, then you probably do not really want to cure your bad breath because that is the number one cause of bad breath anywhere. If you want to try out some bad breath remedies make sure that you are starting with the obvious thing and taking good care of your teeth.
Avocado
Avocado is one of the lesser known of the bad breath remedies. Eating avocado can help many people to ease the chronic bad breath that ails them and everybody around them, but not eating too much avocado. It is not difficult to get rid of bad breath with avocado and it is easily found in the produce aisle of any grocery store in your local community.
Reduce Protein Intake
Proteins are one of the culprits when it comes to chronic bad breath. Eat less steak and chicken and fresher fruits and vegetables and you should surely see an increase in the number of people that are coming close to you. This is one of the most popular bad breath home remedies out there, and if you eat properly then you can make sure that you reduce your bad breath.
Drink Enough Water
If you drink enough water, you can easily cure your bad breath if it is not some more complicated medical problem. Having a dry mouth leads to bad breath and of the more common bad breath remedies water is one of the biggest ones. You can drink water out of a glass or eat fruits and vegetables, as they are packed with the water and that is a good one of the many bad breath remedies.
Saturday, March 21, 2009
Common Cures for Bad Breath (halitosis)
Bad breath is a common health problem in the society. Offensive smell from the mouth may be due to various reasons. The main reason is the presence of anaerobic bacteria in the biofilm formed on the tongue.
These bacteria degrades the proteins present in the food resulting in the production of some offensive gases like hydrogen sulphide, skatol.
Bad odor from the mouth in the early morning is seen in almost all individuals. This can be controlled by maintaining oral hygiene. Even after cleaning the mouth some individuals may suffer from bad breath due to some problems in the mouth or in the nearby areas. Some general disease condition can also produce bad breath. Exact cause has to be identified and should be treated accordingly.
Some common measures to cure or reduce bad breath are discussed here:
1) Oral hygiene.
Mouth should be kept clean every time to reduce the bacterial action. After eating, gargling with lukewarm water is very essential. Even after eating snacks, sweets, biscuits, cleaning with water is needed. Brushing should be done twice daily. It is said that early morning brushing is for beauty and bed time brushing is for good health.
2) Brushing techniques.
Normal brushing technique should be followed for better results. Many people brush vigorously causing damage to the gums. Brushing after every food and drink can damage the enamel. Bristles of the tooth brush should be smooth but hard enough to remove the food particles from the gaps. The direction of brushing is the most important thing.
The upper teeth should be brushed in a downward direction and the lower in upward direction. This is applicable to both inner and outer surfaces. Next comes the crown of the teeth: here brushing is done in anterior and posterior direction keeping the brush in same direction. This is applicable to both upper and lower set of teeth.
3) Tongue cleaning.
White or yellowish coating on the tongue can cause bad breath. This is more well marked in the morning and should be removed twice daily with the help of a tongue cleaner. Tongue cleaners must be used gently without damaging the taste buds on the tongue.
4) Tooth picks.
Tooth pick is a small strip of wood or plastic with a pointed end and is used to remove food particles lodged between the gaps. Very useful after eating meat and fish, should be used gently to avoid damage to gums.
5) Gargling.
After every meal gargling with lukewarm water is useful. For better result common salt is dissolved in the lukewarm water. Different types of mouth wash are available in the market in different trade names. Gargling with mouth wash can also reduce bad breath.
6) Food habits.
Some food articles are known to produce particular smell which may be unpleasant for others. Raw onion is the best example. It is said that an apple a day keeps the doctor away and a raw onion a day keeps everybody away. Maintaining regularity in food timing is the most important thing.
7) Water intake.
Dryness in the mouth can be a favorable condition for the bacterial activity resulting in bad odor. Saliva is needed to keep the mouth moist and to reduce the bacterial proliferation. Production of saliva is closely related with water balance of the body and hence sufficient quantity of water should be taken to maintain the production of saliva.
8) Mouth fresheners.
Natural and artificial mouth fresheners can reduce the intensity of bad breath to some extent. Spicy articles are commonly used for this purpose. Chewing spices like clove, cumin seed, cardamom, cinnamon, and ginger can be useful. All citrus fruits can reduce bad odor. Mouth fresheners and chewing gums are available in the market. These products are also helpful, but some may cause damage hence should be used with caution.
If the above things don't work what should I do?
Consider the following:
1) Remove the cause.
Bad breath is common in some general and systemic diseases like diabetes, fevers, gastric disorders, liver diseases. By removing or reducing the primary cause the bad breath will go automatically.
2) Modern medicine.
If bad breath is due to any infection, suitable antibiotics, anti fungal or anti viral medicines will help. If it is due to any autoimmune or chronic inflammatory conditions steroids may also be used. Saliva producing tablets can also be used.
3) Dental cleaning.
Dental cleaning done by a dentist can remove the dental plaques and tartar. This can reduce the severity of bad breath. Visit your dentist at least once a year.
4) Filling of caries.
Since caries are one of the main causes of bad breath it should be filled by a dentist. Earlier silver amalgam was used; nowadays it is replaced by synthetic materials. If the pulp cavity is affected by the caries, root canal treatment can be done.
5) Tonsillectomy.
Patients with recurrent tonsillitis can have bad breath due to offensive discharges and release of pasty materials from the crypts of tonsils. Such patients get great relief after tonsillectomy (removal of tonsils).
6) Psychological counseling.
Those who suffer from bad breath may be very much depressed and they are away from the public. This isolation hampers their day-to-day activities. Such people should understand the fact that all human beings are having bad breath, but with slight differences in intensities. They should be advised to do all hygienic measures to reduce the intensity of smell. Improving the quality of life by all possible means can also help. Moral support from friends and family members is needed for such people.
Some individuals visit the doctor for bad breath without any real problem. It is included under somatisation disorder. They usually complain about pain, breathlessness, abdominal discomfort, bad smell. Proper diagnosis is needed to rule out any real causes. These patients should be managed with a psychological approach.
7) Homoeopathy.
In Homoeopathy, medicines are selected on the basis of physical, mental, emotional and social aspects of the person. Considering the whole aspects a constitutional homoeopathic medicine is selected and given in suitable potency and dose. By this all health related problems including bad breath will be solved. On the basis of coating on the tongue, type of smell, cause for bad breath and other associated complaints a medicine can be given to get relief from bad breath.
These bacteria degrades the proteins present in the food resulting in the production of some offensive gases like hydrogen sulphide, skatol.
Bad odor from the mouth in the early morning is seen in almost all individuals. This can be controlled by maintaining oral hygiene. Even after cleaning the mouth some individuals may suffer from bad breath due to some problems in the mouth or in the nearby areas. Some general disease condition can also produce bad breath. Exact cause has to be identified and should be treated accordingly.
Some common measures to cure or reduce bad breath are discussed here:
1) Oral hygiene.
Mouth should be kept clean every time to reduce the bacterial action. After eating, gargling with lukewarm water is very essential. Even after eating snacks, sweets, biscuits, cleaning with water is needed. Brushing should be done twice daily. It is said that early morning brushing is for beauty and bed time brushing is for good health.
2) Brushing techniques.
Normal brushing technique should be followed for better results. Many people brush vigorously causing damage to the gums. Brushing after every food and drink can damage the enamel. Bristles of the tooth brush should be smooth but hard enough to remove the food particles from the gaps. The direction of brushing is the most important thing.
The upper teeth should be brushed in a downward direction and the lower in upward direction. This is applicable to both inner and outer surfaces. Next comes the crown of the teeth: here brushing is done in anterior and posterior direction keeping the brush in same direction. This is applicable to both upper and lower set of teeth.
3) Tongue cleaning.
White or yellowish coating on the tongue can cause bad breath. This is more well marked in the morning and should be removed twice daily with the help of a tongue cleaner. Tongue cleaners must be used gently without damaging the taste buds on the tongue.
4) Tooth picks.
Tooth pick is a small strip of wood or plastic with a pointed end and is used to remove food particles lodged between the gaps. Very useful after eating meat and fish, should be used gently to avoid damage to gums.
5) Gargling.
After every meal gargling with lukewarm water is useful. For better result common salt is dissolved in the lukewarm water. Different types of mouth wash are available in the market in different trade names. Gargling with mouth wash can also reduce bad breath.
6) Food habits.
Some food articles are known to produce particular smell which may be unpleasant for others. Raw onion is the best example. It is said that an apple a day keeps the doctor away and a raw onion a day keeps everybody away. Maintaining regularity in food timing is the most important thing.
7) Water intake.
Dryness in the mouth can be a favorable condition for the bacterial activity resulting in bad odor. Saliva is needed to keep the mouth moist and to reduce the bacterial proliferation. Production of saliva is closely related with water balance of the body and hence sufficient quantity of water should be taken to maintain the production of saliva.
8) Mouth fresheners.
Natural and artificial mouth fresheners can reduce the intensity of bad breath to some extent. Spicy articles are commonly used for this purpose. Chewing spices like clove, cumin seed, cardamom, cinnamon, and ginger can be useful. All citrus fruits can reduce bad odor. Mouth fresheners and chewing gums are available in the market. These products are also helpful, but some may cause damage hence should be used with caution.
If the above things don't work what should I do?
Consider the following:
1) Remove the cause.
Bad breath is common in some general and systemic diseases like diabetes, fevers, gastric disorders, liver diseases. By removing or reducing the primary cause the bad breath will go automatically.
2) Modern medicine.
If bad breath is due to any infection, suitable antibiotics, anti fungal or anti viral medicines will help. If it is due to any autoimmune or chronic inflammatory conditions steroids may also be used. Saliva producing tablets can also be used.
3) Dental cleaning.
Dental cleaning done by a dentist can remove the dental plaques and tartar. This can reduce the severity of bad breath. Visit your dentist at least once a year.
4) Filling of caries.
Since caries are one of the main causes of bad breath it should be filled by a dentist. Earlier silver amalgam was used; nowadays it is replaced by synthetic materials. If the pulp cavity is affected by the caries, root canal treatment can be done.
5) Tonsillectomy.
Patients with recurrent tonsillitis can have bad breath due to offensive discharges and release of pasty materials from the crypts of tonsils. Such patients get great relief after tonsillectomy (removal of tonsils).
6) Psychological counseling.
Those who suffer from bad breath may be very much depressed and they are away from the public. This isolation hampers their day-to-day activities. Such people should understand the fact that all human beings are having bad breath, but with slight differences in intensities. They should be advised to do all hygienic measures to reduce the intensity of smell. Improving the quality of life by all possible means can also help. Moral support from friends and family members is needed for such people.
Some individuals visit the doctor for bad breath without any real problem. It is included under somatisation disorder. They usually complain about pain, breathlessness, abdominal discomfort, bad smell. Proper diagnosis is needed to rule out any real causes. These patients should be managed with a psychological approach.
7) Homoeopathy.
In Homoeopathy, medicines are selected on the basis of physical, mental, emotional and social aspects of the person. Considering the whole aspects a constitutional homoeopathic medicine is selected and given in suitable potency and dose. By this all health related problems including bad breath will be solved. On the basis of coating on the tongue, type of smell, cause for bad breath and other associated complaints a medicine can be given to get relief from bad breath.
Thursday, March 19, 2009
Anosmia or what is it called?
Anosmia is a Greek word describing the inability to smell [Greek an-, without; + Greek osmē, odour]. A communication disorder, like being blind or deaf, anosmia is the result of a dysfunction between the sensory cells in the mouth, nose and throat and the rest of the olfactory system. The thousands of sensory cells we each possess interpret the odours we come into contact with. They add the flavour to food and drink, identify people and locations, send warning signals in cases of fire, and act as the trigger to memories.
Odours are made up of chemical substances and everything around us has a chemical stamp that stimulates our olfactory cells. The human nose is capable of detecting & recognising over 10,000 different scents. That sounds a lot, but a dogs nose is over 1,000 times more sensitive. We may not have the most sensitive smell detector on the planet, but coupled with our ability to reason, interpret, analyse and remember, it's up there with the most effective.
To smell an odour, the scent first enters the nasal cavity either directly through the nostrils or via the mouth and throat. Once there they come in to contact with the olfactory epitheliums. These are clusters of receptor smells located roughly in line with your cheek bones. The clusters are covered with tiny hairs called cilia and a thin layer of mucus. Each one of the cells inside the cluster [and there are millions of them] is connected to an olfactory neuron or nerve cell. Odour molecules are picked up by the cilia and transferred to the receptor cell. The information is sent along to the olfactory neuron and from there, directly to the brain for processing. Once the smell pattern is processed, the information is transmitted to other parts of the brain to be learned and remembered.
So, what is anosmia? Damage to the olfactory neurons stops the whole process cold, and the bad news is that once damaged the neurons can not be fixed or replaced. Viral infections, chronic sinusitis, nasal obstructions [such as polyps or tumours], medications, dental work, surgery in the nasal area, contact with irritants and chemicals, head injuries and natural aging are all known causes of anosmia. People that are born with this disability are often found [if they can afford to get all the tests done] to have either polyps or a complete lack of olfactory neurons.
What does all this mean and why should we care? Our world is shaped as much by odour as by colour, shape and sound. To be without the ability to detect odour is often described as being cast adrift in a colourless void. Smell-blind is another accurate term. When we meet people, without our consciously realising it, we detect their pheromones and other smells and make decisions about them - whether we're interested in being friends, lovers or can't stand to be in their presence. In a group, our smell detectors are busy interpreting the odours people are giving off and using that information to pick up on tensions, fear, happiness, grief, and anger. The person that can walk into a crowded room and immediately “read” the atmosphere or sense a friend’s mood usually also has an excellent sense of smell.
Then there’s the warning signals side of being able to detect scent. People who cannot smell smoke do not know they’re in danger until they see or breathe in clouds of the stuff, or see the flames. Same goes for chemical spills, gas leaks, turned food and stale drinks. An anosmic can identify an unlabelled container of clear liquid as innocent water or dangerous chemical by one of two ways. Drink the stuff or stick your nose close enough that pain can be sensed. Anosmics might not be able to smell but they feel the burn of toxic chemical just like everyone else. Neither of these methods are suitable to a long and healthy life.
Just like other disabilities and disorders, anosmia can be experienced in several ways.
1. Normosmia generally relates to people with a normal sense of smell
2. Hyperosmia is increased sensitivity to odours
3. Dysosmia relates to any defect or impairment of the sense of smell, which is most often used to describe distortions of smell
4. Hyposmia is a common form of anosmia and is generally the diminished or partial loss of the sense of smell
5. Parosmia is the distortion of smells. For instance, taking a sniff of fresh-baked bread and smelling week-old socks
6. Phantosmia [phantom smells], smelling an odour [usually bad] when the stimulus for that odour is not in the immediate environment
7. Presbyosmia is the form of anosmia most related to aging
Taste disorders are linked to anosmia as 75% of anything you “taste” is actually flavour and therefore, smell. There are five tastes: bitter, sweet, sour, salty and savoury [also known as umami]. Most anosmics, if not also afflicted with a taste disorder, can taste perfectly fine. It is the nuance of flavour, an important factor in gustation enjoyment, that is missing.
There are four known taste disorders:
1. Hypogeusia is the diminished sense of taste and like hyposmia is common
2. Hypergeusia is the increased sensitivity to taste
3. Ageusia, the complete loss of the sense of taste
4. Dysgeusia, a distorted sense of taste
How can you help? Awareness in friends and relatives makes a big difference to anosmics. Too often have people with anosmia reported the difficulties in getting friends and family to believe and then to remember that they cannot smell, no matter what is shoved in their faces. Having doctors who are aware helps even more; anosmia is not “all in your mind”.
For close family, be alert to situations where an anosmic can get into "trouble" and thoughtful when it comes to talking about smells. Anosmics can be sensitive about their personal body odour. They will either overcompensate or, without a smell to act as a prompt, forget that they need deodorant. Advise on perfumes and after shaves you think suit them and be tactful when it comes to letting them know they've used too much or not enough.
For the anosmics, there are quite a few resources to be found on the web that will be helpful in learning about the condition and linking with others like yourself. The more you know, the more you can explain, and the more you will be understood.
Odours are made up of chemical substances and everything around us has a chemical stamp that stimulates our olfactory cells. The human nose is capable of detecting & recognising over 10,000 different scents. That sounds a lot, but a dogs nose is over 1,000 times more sensitive. We may not have the most sensitive smell detector on the planet, but coupled with our ability to reason, interpret, analyse and remember, it's up there with the most effective.
To smell an odour, the scent first enters the nasal cavity either directly through the nostrils or via the mouth and throat. Once there they come in to contact with the olfactory epitheliums. These are clusters of receptor smells located roughly in line with your cheek bones. The clusters are covered with tiny hairs called cilia and a thin layer of mucus. Each one of the cells inside the cluster [and there are millions of them] is connected to an olfactory neuron or nerve cell. Odour molecules are picked up by the cilia and transferred to the receptor cell. The information is sent along to the olfactory neuron and from there, directly to the brain for processing. Once the smell pattern is processed, the information is transmitted to other parts of the brain to be learned and remembered.
So, what is anosmia? Damage to the olfactory neurons stops the whole process cold, and the bad news is that once damaged the neurons can not be fixed or replaced. Viral infections, chronic sinusitis, nasal obstructions [such as polyps or tumours], medications, dental work, surgery in the nasal area, contact with irritants and chemicals, head injuries and natural aging are all known causes of anosmia. People that are born with this disability are often found [if they can afford to get all the tests done] to have either polyps or a complete lack of olfactory neurons.
What does all this mean and why should we care? Our world is shaped as much by odour as by colour, shape and sound. To be without the ability to detect odour is often described as being cast adrift in a colourless void. Smell-blind is another accurate term. When we meet people, without our consciously realising it, we detect their pheromones and other smells and make decisions about them - whether we're interested in being friends, lovers or can't stand to be in their presence. In a group, our smell detectors are busy interpreting the odours people are giving off and using that information to pick up on tensions, fear, happiness, grief, and anger. The person that can walk into a crowded room and immediately “read” the atmosphere or sense a friend’s mood usually also has an excellent sense of smell.
Then there’s the warning signals side of being able to detect scent. People who cannot smell smoke do not know they’re in danger until they see or breathe in clouds of the stuff, or see the flames. Same goes for chemical spills, gas leaks, turned food and stale drinks. An anosmic can identify an unlabelled container of clear liquid as innocent water or dangerous chemical by one of two ways. Drink the stuff or stick your nose close enough that pain can be sensed. Anosmics might not be able to smell but they feel the burn of toxic chemical just like everyone else. Neither of these methods are suitable to a long and healthy life.
Just like other disabilities and disorders, anosmia can be experienced in several ways.
1. Normosmia generally relates to people with a normal sense of smell
2. Hyperosmia is increased sensitivity to odours
3. Dysosmia relates to any defect or impairment of the sense of smell, which is most often used to describe distortions of smell
4. Hyposmia is a common form of anosmia and is generally the diminished or partial loss of the sense of smell
5. Parosmia is the distortion of smells. For instance, taking a sniff of fresh-baked bread and smelling week-old socks
6. Phantosmia [phantom smells], smelling an odour [usually bad] when the stimulus for that odour is not in the immediate environment
7. Presbyosmia is the form of anosmia most related to aging
Taste disorders are linked to anosmia as 75% of anything you “taste” is actually flavour and therefore, smell. There are five tastes: bitter, sweet, sour, salty and savoury [also known as umami]. Most anosmics, if not also afflicted with a taste disorder, can taste perfectly fine. It is the nuance of flavour, an important factor in gustation enjoyment, that is missing.
There are four known taste disorders:
1. Hypogeusia is the diminished sense of taste and like hyposmia is common
2. Hypergeusia is the increased sensitivity to taste
3. Ageusia, the complete loss of the sense of taste
4. Dysgeusia, a distorted sense of taste
How can you help? Awareness in friends and relatives makes a big difference to anosmics. Too often have people with anosmia reported the difficulties in getting friends and family to believe and then to remember that they cannot smell, no matter what is shoved in their faces. Having doctors who are aware helps even more; anosmia is not “all in your mind”.
For close family, be alert to situations where an anosmic can get into "trouble" and thoughtful when it comes to talking about smells. Anosmics can be sensitive about their personal body odour. They will either overcompensate or, without a smell to act as a prompt, forget that they need deodorant. Advise on perfumes and after shaves you think suit them and be tactful when it comes to letting them know they've used too much or not enough.
For the anosmics, there are quite a few resources to be found on the web that will be helpful in learning about the condition and linking with others like yourself. The more you know, the more you can explain, and the more you will be understood.
Wednesday, March 18, 2009
Know the Best Way to Cure Bad Breath Problem
Bad breath – medically known as halitosis – is an extremely embarrassing problem that is actually present in most people over the world today. A person suffering from bad breath can often become a subject of ridicule. Hence it is very important to get rid of this problem. There are several products in the market ranging from toothpastes to mouth fresheners, but they can only provide temporary relief to the problem. Ayurveda has the potential to solve the problem from its roots.
The mouth is the place of the kapha dosha. Hence an imbalance in the kapha dosha of the person manifests itself in the form of bad breath. In order to treat the problem of bad odor forever, a person will need to keep his/her kapha in the proper balance. In most instances, oral hygiene is spoken along with dental hygiene. Hence most treatments that are beneficial for the teeth are also beneficial for keeping mouth odors at bay.
In an indirect way, even the pitta dosha is responsible. When the agni (digestive fire) of the pitta dosha is vitiated, then the person would have an improper digestion. This would lead to bad breath emanating from the mouth.
When a person has bad breath, what is actually happening is that bacteria are living in the mouth, which are decomposing the residues of the food and releasing sulfur. The bad breath is a result of this liberation of sulfur. The regions in which the bacteria live could be in the interspaces between the teeth, in the cavities of the teeth or on the tongue. In extreme cases, there could be pus formation in the gums (scurvy like conditions due to deficiency of vitamin C). This could cause severe offensive odor and the person could well become a social outcast.
Let us check out the various methods available in Ayurveda to treat the problem of bad odor.
(1) Useful Herbs in the Treatment of Bad Breath
® Babul (Acacia arabica)
The babul is actually useful for the treatment of teeth cavities. Strong teeth means less cavities; and this will mean no bad breath. Simply chewing on the fresh bark of the babul tree will make the teeth stronger and arrest any bad breath that is emanating from them.
® Banyan (Ficus bengalensis)
If the aerial roots of the banyan are used to rub on the teeth (much as a toothbrush does), then the bacteria on the teeth would be killed. This would reduce the bad breath to a great extent.
® Clove (Syzygium aromaticum)
Again, clove is actually used for dental treatment. Clove is perhaps the most commonly used herb in dental treatments; it is one of the chief ingredients of many toothpastes. But due to its pungent taste, it can also cure the kapha vitiation which will eventually fight the bad breath.
® Holy Basil (Ocimum sanctum)
Chewing a few leaves of the holy basil will treat all kinds of mouth infections. Thus bad breath will become a thing of the past.
® Pepper (Piper nigrum)
Pepper is considered to be a very excellent agent in treating foul breath. A poultice of pepper is made with rock salt and rubbed on the teeth. When this is done on a daily basis, almost all kinds of oral and dental problems will be brought under control.
® Sandalwood (Santalum album)
Sandalwood is a very effective herb in the vitiation of the pitta dosha that can bring about improvement of the gum health.
(2) Dietary Treatments for Bad Breath
® The first important thing with halitosis is to check is whether the digestion is going on properly or not. Reduce the consumption of all foods that are difficult to digest. Include more fruits and green leafy vegetables in the diet as they can aid digestion.
® Flavor your food with spices such as cardamom and clove. These will help to combat the bacteria developed in the oral cavity.
® Drink lots of water and citrus fruit juices during the day.
® Gargle your mouth after everything you eat. Vigorous gargling is required to remove the food particles accumulated in the interspaces of the teeth or their cavities. If gargling is not enough, brush and floss.
® Do not leave residues of chocolates and sugary foods in the mouth. Wash the mouth immediately after eating such things.
(3) Ayurvedic Treatments for Bad Breath
Tablets of Khadiradi, Eladi and Lavangadi can be chewed about three to four times a day. This refreshes the mouth repeatedly and also has an astringent effect on the bacteria in the mouth.
(4) Home Medications
® The teeth and gums must be massaged with a mixture of honey and fine charcoal powder once a day.
® Keep the peel of a single pomegranate in the shade and let it dry completely. Do not keep it in direct sunlight or it will dry out the vitamins. Grind the dried peel to a fine powder. Put three grams of the powder in a glass of water and boil it. Gargle with this water. Repeat this for about a month.
® Dried coriander when chewed reduces the foul odor from the mouth. This is a good method to reduce the bad breath due to garlic and onion.
Source:articlesbase.com
The mouth is the place of the kapha dosha. Hence an imbalance in the kapha dosha of the person manifests itself in the form of bad breath. In order to treat the problem of bad odor forever, a person will need to keep his/her kapha in the proper balance. In most instances, oral hygiene is spoken along with dental hygiene. Hence most treatments that are beneficial for the teeth are also beneficial for keeping mouth odors at bay.
In an indirect way, even the pitta dosha is responsible. When the agni (digestive fire) of the pitta dosha is vitiated, then the person would have an improper digestion. This would lead to bad breath emanating from the mouth.
When a person has bad breath, what is actually happening is that bacteria are living in the mouth, which are decomposing the residues of the food and releasing sulfur. The bad breath is a result of this liberation of sulfur. The regions in which the bacteria live could be in the interspaces between the teeth, in the cavities of the teeth or on the tongue. In extreme cases, there could be pus formation in the gums (scurvy like conditions due to deficiency of vitamin C). This could cause severe offensive odor and the person could well become a social outcast.
Let us check out the various methods available in Ayurveda to treat the problem of bad odor.
(1) Useful Herbs in the Treatment of Bad Breath
® Babul (Acacia arabica)
The babul is actually useful for the treatment of teeth cavities. Strong teeth means less cavities; and this will mean no bad breath. Simply chewing on the fresh bark of the babul tree will make the teeth stronger and arrest any bad breath that is emanating from them.
® Banyan (Ficus bengalensis)
If the aerial roots of the banyan are used to rub on the teeth (much as a toothbrush does), then the bacteria on the teeth would be killed. This would reduce the bad breath to a great extent.
® Clove (Syzygium aromaticum)
Again, clove is actually used for dental treatment. Clove is perhaps the most commonly used herb in dental treatments; it is one of the chief ingredients of many toothpastes. But due to its pungent taste, it can also cure the kapha vitiation which will eventually fight the bad breath.
® Holy Basil (Ocimum sanctum)
Chewing a few leaves of the holy basil will treat all kinds of mouth infections. Thus bad breath will become a thing of the past.
® Pepper (Piper nigrum)
Pepper is considered to be a very excellent agent in treating foul breath. A poultice of pepper is made with rock salt and rubbed on the teeth. When this is done on a daily basis, almost all kinds of oral and dental problems will be brought under control.
® Sandalwood (Santalum album)
Sandalwood is a very effective herb in the vitiation of the pitta dosha that can bring about improvement of the gum health.
(2) Dietary Treatments for Bad Breath
® The first important thing with halitosis is to check is whether the digestion is going on properly or not. Reduce the consumption of all foods that are difficult to digest. Include more fruits and green leafy vegetables in the diet as they can aid digestion.
® Flavor your food with spices such as cardamom and clove. These will help to combat the bacteria developed in the oral cavity.
® Drink lots of water and citrus fruit juices during the day.
® Gargle your mouth after everything you eat. Vigorous gargling is required to remove the food particles accumulated in the interspaces of the teeth or their cavities. If gargling is not enough, brush and floss.
® Do not leave residues of chocolates and sugary foods in the mouth. Wash the mouth immediately after eating such things.
(3) Ayurvedic Treatments for Bad Breath
Tablets of Khadiradi, Eladi and Lavangadi can be chewed about three to four times a day. This refreshes the mouth repeatedly and also has an astringent effect on the bacteria in the mouth.
(4) Home Medications
® The teeth and gums must be massaged with a mixture of honey and fine charcoal powder once a day.
® Keep the peel of a single pomegranate in the shade and let it dry completely. Do not keep it in direct sunlight or it will dry out the vitamins. Grind the dried peel to a fine powder. Put three grams of the powder in a glass of water and boil it. Gargle with this water. Repeat this for about a month.
® Dried coriander when chewed reduces the foul odor from the mouth. This is a good method to reduce the bad breath due to garlic and onion.
Source:articlesbase.com
Sunday, March 15, 2009
How to Get Rid of Bad Breath Without Seeing a Dentist
If you're wondering how to get rid of bad breath without seeing a dentist, chances are that your breath is at least "slightly offensive." Maybe you've already told your dentist, maybe you don't even want to. Regardless, most dentists lack the special training needed to deal with bad breath, and will tell you to brush and floss your teeth regularly, as if you don't already. In this article I'm going to tell you what you can do about your bad breath that is inexpensive and will not require a trip to the dentist.
Personally, figuring out that I always suffered from a chronic case of bad breath wasn't too hard. Immediately after brushing my mouth would taste fresh, but it wouldn't be long before it would revert to a state where I could just tell that my breath wasn't as fresh as many other people's breath.
The thing is, I was always brushing my teeth twice a day and flossing, as recommended. Most people I met and talked to didn't have bad breath, yet I know for a fact that they didn't brush or floss any more than I did. And it's not like I was eating garlic for breakfast, lunch, and dinner!
You do not want to see a dentist about this problem. For one thing, dentists charge hefty premiums. That in itself wouldn't necessarily be bad if they could fix your problem, but the fact of the matter is that many dentists don't even have a clue what REALLY causes bad breath in people who just can't seem to shake it.
Now don't get me wrong, brushing your teeth twice a day and flossing is very important, but more so for preventing cavities than keeping your breath fresh. Using chewing gum and mouthwash is no permanent solution either, because those things only "mask" the true problem at hand, giving you a false sense of confidence.
By now you're probably wondering what actually DOES work to cure bad breath. The best way to go about it is to use some kind of neutralizing formula in your mouth daily. Bad breath is caused by sulfur producing bacteria that live primarily on your tongue and in your throat, and the reason you suffer from bad breath even though you brush and floss is because your mouth happens to be hospitable for these bacteria because of the temperatures and the geographic shape of your tongue.
While there are quite a few things that work to neutralize your mouth temporarily, what I recommend is using a strong formula that will last all day long.
It's unfortunate that your dentist cannot help you figure out how to cure bad breath, but the important thing is that you take the problem into your own hands. Neutralizing your mouth only takes about 30 seconds a day, and the benefits of finally having fresh breath that lasts are obvious.
The bad breath product I used to finally get rid of my bad breath is called TheraBreath. Thankfully, it's fairly inexpensive and keeps my breath fresh all day for only about 30 seconds of work per day. I've written a review on it, and I've also included information about how you can try it for free.
Personally, figuring out that I always suffered from a chronic case of bad breath wasn't too hard. Immediately after brushing my mouth would taste fresh, but it wouldn't be long before it would revert to a state where I could just tell that my breath wasn't as fresh as many other people's breath.
The thing is, I was always brushing my teeth twice a day and flossing, as recommended. Most people I met and talked to didn't have bad breath, yet I know for a fact that they didn't brush or floss any more than I did. And it's not like I was eating garlic for breakfast, lunch, and dinner!
You do not want to see a dentist about this problem. For one thing, dentists charge hefty premiums. That in itself wouldn't necessarily be bad if they could fix your problem, but the fact of the matter is that many dentists don't even have a clue what REALLY causes bad breath in people who just can't seem to shake it.
Now don't get me wrong, brushing your teeth twice a day and flossing is very important, but more so for preventing cavities than keeping your breath fresh. Using chewing gum and mouthwash is no permanent solution either, because those things only "mask" the true problem at hand, giving you a false sense of confidence.
By now you're probably wondering what actually DOES work to cure bad breath. The best way to go about it is to use some kind of neutralizing formula in your mouth daily. Bad breath is caused by sulfur producing bacteria that live primarily on your tongue and in your throat, and the reason you suffer from bad breath even though you brush and floss is because your mouth happens to be hospitable for these bacteria because of the temperatures and the geographic shape of your tongue.
While there are quite a few things that work to neutralize your mouth temporarily, what I recommend is using a strong formula that will last all day long.
It's unfortunate that your dentist cannot help you figure out how to cure bad breath, but the important thing is that you take the problem into your own hands. Neutralizing your mouth only takes about 30 seconds a day, and the benefits of finally having fresh breath that lasts are obvious.
The bad breath product I used to finally get rid of my bad breath is called TheraBreath. Thankfully, it's fairly inexpensive and keeps my breath fresh all day for only about 30 seconds of work per day. I've written a review on it, and I've also included information about how you can try it for free.
Saturday, March 14, 2009
Finding a Bad Breath Remedy
Having awful breath can be really embarrassing. Many people with this condition have been constantly looking for the perfect remedy that can cure bad breath.
Your first stop should be your own doctor. Although he is likely to have any miracle cure for your bad breath, he can eliminate any underlying health problems that could cause halitosis. You should also consider visiting the dentist in case your bad breath is caused by gum disease or simple tooth decay.
Here are some simple home remedies that can improve the condition of your breath. These may not work for you but what is important is that you are doing everything to cure your unfortunate condition.
Drink More Water!
Bad breath is often due to the lack of moisture in your mouth. It is best to drink plenty of water to replenish dry tissues of the mouth and flush any food particles stuck in between teeth. It is often recommended that we drink eight glasses of water each day and this advice will go a long way to reducing bad breath. If you feel like drowning drinking the recommended dosage of water, one best way to moisturize one's mouth is by eating fresh fruits. Naturally, fruits are packed with water and also the best way to get extra water in the body. This is also a good way to alter one's poor eating habits which also affects this condition. A simple remedy but often the most effective.
Mouth Hygiene.
Negligence of oral hygiene is another obvious cause of bad breath. Brushing and flossing at least twice a day is essential.
Change the Way You Eat
Eating a lot of meat and few vegetables and fruits is one major cause of bad breath. For those who already brush and floss on a regular basis, altering their eating habits can greatly eliminate bad odors. Eat a lot of fresh food and fruits instead of protein rich food. This work best also especially to those who never had issues hydrating their bodies with water. This will also give many health benefits as well as being a bad breath remedy!
Your first stop should be your own doctor. Although he is likely to have any miracle cure for your bad breath, he can eliminate any underlying health problems that could cause halitosis. You should also consider visiting the dentist in case your bad breath is caused by gum disease or simple tooth decay.
Here are some simple home remedies that can improve the condition of your breath. These may not work for you but what is important is that you are doing everything to cure your unfortunate condition.
Drink More Water!
Bad breath is often due to the lack of moisture in your mouth. It is best to drink plenty of water to replenish dry tissues of the mouth and flush any food particles stuck in between teeth. It is often recommended that we drink eight glasses of water each day and this advice will go a long way to reducing bad breath. If you feel like drowning drinking the recommended dosage of water, one best way to moisturize one's mouth is by eating fresh fruits. Naturally, fruits are packed with water and also the best way to get extra water in the body. This is also a good way to alter one's poor eating habits which also affects this condition. A simple remedy but often the most effective.
Mouth Hygiene.
Negligence of oral hygiene is another obvious cause of bad breath. Brushing and flossing at least twice a day is essential.
Change the Way You Eat
Eating a lot of meat and few vegetables and fruits is one major cause of bad breath. For those who already brush and floss on a regular basis, altering their eating habits can greatly eliminate bad odors. Eat a lot of fresh food and fruits instead of protein rich food. This work best also especially to those who never had issues hydrating their bodies with water. This will also give many health benefits as well as being a bad breath remedy!
Sunday, March 8, 2009
Bad Breath is More Common Than We Think
Bad breath is as frustrating to the person breathing as it is to the people experiencing it. But what causes it and why do some people seem to be prone to it than others? Even more would like to know how to totally eradicate it. These are important questions because many of those who suffer from bad breath state that it affects their overall confidence and standing in society especially when around other people.
Bad breath can be quite embarrassing. One of the reasons this is the case is because the people around will not tell you that you have bad breath yet they will in time totally avoid you. Thus people, who suffer from it, or what is medically called Halitosis, develop self-esteem issues since they lack friends.
Bad breath is caused by bacteria accumulating inside the mouth especially under the tongue. Without a total change in lifestyle, bad breath can plague someone for life and cause untold damage to their public image. Sometime people think that eradicating it a matter of simply brushing their teeth every day but they quickly learn that there are other remedies that can work better.
Halitosis as we mentioned is caused by a multiplication of microorganisms and/or yeast inside the mouth especially under the tongue. The odor stems from the fumes which are generated by their metabolisms. One thing we would like to point out is that someone who continuously suffers from bad breath should consult their dentist since there could be an infection present. But for most whose condition cannot be described as serious, there are easy remedies which if applied consistently can halt halitosis.
One of the best remedies is to use the good old brushing and mouthwash. These are cheap and easily available over the counter. Most mouthwashes today have a antibacterial qualities that kill the microbes which cause halitosis. Tooth brushes which have been recommended by a dentist can also control halitosis.
Another remedy is to drink lots of water. Sometimes the cause of bad breath is dehydration. It is recommended that if you suffer from bad breath you should try drinking at least 10 glasses of water a day and see whether you experience any difference.
You may also want to try a change of diet. Spicy diets have also been known to be major reasons for bad breath especially if one does not brush their teeth adequately after eating. Trying diets rich in veggies with lots of fluids can help combat halitosis.
Bad breath can be quite embarrassing. One of the reasons this is the case is because the people around will not tell you that you have bad breath yet they will in time totally avoid you. Thus people, who suffer from it, or what is medically called Halitosis, develop self-esteem issues since they lack friends.
Bad breath is caused by bacteria accumulating inside the mouth especially under the tongue. Without a total change in lifestyle, bad breath can plague someone for life and cause untold damage to their public image. Sometime people think that eradicating it a matter of simply brushing their teeth every day but they quickly learn that there are other remedies that can work better.
Halitosis as we mentioned is caused by a multiplication of microorganisms and/or yeast inside the mouth especially under the tongue. The odor stems from the fumes which are generated by their metabolisms. One thing we would like to point out is that someone who continuously suffers from bad breath should consult their dentist since there could be an infection present. But for most whose condition cannot be described as serious, there are easy remedies which if applied consistently can halt halitosis.
One of the best remedies is to use the good old brushing and mouthwash. These are cheap and easily available over the counter. Most mouthwashes today have a antibacterial qualities that kill the microbes which cause halitosis. Tooth brushes which have been recommended by a dentist can also control halitosis.
Another remedy is to drink lots of water. Sometimes the cause of bad breath is dehydration. It is recommended that if you suffer from bad breath you should try drinking at least 10 glasses of water a day and see whether you experience any difference.
You may also want to try a change of diet. Spicy diets have also been known to be major reasons for bad breath especially if one does not brush their teeth adequately after eating. Trying diets rich in veggies with lots of fluids can help combat halitosis.
Saturday, March 7, 2009
Solving the Problem of Chronic Bad Breath
Some instances of bad breath can easily be remedied by brushing your teeth or chewing a breath mint. However, there are also some cases that keep recurring no matter how often you brush or how much mouthwash you gargle daily. Chronic bad breath can be very inconvenient especially when you are required to constantly interact with other people.
One of the biggest problems is that other people will often notice it before you do. Most of the time, people go around with their normal lives not knowing that they are putting other people off because of their breath. For this reason, it is advisable to perform regular checks and be more observant of how people react when you get close to them.
An unpleasant taste in the mouth is one of the indications of bad breath. If you constantly have a bitter flavor in your mouth, this may mean that you have too much oral bacteria that causes not only a repulsive taste but a foul odor as well.
Try to observe how people behave when you are in the vicinity. Do they turn their head away when you talk to them? Do they frequently offer you breath mints and gum? Or do they simply avoid talking to you at all? Most people will not be comfortable in telling you directly that you do have chronic bad breath, so you have to be very observant about these signs, which might be their way of subtly telling you that you do have a problem. If somebody does react in these ways whenever you are near, try not to be offended and just find a solution to your problem.
Another way to check for chronic bad breath is to stick out your tongue at yourself in front of the mirror. If you don't regularly clean your tongue after brushing, you will see a white or yellowish film towards the back of your tongue, which are actually food particles and bacteria that have accumulated over time. If not removed for a while, they will eventually become a source of foul odor in your mouth.
Once you have confirmed that you do have a problem, you can immediately start taking control of the situation. Improve your dental hygiene and see a dentist if necessary, and you will soon observe improvements in your social, professional and personal life.
One of the biggest problems is that other people will often notice it before you do. Most of the time, people go around with their normal lives not knowing that they are putting other people off because of their breath. For this reason, it is advisable to perform regular checks and be more observant of how people react when you get close to them.
An unpleasant taste in the mouth is one of the indications of bad breath. If you constantly have a bitter flavor in your mouth, this may mean that you have too much oral bacteria that causes not only a repulsive taste but a foul odor as well.
Try to observe how people behave when you are in the vicinity. Do they turn their head away when you talk to them? Do they frequently offer you breath mints and gum? Or do they simply avoid talking to you at all? Most people will not be comfortable in telling you directly that you do have chronic bad breath, so you have to be very observant about these signs, which might be their way of subtly telling you that you do have a problem. If somebody does react in these ways whenever you are near, try not to be offended and just find a solution to your problem.
Another way to check for chronic bad breath is to stick out your tongue at yourself in front of the mirror. If you don't regularly clean your tongue after brushing, you will see a white or yellowish film towards the back of your tongue, which are actually food particles and bacteria that have accumulated over time. If not removed for a while, they will eventually become a source of foul odor in your mouth.
Once you have confirmed that you do have a problem, you can immediately start taking control of the situation. Improve your dental hygiene and see a dentist if necessary, and you will soon observe improvements in your social, professional and personal life.
Sunday, March 1, 2009
Chronic Bad Breath-
Chronic Bad Breath-Do You Suffer with It?
Chronic bad breath is no laughing matter. If you have it you've possibly experienced embarrassment because of it and this is so unnecessary. Chronic bad breath is usually the consequence of physiological problems more than poor oral hygiene. Anyone with chronic bad breath has tried all the usual measures to fix the problem. Chronic bad breath can affect your life personally as well as professionally.Do you ever think pepoe might be talking about you behind your back?
Perhaps you question yourself and aren't exactly certain you have chronic bad breath.Consider the following experiences to see if you have chronic bad breath.If in doubt, do something about it anyway, because you can't go wrong.
I Have a Constant Bad Taste in My Mouth
Do you have a constant bad taste in your mouth? No matter how many times you brush or floss your teeth, you just can't get rid of the bad taste in your mouth .sometimes, even though we do our best, food particles remain in the mouth and break down thanks to the bacteria that live there.Good oral hygiene often addresses this but sometimes the bad taste remains.
Mint, Anyone?
Picture this. You've just begun a conversation with someone and the next thing you know they're searching in their pocket or purse for something and suddenly they produce a mint and ask you if you want one. Friends may not know how to tell you that you have bad breath so they do the next best thing by offering you a breath freshening agent. Hopefully, you get the clue and accept it making sure to take care of your chronic bad breath as soon as you can.
Breath fresheners only have a temporary effect and can often mask the odor for a brief period. Further action is required to fix chronic bad breath.
Sorry, didn't mean to get in your space.
When you're in conversation with others do they all stand close to you or do you find them backing up and using any number of excuses for doing so?
If this happens often you may need to seriously consider the effect your bad breath may be having on others.If you think friends are avoiding you, consider it might be because of chronic bad breath.
Ugh! I thought my tongue was supposed to be pink!
Look in the mirror and check out your tongue. Is it pink or does it have a nasty looking yellow or white coat? In recent years dentists have suggested that as part of our oral hygiene regime, we brush our tongues as well. Food can get trapped in the grooves in the tongue, bacteria steps in and whoa....stand back 'cause your breath is three alarm awful!
It's not that bad.
don't be upset if you've figured out you have chronic bad breath. you can do something about it and the end of the world is not coming. Go to your dentist and work out a plan that will effectively eliminate your chronic bad breath.
Chronic bad breath is no laughing matter. If you have it you've possibly experienced embarrassment because of it and this is so unnecessary. Chronic bad breath is usually the consequence of physiological problems more than poor oral hygiene. Anyone with chronic bad breath has tried all the usual measures to fix the problem. Chronic bad breath can affect your life personally as well as professionally.Do you ever think pepoe might be talking about you behind your back?
Perhaps you question yourself and aren't exactly certain you have chronic bad breath.Consider the following experiences to see if you have chronic bad breath.If in doubt, do something about it anyway, because you can't go wrong.
I Have a Constant Bad Taste in My Mouth
Do you have a constant bad taste in your mouth? No matter how many times you brush or floss your teeth, you just can't get rid of the bad taste in your mouth .sometimes, even though we do our best, food particles remain in the mouth and break down thanks to the bacteria that live there.Good oral hygiene often addresses this but sometimes the bad taste remains.
Mint, Anyone?
Picture this. You've just begun a conversation with someone and the next thing you know they're searching in their pocket or purse for something and suddenly they produce a mint and ask you if you want one. Friends may not know how to tell you that you have bad breath so they do the next best thing by offering you a breath freshening agent. Hopefully, you get the clue and accept it making sure to take care of your chronic bad breath as soon as you can.
Breath fresheners only have a temporary effect and can often mask the odor for a brief period. Further action is required to fix chronic bad breath.
Sorry, didn't mean to get in your space.
When you're in conversation with others do they all stand close to you or do you find them backing up and using any number of excuses for doing so?
If this happens often you may need to seriously consider the effect your bad breath may be having on others.If you think friends are avoiding you, consider it might be because of chronic bad breath.
Ugh! I thought my tongue was supposed to be pink!
Look in the mirror and check out your tongue. Is it pink or does it have a nasty looking yellow or white coat? In recent years dentists have suggested that as part of our oral hygiene regime, we brush our tongues as well. Food can get trapped in the grooves in the tongue, bacteria steps in and whoa....stand back 'cause your breath is three alarm awful!
It's not that bad.
don't be upset if you've figured out you have chronic bad breath. you can do something about it and the end of the world is not coming. Go to your dentist and work out a plan that will effectively eliminate your chronic bad breath.
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