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.
Sunday, May 31, 2009
Wednesday, May 27, 2009
Cure of Bad Breath
ad breath is a common health problem in the society.Offenssive 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 offenssive gases like hydrogen sulphide,skatol ect.
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 problem 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 food gargling with lukewarm water is very essential.Even after small food articles like snacks,sweets,buscuits 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 result.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 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 healp of a tongue cleaner. Tongue cleaner must be used gently without damaging the taste buds on the tongue.
4) Tooth pick:
Tooth pick is a small strip of wood or plastic with a pointed end.This 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 little common salt is dissolved in the lukewarm water .Different types of mouth wash is available in the market in different trade names.Gargling with mouth wash can also reduce bad breath.
6) Food habits:
Protein containing food articles are known to produce bad breath. Example; meat, milk, fish, egg etc. If these food articles are taken proper cleaning is essential.Some food articles are known to produce particular smell which may be unpleasent 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 keep every body away.Small food articles taken in between can also cause bad smell(nuts,fried items etc).Maintaining regularity in food timing is the most important thing.
7) Water intake:
Dryness in the mouth can make a favourable 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 freshners:
Natural and artificial mouth freshners can reduce the intensity of bad breath to some extent.Spicy articles are commonly used for this purpose.Chewing spices like clove,cumin seed,cardomom,cinnamon,ginger ect are useful. All citrus fruits can reduce bad odor.Mouth freshners 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 doesn't work then what to 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 and ect.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 inflamatory 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 atleast once in a year.
4) Filling of caries:
Since caries are one of the main cause for 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) Tooth extraction:
If caries are deep with destruction of teeth with bad smell extraction is the better choice and a dental implant can be kept in the gap.
6) Tonsillectomy:
Patients with recurrent tonsillitis can have bad breath due to offenssive discharges and release of pasty materials from the crypts of tonsils.Such patients get great relief after tonsillectomy(removal of tonsils).
7) Psychological counselling:
Those who suffer from bad breath may be very much depressed and they be away from the public .This isolation hampers their daytoday activities.Such people should understand the fact that all humanbeings are having bad breath, but with slight differences in intensities.Mostly all people control it by taking personal care.Every human body has got it's own smell,that may or may not be tolerable for others.They should be adviced to do all hygienic meashures 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 are 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 ect.proper diagnosis is needed to rule out any real causes.These patients should be managed with a psychological approach.
8) Homoeopathy:
In Homoeopathy medicines are selected on the basis of physical ,mental,emotional,and social aspects of the diseased 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.In the homoeopathic medical repertory by Dr Robin Murphy there are 140 homoeopathic drugs mentioned for bad breath.On the basis of signs and symptoms of the individual a suitable medicine is given.Commonly used drugs are arnica, antim crud, pulsatilla, sulphur, psorinum, nux vomica, ars alb, merc sol, kreosot, hekla lava, silicea, asafoitida, graphites, kali bich, acid nitric etc.
Homoeopathic mother tinctures like cinnamon Q,kreosot Q,zingiber Q,rhus glabra Q,menthol Q and ect can be used for gargling after diluting in water.
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 problem 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 food gargling with lukewarm water is very essential.Even after small food articles like snacks,sweets,buscuits 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 result.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 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 healp of a tongue cleaner. Tongue cleaner must be used gently without damaging the taste buds on the tongue.
4) Tooth pick:
Tooth pick is a small strip of wood or plastic with a pointed end.This 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 little common salt is dissolved in the lukewarm water .Different types of mouth wash is available in the market in different trade names.Gargling with mouth wash can also reduce bad breath.
6) Food habits:
Protein containing food articles are known to produce bad breath. Example; meat, milk, fish, egg etc. If these food articles are taken proper cleaning is essential.Some food articles are known to produce particular smell which may be unpleasent 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 keep every body away.Small food articles taken in between can also cause bad smell(nuts,fried items etc).Maintaining regularity in food timing is the most important thing.
7) Water intake:
Dryness in the mouth can make a favourable 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 freshners:
Natural and artificial mouth freshners can reduce the intensity of bad breath to some extent.Spicy articles are commonly used for this purpose.Chewing spices like clove,cumin seed,cardomom,cinnamon,ginger ect are useful. All citrus fruits can reduce bad odor.Mouth freshners 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 doesn't work then what to 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 and ect.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 inflamatory 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 atleast once in a year.
4) Filling of caries:
Since caries are one of the main cause for 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) Tooth extraction:
If caries are deep with destruction of teeth with bad smell extraction is the better choice and a dental implant can be kept in the gap.
6) Tonsillectomy:
Patients with recurrent tonsillitis can have bad breath due to offenssive discharges and release of pasty materials from the crypts of tonsils.Such patients get great relief after tonsillectomy(removal of tonsils).
7) Psychological counselling:
Those who suffer from bad breath may be very much depressed and they be away from the public .This isolation hampers their daytoday activities.Such people should understand the fact that all humanbeings are having bad breath, but with slight differences in intensities.Mostly all people control it by taking personal care.Every human body has got it's own smell,that may or may not be tolerable for others.They should be adviced to do all hygienic meashures 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 are 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 ect.proper diagnosis is needed to rule out any real causes.These patients should be managed with a psychological approach.
8) Homoeopathy:
In Homoeopathy medicines are selected on the basis of physical ,mental,emotional,and social aspects of the diseased 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.In the homoeopathic medical repertory by Dr Robin Murphy there are 140 homoeopathic drugs mentioned for bad breath.On the basis of signs and symptoms of the individual a suitable medicine is given.Commonly used drugs are arnica, antim crud, pulsatilla, sulphur, psorinum, nux vomica, ars alb, merc sol, kreosot, hekla lava, silicea, asafoitida, graphites, kali bich, acid nitric etc.
Homoeopathic mother tinctures like cinnamon Q,kreosot Q,zingiber Q,rhus glabra Q,menthol Q and ect can be used for gargling after diluting in water.
Friday, May 22, 2009
Dental Wellness: Simple Halitosis Cures For Fresh Breath
Many sufferers could be discouraged to dig for halitosis treatment regarding their problem considering they are so abashed. Halitosis manifests for numerous reasons, so you can't be sure of what to do to care for the condition. It is a familiar condition amidst people and as in the case of other common diseases of this nature, there can be quite several simple halitosis cures and remedies, that administer alleviation to anyone going through bad breath.
Eliminating halitosis is complex, seeing that there could be certain causes which may provoke it and whereas you should stop. Customarily, people often misinterprets the actual causes of halitosis. In searching for the simple halitosis cures, it's crucial to learn the certain cause. One foremost causes of halitosis is dry mouth. This is because saliva plays a crucial part in our dental health. Saliva gives the mouth three cardinal purposes:
1. Regulates enzymes which aids in the digestion of food
2. Provides a mode to harmonize the pH or acid levels in the mouth
3. Provides high levels of oxygen so as to secure dental tissues healthy and fresh.
Dentures, oral work, food impaction, and abscesses could be several causes of halitosis. The breakdown of bacteria releases sulphur gas that is connected to oral malodor. Many causes halitosis can be related to several of intrinsic issues like poor dental hygiene, gingivitis, bleeding gums, dry mouth, periodontal disease, tooth decay, or other health related conditions such as sinus infections, diabetes, and even cancer patients going through treatments.
Possessing halitosis might mean you're also at more risk to other oral health issues. To get adequate but simple halitosis cures may demand a dental counsel for possible gum disease, infections or tooth decay. To cure temporary halitosis, simple things like constant brushing, flossing as well as using mouthwash after eating meals or snacks could be a big help. Supposing there are several home remedies for halitosis which administer relief to patients that have them, nevertheless the best and simple halitosis cures which might be done at home without the prescription of a dentist involve, among other things, upholding good oral hygiene.
Those that choose or are avid followers of natural medicines are going for the application of home remedies which have been around for many years. People that have had halitosis have tried many individual halitosis remedies. Like many conditions which are chronic in nature, numerous choices for simple halitosis cures are made practicable to help relieve people of their halitosis conditions.
Trust that there are many simple halitosis cures that are safe, natural, and effectual. Specialized halitosis cures is subject to the actual cause of the problem. General and on hand cures for halitosis are readily attainable. The crucial and simple halitosis cures could just be habitual dental hygiene and regular oral consultations.
Guarantee your oral wellness by using dental products that contain all natural ingredients. Try OraMD and have clean and healthy teeth and gums without the hazards and concerns of any side effects. Oral health affects your overall health, so don't neglect your teeth and gums.
About the Author
Karyu Gilbert is an expert on health related topics. He has written many articles regarding skin care, dental health and many others.
Eliminating halitosis is complex, seeing that there could be certain causes which may provoke it and whereas you should stop. Customarily, people often misinterprets the actual causes of halitosis. In searching for the simple halitosis cures, it's crucial to learn the certain cause. One foremost causes of halitosis is dry mouth. This is because saliva plays a crucial part in our dental health. Saliva gives the mouth three cardinal purposes:
1. Regulates enzymes which aids in the digestion of food
2. Provides a mode to harmonize the pH or acid levels in the mouth
3. Provides high levels of oxygen so as to secure dental tissues healthy and fresh.
Dentures, oral work, food impaction, and abscesses could be several causes of halitosis. The breakdown of bacteria releases sulphur gas that is connected to oral malodor. Many causes halitosis can be related to several of intrinsic issues like poor dental hygiene, gingivitis, bleeding gums, dry mouth, periodontal disease, tooth decay, or other health related conditions such as sinus infections, diabetes, and even cancer patients going through treatments.
Possessing halitosis might mean you're also at more risk to other oral health issues. To get adequate but simple halitosis cures may demand a dental counsel for possible gum disease, infections or tooth decay. To cure temporary halitosis, simple things like constant brushing, flossing as well as using mouthwash after eating meals or snacks could be a big help. Supposing there are several home remedies for halitosis which administer relief to patients that have them, nevertheless the best and simple halitosis cures which might be done at home without the prescription of a dentist involve, among other things, upholding good oral hygiene.
Those that choose or are avid followers of natural medicines are going for the application of home remedies which have been around for many years. People that have had halitosis have tried many individual halitosis remedies. Like many conditions which are chronic in nature, numerous choices for simple halitosis cures are made practicable to help relieve people of their halitosis conditions.
Trust that there are many simple halitosis cures that are safe, natural, and effectual. Specialized halitosis cures is subject to the actual cause of the problem. General and on hand cures for halitosis are readily attainable. The crucial and simple halitosis cures could just be habitual dental hygiene and regular oral consultations.
Guarantee your oral wellness by using dental products that contain all natural ingredients. Try OraMD and have clean and healthy teeth and gums without the hazards and concerns of any side effects. Oral health affects your overall health, so don't neglect your teeth and gums.
About the Author
Karyu Gilbert is an expert on health related topics. He has written many articles regarding skin care, dental health and many others.
Wednesday, May 20, 2009
Top Tip For Making A Great Speech
How can you train your mind to overcome all of the negative fear and anxiety which is often associated with public speaking, and instead boost positive and confident thought, thereby paving the way to delivering your speech calmly, powerfully and successfully?
Great public speaking is all about confidence; the confidence to stand up in a room full of people who you don't know, and deliver a speech with eloquence and gusto. It's not easy - without effective mental rehearsal you may become short of breath, experience butterflies in your stomach, forget what you were going to talk about or even freeze completely. Some unfortunate people have even been known to faint.
Some people are naturally accomplished orators, who not only speak with passion and wit, but thoroughly enjoy being in the limelight. They have the ability to make every single person in the audience feel that they are communicating almost solely with you, and compel your full attention. Others prefer to stand back, to mingle amongst the crowd and shy away from the spot light. How can humans be so very different, from one individual to the next? We all have the same individual components after all. We are all born with the capacity to learn, develop and achieve almost unlimited things.
At birth, the human brain is not fully formed. A template is there which adapts to the environment and culture to which we are born. We learn through experience, be it our native tongue or a familiarity with standing up in front of our peers and taking centre stage. We learn whether something feels good to us or not depending upon each individual experience. Before the age of 10 we usually have a reasonably well developed sense of who we are and what we are comfortable with or not.
From there on in, we tend to live our lives within the limitations of these core beliefs and expectations. If we have had bad experiences or no experience of "performing" in front of a crowd, the tendency for most is to shy away from such circumstances. On the other hand, those who have had good experiences have the budding confidence to stand up there again and again, building greater degrees of confidence along the way. Good experiences, repeated time and again lead to comfort and confidence.
But if you haven't had such good and powerful experiences, you don't have to stay the same way. You can learn to overcome your shyness, fear or trepidation and think differently and feel differently. You have the capacity to feel just as confident and comfortable as the best orators in the world. The key is in knowing how to mentally rehearse your speech again and again so that you effectively "trick" your inner mind into believing that you have been in this situation many times before and so you feel the comfort of this experience and the confidence which accompanies it.
Your mind does not know the difference between something which is real and something which is vividly imagined. This is fact. Thus by vividly imagining yourself making a great speech and receiving positive feedback from the crowd you in effect train your brain to feel comfortable and happy about such events. I do not just mean thinking about your speech and imagining it to be word perfect, I mean that you should really see yourself there, to step right into a movie in your minds' eye, to hear your own voice, loud and clear, to feel the confidence in your stance, to feel the warm response of the audience.
A thought without an emotion will have no effect. Your effective mental rehearsal will involve all of your senses; you will be powerfully aware and fully absorbed in the sights, sounds and feelings associated with your imagery. It is this vivid detail and emotion which embeds the "experience" within your psyche. It is this detailed emotional input which makes it "true". And as you visualize your speech again and again and again, it is as if you have already "been there and done that" all of those many times..and so public speaking truly feels like second nature to you.
There is another way in which you can enhance the effect of such visualization. You can use hypnosis to relax and access your subconscious mind and then run through your visualizations in this state of relaxed focus. In this way your visualizations will take on more color and texture, more vividness and reality, as your creative mind is unleashed. Hypnotic suggestions can also be made to further increase confidence and empower you to an ever more compelling performance.
What are you waiting for? You can start visualizing right now and you will find you get better and better at it, and you can get hypnosis downloads to make your visualizations more powerfully compelling and therefore effective.
Great public speaking is all about confidence; the confidence to stand up in a room full of people who you don't know, and deliver a speech with eloquence and gusto. It's not easy - without effective mental rehearsal you may become short of breath, experience butterflies in your stomach, forget what you were going to talk about or even freeze completely. Some unfortunate people have even been known to faint.
Some people are naturally accomplished orators, who not only speak with passion and wit, but thoroughly enjoy being in the limelight. They have the ability to make every single person in the audience feel that they are communicating almost solely with you, and compel your full attention. Others prefer to stand back, to mingle amongst the crowd and shy away from the spot light. How can humans be so very different, from one individual to the next? We all have the same individual components after all. We are all born with the capacity to learn, develop and achieve almost unlimited things.
At birth, the human brain is not fully formed. A template is there which adapts to the environment and culture to which we are born. We learn through experience, be it our native tongue or a familiarity with standing up in front of our peers and taking centre stage. We learn whether something feels good to us or not depending upon each individual experience. Before the age of 10 we usually have a reasonably well developed sense of who we are and what we are comfortable with or not.
From there on in, we tend to live our lives within the limitations of these core beliefs and expectations. If we have had bad experiences or no experience of "performing" in front of a crowd, the tendency for most is to shy away from such circumstances. On the other hand, those who have had good experiences have the budding confidence to stand up there again and again, building greater degrees of confidence along the way. Good experiences, repeated time and again lead to comfort and confidence.
But if you haven't had such good and powerful experiences, you don't have to stay the same way. You can learn to overcome your shyness, fear or trepidation and think differently and feel differently. You have the capacity to feel just as confident and comfortable as the best orators in the world. The key is in knowing how to mentally rehearse your speech again and again so that you effectively "trick" your inner mind into believing that you have been in this situation many times before and so you feel the comfort of this experience and the confidence which accompanies it.
Your mind does not know the difference between something which is real and something which is vividly imagined. This is fact. Thus by vividly imagining yourself making a great speech and receiving positive feedback from the crowd you in effect train your brain to feel comfortable and happy about such events. I do not just mean thinking about your speech and imagining it to be word perfect, I mean that you should really see yourself there, to step right into a movie in your minds' eye, to hear your own voice, loud and clear, to feel the confidence in your stance, to feel the warm response of the audience.
A thought without an emotion will have no effect. Your effective mental rehearsal will involve all of your senses; you will be powerfully aware and fully absorbed in the sights, sounds and feelings associated with your imagery. It is this vivid detail and emotion which embeds the "experience" within your psyche. It is this detailed emotional input which makes it "true". And as you visualize your speech again and again and again, it is as if you have already "been there and done that" all of those many times..and so public speaking truly feels like second nature to you.
There is another way in which you can enhance the effect of such visualization. You can use hypnosis to relax and access your subconscious mind and then run through your visualizations in this state of relaxed focus. In this way your visualizations will take on more color and texture, more vividness and reality, as your creative mind is unleashed. Hypnotic suggestions can also be made to further increase confidence and empower you to an ever more compelling performance.
What are you waiting for? You can start visualizing right now and you will find you get better and better at it, and you can get hypnosis downloads to make your visualizations more powerfully compelling and therefore effective.
Tuesday, May 19, 2009
Bad Breath
Causes of bad breath ?
Bad breath is a common health problem which greately affects the daytoday activities of somany people. The offenssive odor from the mouth is unpleasent to those who come in close contact with bad breathers. The problem will be doubled by psychological trauma leading to depression. The sufferers from this problem wil be isolated from the society. This can even lead to marital disharmony.
Literally speaking all humanbeings are badbreathres. Oral cavity contains millions of anaerobic bacteria like fusobacterium and actinomyces which acts on the protein of food materials and putrifies them. This process results in the formation of offenssive gases like hydrogen sulphide,methyl mescaptan,cadaverin,skatol,putrescine ect causing bad odor. If oral hygiene is not maintained properly all will suffer from bad breath. Most of us control this by regular brushing,tongue cleaning and gargling. Even after maintining cleanliness in the mouth some individuals suffer from offenssive smell due to various causes which has to be diagnosed and treated properly.
Some common causes of bad breath.
1) Poor oral hygiene:
If oral hygiene is not maintained properly the mouth becomes the seat for millions of bacteria which produce offenssive gases by degrading the food debris. Bad breath is severe in those who do not brush their teeth regularly and clean their mouth after every food. Snacks taken inbetween meals can also produce bad breath because of improper cleaning.
Badbreath is common in almost all people in the morning on waking. During sleep there is less production of saliva .Saliva has got some antibacterial properties which help to keep the mouth clean. Saliva conains oxygen molecules which is needed to make oral cavity aerobic. So the reduction in it's quantity during sleep makes a favourable condition for anaerobic bacteria.
2) Food habits:
The main cause of bad smell is due to degradation of protein by the bacteria and hence all food products rich in protein favours bad breath. Meat,fish,milk products, eggs,cakes,nuts,pear and ect can cause bad breath. Some food articles can produce particular type of smell which may be unpleasent. Raw onion can produce typical bad smell. It is said that an apple a day keeps the doctor away,a raw onion a day keeps everybody away. Eating groundnuts can also produce bad smell. However if proper cleaning is done smell can be reduced irrespective of the nature of food. Irregularity in timing of food can also produce bad breath. Small food articles taken in between the meals can also produce bad smell.
3) Biofilm:
There is formation of a thin sticky coating called biofilm on the tongue and oral mucosa. This coating is thick on the posterior aspect of the tongue where millions of gram negative bacteriae are seen .The thick coating on the tongue is always associated with badbreath. Even a thin biofilm can make anaerobic condition favourable for bacterial proliferation.
4) Dental caries:
This is a destructive process causing decalcification with distruction of enamel and dentine resulting in cavitisation of the tooth. These are produced mainly by the lactobacilli . Food particles are deposited inside these cavities and are putrified by the anaerobic bacteria producing bad smell. Normal brushing will not remove the food debris easily and hence they are putrified completely. Caries are common in schoolgoing children and in those who donot maintain proper oral hygiene .Calcium and vitamin deficiency can also predispose caries.
5) Gingivitis:
Gum is a mucus membrane with supporting connective tissue covering the tooth bearing borders of the jaw .The main function of gum is protection .Gingivitis is the inflammation of the gum .Due to various causes gum tissue get infected resulting in swelling,pain and discharge. If the condition become worse the infection spread towards peridontal area leading to continuous discharge called pyorrhoea. Some times the infection goes deep producing alveolar abscess with discharge of pus. Infection can even reach the bone causing osteomyelitis.All these conditions can produce offenssive smell.
6) Gum retraction:
When the gums retract from the teeth a gap is developed which will lodge food particles and cause bad breath.
7) Dental plaques and tartar deposits; Plaques and tartar is deposited mainly in the gaps between the teeth and gum. This will provide shelter for the food debris and bacteria causing bad breath.
8) Ulcerative lesions& coatings:
Almost all ulcerative lesions of the mouth are associated with bad breath. These lesions may be caused by bacteria,viruses,food allergies or due to autoimmune disorders. Apthous ulcer is the commonest amoung ulcerative lesions. Others are herpes,fungal infections,vincents angina,infectious mononucleosis,scarlet fever,diphtheria,drug reactions and ect. Cancerous ulcers produce severe bad breath. All fungal infections produce white coating(candidiasis). Leucoplakia is a white thick patch on the mucus membrane of the mouth & tongue. It is considered as a precancerous condition. Offenssive breath is associated with these conditions.
9) Diseases of the salivary glands:
Saliva is very useful to supply oxygen to all parts of the oral cavity. Even a thin film of coating called biofilm can provide an anaerobic condition in the mouth. Saliva can wet these layers and make an aerobic condition which is unfavourable for the bacteria .Any condition which reduces the production of saliva can increase bacterial activity. Some times the salivary duct is obstructed by stones or tumors.Cancer of the salivary gland is associated with offenssive odor. In suppurative parotitis purulant dischrge in to the mouth causes bad breath.
10) Tonsillitis:
Tonsils are a pair of lymphoid tissue situated in the lateral wall of oropharynx. Inflammation of the tonsil is called tonsillitis. Bad breath is seen in both acute and chronic tonsillitis. Quinsy or peritonsillar abscess can also produce bad breath.
11) Tonsillar plaques & tonsillar fluid:
If bad breath persists even after maintaining proper oral hygeine there is possibility of this condition. Serous fluid secreated from the folds of tonsil is very offenssive. Some patients complain that they hawk some cheesy materials from the throat;which are very offenssive in nature. These are formed inside the tonsillar crypts which contain thousands of bacteriae. In such conditions tonsillectomy gives noticiable relief from bad breath.
12) Pharyngitis& pharyngial abscess:
Pharynx is a fibromuscular tube which forms the upper part of the digestive & respiratory tract. Inflmmation of the pharynx is called pharyngitis, caused mainly by bacteria and viruses. Bad breath is present in pharyngitis along with other signs like cough and throat irritation. Abscesses in the wall of pharynx can also produce offenssive discharge of pus in to the throat.
13) Dentures:
Denture users may complain about bad smell due to lodgement of small food debris in between. Proper brushing may not be possible in denture users especially fixed dentures.
14) Tobacco:
Tobacco chewing is associated with bad breath. The smell of tobacco itself is unpleasent for others. Tobacco can irritate the mucus membrane and cause ulcers and coatings. Gingivitis and pyorrhoea are common in tobacco chewers. Tartar is deposited on the teeth mainly near the gums. Tobacco chewers get gastric acidity with eructations. All these causes offenssive smell.
15) Smoking:
Smokers always have bad smell. It can also produce lesions in the mouth & lungs causing bad breath.Smoking increases carbon dioxide in the oral cavity & reduces oxygen level,causing a favourable condition for bacteria. Smoking reduses appetite & thirst hence acid peptic disease is common in chain smokers.
16) Lesions in the nose & ear:
Bad breath is occasionally seen in sinusitis(infection of para nasal sinuses). In case of post nasal dripping bad breath is common due to the presence of protein in the discharges. These proteins are degraded by the bacteria. Infection in the middle ear with discharge of pus in to the throat through the eustachian tube(passage from middle ear to the throat)can also cause offenssive odor. Chronic rhinitis(infection of mucus membrane of nose) and forign bodies in the nose can also produce bad smell in the expired air.
17) Diabetes mellitus:
Mostly all diabetic patients suffer from bad breath. Coated tongue,ulcers &coatings in the mouth ,increased sugar level in tissues ect are responsible for bad breath.Bacterial growth in diabetic patient is very faster than non diabetic individuals.
18) Fevers:
Bad breath is common in almost all fevers. Even an acute fever can produce bad breath. Severe bad breath is seen in typhoid .Other infectious diseases like Tuberculosis , AIDS ect produce bad smell.
19) Fasting & dehydration:
Dry mouth favours bacterial activity. So any condition which produce dryness in the mouth makes the breath offenssive. Eventhough the food particles are known to produce bad breath, fasting can also produce the same. Production of saliva is also reduced during fasting. Chewing and swallowing also helps to keep the mouth clean.
20) Bedridden patients:
Bedridden patients suffer from offenssive breath due to thick coating on the tongue. water intake is also limited in these patients. Regurgitation of food aggravates the condition. Since they talk less aeration in the oral cavity is reduced which favours anaerobic bacteria to become active.
21) Diseases of stomach & esophagus:
Eructation of gas and food produce unpleasent smell. Abnormality in the function of lower sphincter can allow the food to regurgitate upwards causing bad breath. Bad breath is also common in gastritis,gastric ulcer and cancer of stomach.
22) Intestinal diseases:
Bad breath is common in patients suffering from ulcerative lesions of intestine like ulcerative collitis..Other diseases are malabsorption syndrome intestinal tuberculosis, peritonitis ect.
23) Diseases of lungs:
Lung diseases like pneumonia, lung abscess,chronic bronchitis,bronchiectasis,tuberculosis, lung cancer ect can produce bad odor during expiration.
24) Liver disorders:
Liver diseases like hepatitis, cirrhosis,can cause bad breath.Gall bladder diseases with vomiting also causes unpleasent odor.
25) Psychiatric patients:
Bad breath is common in psychotic patients due to poor hygiene,irregular food habits,less water intake and ect.
26) Somatisation disorder:
This is a psychiatric disorder charecterised by the presence of a physical symptom that suggest a medical illness .These patients come with physical complaints like pain,nausea difficult respiration, bad smell ect. This condition is diagnosed after detailed examination of the patient with all investigations.Since this is a psychiatric disorder it has to be managed with a psychological approach.
[ THE POINTS MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE IS FOR GENERAL INFORMATION. ANY PERSON HAVING BAD BREATH SHOULD CONSULT A QUALIFIED DOCTOR ]
Bad breath is a common health problem which greately affects the daytoday activities of somany people. The offenssive odor from the mouth is unpleasent to those who come in close contact with bad breathers. The problem will be doubled by psychological trauma leading to depression. The sufferers from this problem wil be isolated from the society. This can even lead to marital disharmony.
Literally speaking all humanbeings are badbreathres. Oral cavity contains millions of anaerobic bacteria like fusobacterium and actinomyces which acts on the protein of food materials and putrifies them. This process results in the formation of offenssive gases like hydrogen sulphide,methyl mescaptan,cadaverin,skatol,putrescine ect causing bad odor. If oral hygiene is not maintained properly all will suffer from bad breath. Most of us control this by regular brushing,tongue cleaning and gargling. Even after maintining cleanliness in the mouth some individuals suffer from offenssive smell due to various causes which has to be diagnosed and treated properly.
Some common causes of bad breath.
1) Poor oral hygiene:
If oral hygiene is not maintained properly the mouth becomes the seat for millions of bacteria which produce offenssive gases by degrading the food debris. Bad breath is severe in those who do not brush their teeth regularly and clean their mouth after every food. Snacks taken inbetween meals can also produce bad breath because of improper cleaning.
Badbreath is common in almost all people in the morning on waking. During sleep there is less production of saliva .Saliva has got some antibacterial properties which help to keep the mouth clean. Saliva conains oxygen molecules which is needed to make oral cavity aerobic. So the reduction in it's quantity during sleep makes a favourable condition for anaerobic bacteria.
2) Food habits:
The main cause of bad smell is due to degradation of protein by the bacteria and hence all food products rich in protein favours bad breath. Meat,fish,milk products, eggs,cakes,nuts,pear and ect can cause bad breath. Some food articles can produce particular type of smell which may be unpleasent. Raw onion can produce typical bad smell. It is said that an apple a day keeps the doctor away,a raw onion a day keeps everybody away. Eating groundnuts can also produce bad smell. However if proper cleaning is done smell can be reduced irrespective of the nature of food. Irregularity in timing of food can also produce bad breath. Small food articles taken in between the meals can also produce bad smell.
3) Biofilm:
There is formation of a thin sticky coating called biofilm on the tongue and oral mucosa. This coating is thick on the posterior aspect of the tongue where millions of gram negative bacteriae are seen .The thick coating on the tongue is always associated with badbreath. Even a thin biofilm can make anaerobic condition favourable for bacterial proliferation.
4) Dental caries:
This is a destructive process causing decalcification with distruction of enamel and dentine resulting in cavitisation of the tooth. These are produced mainly by the lactobacilli . Food particles are deposited inside these cavities and are putrified by the anaerobic bacteria producing bad smell. Normal brushing will not remove the food debris easily and hence they are putrified completely. Caries are common in schoolgoing children and in those who donot maintain proper oral hygiene .Calcium and vitamin deficiency can also predispose caries.
5) Gingivitis:
Gum is a mucus membrane with supporting connective tissue covering the tooth bearing borders of the jaw .The main function of gum is protection .Gingivitis is the inflammation of the gum .Due to various causes gum tissue get infected resulting in swelling,pain and discharge. If the condition become worse the infection spread towards peridontal area leading to continuous discharge called pyorrhoea. Some times the infection goes deep producing alveolar abscess with discharge of pus. Infection can even reach the bone causing osteomyelitis.All these conditions can produce offenssive smell.
6) Gum retraction:
When the gums retract from the teeth a gap is developed which will lodge food particles and cause bad breath.
7) Dental plaques and tartar deposits; Plaques and tartar is deposited mainly in the gaps between the teeth and gum. This will provide shelter for the food debris and bacteria causing bad breath.
8) Ulcerative lesions& coatings:
Almost all ulcerative lesions of the mouth are associated with bad breath. These lesions may be caused by bacteria,viruses,food allergies or due to autoimmune disorders. Apthous ulcer is the commonest amoung ulcerative lesions. Others are herpes,fungal infections,vincents angina,infectious mononucleosis,scarlet fever,diphtheria,drug reactions and ect. Cancerous ulcers produce severe bad breath. All fungal infections produce white coating(candidiasis). Leucoplakia is a white thick patch on the mucus membrane of the mouth & tongue. It is considered as a precancerous condition. Offenssive breath is associated with these conditions.
9) Diseases of the salivary glands:
Saliva is very useful to supply oxygen to all parts of the oral cavity. Even a thin film of coating called biofilm can provide an anaerobic condition in the mouth. Saliva can wet these layers and make an aerobic condition which is unfavourable for the bacteria .Any condition which reduces the production of saliva can increase bacterial activity. Some times the salivary duct is obstructed by stones or tumors.Cancer of the salivary gland is associated with offenssive odor. In suppurative parotitis purulant dischrge in to the mouth causes bad breath.
10) Tonsillitis:
Tonsils are a pair of lymphoid tissue situated in the lateral wall of oropharynx. Inflammation of the tonsil is called tonsillitis. Bad breath is seen in both acute and chronic tonsillitis. Quinsy or peritonsillar abscess can also produce bad breath.
11) Tonsillar plaques & tonsillar fluid:
If bad breath persists even after maintaining proper oral hygeine there is possibility of this condition. Serous fluid secreated from the folds of tonsil is very offenssive. Some patients complain that they hawk some cheesy materials from the throat;which are very offenssive in nature. These are formed inside the tonsillar crypts which contain thousands of bacteriae. In such conditions tonsillectomy gives noticiable relief from bad breath.
12) Pharyngitis& pharyngial abscess:
Pharynx is a fibromuscular tube which forms the upper part of the digestive & respiratory tract. Inflmmation of the pharynx is called pharyngitis, caused mainly by bacteria and viruses. Bad breath is present in pharyngitis along with other signs like cough and throat irritation. Abscesses in the wall of pharynx can also produce offenssive discharge of pus in to the throat.
13) Dentures:
Denture users may complain about bad smell due to lodgement of small food debris in between. Proper brushing may not be possible in denture users especially fixed dentures.
14) Tobacco:
Tobacco chewing is associated with bad breath. The smell of tobacco itself is unpleasent for others. Tobacco can irritate the mucus membrane and cause ulcers and coatings. Gingivitis and pyorrhoea are common in tobacco chewers. Tartar is deposited on the teeth mainly near the gums. Tobacco chewers get gastric acidity with eructations. All these causes offenssive smell.
15) Smoking:
Smokers always have bad smell. It can also produce lesions in the mouth & lungs causing bad breath.Smoking increases carbon dioxide in the oral cavity & reduces oxygen level,causing a favourable condition for bacteria. Smoking reduses appetite & thirst hence acid peptic disease is common in chain smokers.
16) Lesions in the nose & ear:
Bad breath is occasionally seen in sinusitis(infection of para nasal sinuses). In case of post nasal dripping bad breath is common due to the presence of protein in the discharges. These proteins are degraded by the bacteria. Infection in the middle ear with discharge of pus in to the throat through the eustachian tube(passage from middle ear to the throat)can also cause offenssive odor. Chronic rhinitis(infection of mucus membrane of nose) and forign bodies in the nose can also produce bad smell in the expired air.
17) Diabetes mellitus:
Mostly all diabetic patients suffer from bad breath. Coated tongue,ulcers &coatings in the mouth ,increased sugar level in tissues ect are responsible for bad breath.Bacterial growth in diabetic patient is very faster than non diabetic individuals.
18) Fevers:
Bad breath is common in almost all fevers. Even an acute fever can produce bad breath. Severe bad breath is seen in typhoid .Other infectious diseases like Tuberculosis , AIDS ect produce bad smell.
19) Fasting & dehydration:
Dry mouth favours bacterial activity. So any condition which produce dryness in the mouth makes the breath offenssive. Eventhough the food particles are known to produce bad breath, fasting can also produce the same. Production of saliva is also reduced during fasting. Chewing and swallowing also helps to keep the mouth clean.
20) Bedridden patients:
Bedridden patients suffer from offenssive breath due to thick coating on the tongue. water intake is also limited in these patients. Regurgitation of food aggravates the condition. Since they talk less aeration in the oral cavity is reduced which favours anaerobic bacteria to become active.
21) Diseases of stomach & esophagus:
Eructation of gas and food produce unpleasent smell. Abnormality in the function of lower sphincter can allow the food to regurgitate upwards causing bad breath. Bad breath is also common in gastritis,gastric ulcer and cancer of stomach.
22) Intestinal diseases:
Bad breath is common in patients suffering from ulcerative lesions of intestine like ulcerative collitis..Other diseases are malabsorption syndrome intestinal tuberculosis, peritonitis ect.
23) Diseases of lungs:
Lung diseases like pneumonia, lung abscess,chronic bronchitis,bronchiectasis,tuberculosis, lung cancer ect can produce bad odor during expiration.
24) Liver disorders:
Liver diseases like hepatitis, cirrhosis,can cause bad breath.Gall bladder diseases with vomiting also causes unpleasent odor.
25) Psychiatric patients:
Bad breath is common in psychotic patients due to poor hygiene,irregular food habits,less water intake and ect.
26) Somatisation disorder:
This is a psychiatric disorder charecterised by the presence of a physical symptom that suggest a medical illness .These patients come with physical complaints like pain,nausea difficult respiration, bad smell ect. This condition is diagnosed after detailed examination of the patient with all investigations.Since this is a psychiatric disorder it has to be managed with a psychological approach.
[ THE POINTS MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE IS FOR GENERAL INFORMATION. ANY PERSON HAVING BAD BREATH SHOULD CONSULT A QUALIFIED DOCTOR ]
Wednesday, May 13, 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.
Saturday, May 9, 2009
Reasons Why You Are Yet to Get a Girlfriend and Why You Might Never Get One! Part 1
Are you one of those guys who as tried everything imaginable to get a girlfriend? Have you spent days reading books and hours listening to advice on how to land yourself a cute babe without success? Do you know that the cause of your inability to get a girlfriend might just be you? Well it's time to find out the whole truth!
Let me start by telling you a short (but very interesting) story. I taught at a youth conference a couple of months back. After the conference I felt really drained and all I could think of was to get out of there as fast as I could and get a good long rest at home.
Anyway, I was on my way out when a huge guy stepped in front of me. He apparently needed my help, and I needed an excuse to get going, and the minute he opened his mouth to speak, I got what I needed! This guy had a terrible mouth odour. It was so distracting that I couldn't comprehend a single word he spoke. So I did the only logical thing I could think of at that point - I gave him my number so we could speak later - that way I would be able to focus on something other than his mouth odour.
He called me the next morning, and immediately got into a sad tale about how he had been unable to get a girlfriend since ... well since he could remember. He then went on to tell me about a fresher in his school that he really likes and how she started avoiding him once she got the hint. "Maybe it is because of your mouth odour!" I blurted, and the line went silent. Well I know I should have been gentler with my approach, but frankly I was getting bored and itching to get the story to its end.
Well that was my short story, and the moral of the story is that poor hygiene sets you many-many steps back in your quest to get a girlfriend. Just like I didn't want to, no lady wants to spend quality time with a guy whose mouth smells badly, or a guy who smells like he hasn't had a bath in weeks. And the worst thing about having odours is that most people won't tell you about it, for the sake of being polite, so you really need to check yourself. So start cleaning up, and see your chances of getting the lady of your dreams increase dramatically!
Thanks for Reading
Dee
For loads of information on how to get the girlfriend of your dreams check out my blog:
http://deeromance.blogspot.com
Let me start by telling you a short (but very interesting) story. I taught at a youth conference a couple of months back. After the conference I felt really drained and all I could think of was to get out of there as fast as I could and get a good long rest at home.
Anyway, I was on my way out when a huge guy stepped in front of me. He apparently needed my help, and I needed an excuse to get going, and the minute he opened his mouth to speak, I got what I needed! This guy had a terrible mouth odour. It was so distracting that I couldn't comprehend a single word he spoke. So I did the only logical thing I could think of at that point - I gave him my number so we could speak later - that way I would be able to focus on something other than his mouth odour.
He called me the next morning, and immediately got into a sad tale about how he had been unable to get a girlfriend since ... well since he could remember. He then went on to tell me about a fresher in his school that he really likes and how she started avoiding him once she got the hint. "Maybe it is because of your mouth odour!" I blurted, and the line went silent. Well I know I should have been gentler with my approach, but frankly I was getting bored and itching to get the story to its end.
Well that was my short story, and the moral of the story is that poor hygiene sets you many-many steps back in your quest to get a girlfriend. Just like I didn't want to, no lady wants to spend quality time with a guy whose mouth smells badly, or a guy who smells like he hasn't had a bath in weeks. And the worst thing about having odours is that most people won't tell you about it, for the sake of being polite, so you really need to check yourself. So start cleaning up, and see your chances of getting the lady of your dreams increase dramatically!
Thanks for Reading
Dee
For loads of information on how to get the girlfriend of your dreams check out my blog:
http://deeromance.blogspot.com
Wednesday, May 6, 2009
Cures For Bad Breath - Options You Should Consider to End Halitosis and Have a Fresh Breath Always
It has been proven that about ninety percent of the major causes of halitosis or bad breath is from bacteria produced from your tongue's surface. Halitosis is actually a sign of health problem. That is why finding the right cures for bad breath is very important. Although people may believe they can actually solve the problem on their own, it is still ideal to seek professional help from your dentist or doctor.
Halitosis, or bad breath is one thing major health concern that should be taken seriously. Cures for bad breath involves a lot of commitment when it comes to good eating habits, proper hygiene, and proper health care. If you believe you are having issues with your oral health, there are some things you need to consider.
Visiting your Dentist. As much as possible, try to visit your dentist at least once a year. This is a good start to avoid any oral health problems in the long run. However if halitosis is already present in your oral health, your dentist can help you in terms of cures and medications.
Use a Tongue Scraper. Formation of bacteria usually starts in the tongue. To decrease any bacterial population, try using a tongue scraper preferably after waking up and before going to bed. Also, be sure you brush and floss your teeth at least twice a day. This is to avoid formation of cavities normally caused by food particles in between your teeth and your gum line.
When it comes to finding the right cures for bad breath, the best thing you can possibly do is to visit your dental expert.
Also pay close attention to this,
Halitosis, or bad breath is one thing major health concern that should be taken seriously. Cures for bad breath involves a lot of commitment when it comes to good eating habits, proper hygiene, and proper health care. If you believe you are having issues with your oral health, there are some things you need to consider.
Visiting your Dentist. As much as possible, try to visit your dentist at least once a year. This is a good start to avoid any oral health problems in the long run. However if halitosis is already present in your oral health, your dentist can help you in terms of cures and medications.
Use a Tongue Scraper. Formation of bacteria usually starts in the tongue. To decrease any bacterial population, try using a tongue scraper preferably after waking up and before going to bed. Also, be sure you brush and floss your teeth at least twice a day. This is to avoid formation of cavities normally caused by food particles in between your teeth and your gum line.
When it comes to finding the right cures for bad breath, the best thing you can possibly do is to visit your dental expert.
Also pay close attention to this,
Sunday, May 3, 2009
Fight Bad Breath and Win
Can you fight back against bad breath and actually win? You bet you can. And the win I'm talking about here is not a cover up fix where the same breath comes back the very next morning to haunt you all over again.
Of course, you do have to take daily action, but I think you will agree that it is worth it in order to escape breath problems. Let's face it, stale breath effects your personal and professional life.
Using the right products to fight a breath problem is crucial. In fact, it is absolutely necessary.
The problem you are facing is from bacteria that produce a special waste product. This waste product is the cause of stale breath. The problem is in reducing the amounts of the waste product to levels that do not make your breath smell.
In order to do that, you must reduce the number of bacteria that are causing this effect. This is what fighting halitosis is really about.
What are those waste products called? They are called VSCs or Volatile Sulfur Compounds. There was a study done entitled: Topographic Distribution of Bacteria Associated with Oral Malodour on The Tongue.
This study showed that the greatest concentration of odor causing bacteria was on the back regions of the tongue. Here is where you want to concentrate your efforts.
With a bit of work on a regular basis you can win the fight against problem breath. Next: Find out what you can do to conquer bad breath by clicking the links below:
Of course, you do have to take daily action, but I think you will agree that it is worth it in order to escape breath problems. Let's face it, stale breath effects your personal and professional life.
Using the right products to fight a breath problem is crucial. In fact, it is absolutely necessary.
The problem you are facing is from bacteria that produce a special waste product. This waste product is the cause of stale breath. The problem is in reducing the amounts of the waste product to levels that do not make your breath smell.
In order to do that, you must reduce the number of bacteria that are causing this effect. This is what fighting halitosis is really about.
What are those waste products called? They are called VSCs or Volatile Sulfur Compounds. There was a study done entitled: Topographic Distribution of Bacteria Associated with Oral Malodour on The Tongue.
This study showed that the greatest concentration of odor causing bacteria was on the back regions of the tongue. Here is where you want to concentrate your efforts.
With a bit of work on a regular basis you can win the fight against problem breath. Next: Find out what you can do to conquer bad breath by clicking the links below:
Friday, May 1, 2009
Bad Breath - Cure it and Make Sure it Doesn't Come Back
We've all found ourselves chatting with someone whose bad breath could strip the skin from Superman's face. And, let's face it, we've all been on the other end of things where everyone in a ten metre radius seems to be unaccountably losing consciousness. In my own case, this tends to be after I've had a drink or two and it's easy to convince myself that people are collapsing in joyous response to my urbane wit (okay, maybe after more than two drinks).
The important point is that if we're aware of the problem, we can do something to cure it and make ourselves healthy again - and if we understand the causes of the problem, we can do the RIGHT something.
Essentially there are two types of halitosis (bad breath): short term and chronic (long term). (Get used to the brackets because, considering how much they annoy me, I do seem to use quite a lot of them)
Short term halitosis is caused by food and drink. I'm not talking about garlic or curry, which have aromas that don't know when to pack up and leave you in peace; I'm talking about things like coffee and cheese, which leave behind a rotten smell which is nothing like that of the original substance. So if you dunk lumps of cheese in your coffee, you have a problem - in more ways than one! (Sorry about the exclamation mark! I hate! exclamation! marks even more than brackets! but I didn't want anyone thinking there's a dangerous medical condition characterised by repetitive cheese dunking - although there might be!)
Chronic halitosis is caused by one or more of the following:
1. Poor oral hygiene - leading to food stagnation, plaque accumulation, tooth decay, gingivitis (gum infection) and periodontal disease (really bad gum infection causing loss of the bone that supports the teeth).
2. Persistent habits or behaviour such as smoking or dieting.
3. Post-nasal drip (catarrh)
4. General medical conditions
And I've got to tell you, Numbers 1 and 2 are way, WAY out ahead of 3 and 4. If you have chronic bad breath, the overwhelming odds suggest you are either not keeping your mouth clean enough or you are doing something to harm yourself. That, of course, is bad in one way but good in another because you can do something about it - if you know what to do.
By the way, while I'm smugly pontificating about harming yourself, let me bring your attention back to the part about bone loss in the list above. You've probably already worked out that if you lose enough bone, your teeth become loose. Lose enough bone and your teeth fall out, or become such a nuissance that you want them extracted. In the human body, nothing bad exists in isolation.
As this is a self-help piece and both post-nasal drip and general medical conditions require professional intervention, I won't go into them here. If you are meticulously doing everything I'm about to suggest and you still have a problem, see your dentist or your GP pronto.
ORAL HYGIENE ISSUES
Let's presume the odour is coming from within your mouth, rather than through your mouth from somewhere else. There are three possible sites:
1. Your gums
2. Your teeth
3. Your tongue
Gums
People talk about gum disease as if it were something you might catch if you're unlucky - like flu or Ebola virus. Sorry, but that's not how it is. In the vast majority of cases, if you have gum trouble it's because, over a long period of time, you haven't been doing something that you should have been doing. None of us likes to take the blame for our own shortcomings and would rather explain that we were late for work because an alien mothership vaporized the bus, than apologize because we couldn't be arsed to get out of bed this morning. Well, you might as well blame a bad hair day on 'computer problems'.
Healthy gums are firm, pink and stippled, like orange peel (apart from the 'pink' bit, which would tend to denote an unhealthy orange). So if any areas of your gums are squishy, red or shiny, you have a problem. Bleeding is another danger sign of gingivitis. Despite what some people might tell you, healthy gums are no more likely to bleed than are, say, eyes or nipples. No-one, outside of an action movie, would ignore blood pouring down their face or soaking through their shirt, but inside the mouth it's less visible, and it gets diluted by saliva and swallowed. It's easy to forget about this blood because it's not in your face (although, of course, it is literally in your face).
Okay, as you've probably gathered by now, we're talking about bugs. Even a healthy human mouth is crawling with bacteria. Many of these are harmless and some are beneficial - but the bad guys are tough and they rarely miss an opportunity to cause havoc. We give them that opportunity every time we leave food behind in our mouths.
Bacteria that live in the mouth digest this food debris and make plaque, a sticky gel that keeps the bacteria and their harmful products in contact with the teeth and gums. Over time, they use minerals from your saliva to build themselves a strong defensive 'bunker' - a hard shell known as calculus or tartar. Then they can really get to work destroying the attachment between your teeth and gums in a nice sheltered environment where your brush can't get at them.
Infected gums discharge a variety of smelly fluids (hands up anyone who'd like to see the next bunch of fame-starved saddos on 'I'm a Celebrity' drink a mug of pus).
Once tartar has formed, you need a hygienist to shift it for you. A dentist can also remove tartar but, speaking as a member of that profession, I have to admit a hygienist will make a much better job of it - and she'll show you how to stop the tartar building back up again.
Remember what I said about all the bad stuff being linked? Inflamed gums recede. So if you've spent a lot of money on veneers, crowns or bridges, those restorations are not going to stay looking good when your gums have shrunk away from them and there's bare root surface on show. This usually happens well before the teeth become lose and start to move around.
So, if you keep your teeth clean (especially in between - so you'll need floss or an interdental brush) you should have healthy gums and steer clear of gingivitis and periodontal disease. Antiseptic mouthwashes help, but they are not a substitute for physically removing plaque.
Which brings us nicely to the next 'stink site'.
Teeth
Tooth decay is the destruction of tooth structure by bacteria. It occurs when foods containing sugars (e.g. bread, cereals, milk, pop, fruit, cakes and sweets) are left on the teeth. Oral bacteria digest these foods and form plaque (remember that sticky gel that keeps the germs and their acid in contact with the teeth?) So while the bugs are destroying your gums, the acids are working on your teeth, dissolving enamel and digging holes. It's an efficient system.
Left untreated, these cavities get bigger and deeper, destroying tooth structure and killing the living part of the tooth (the pulp). When sufficient tooth structure has been destroyed the tooth will collapse. When the tooth dies, you will get an abscess - which, in case you don't know, is not fun.
And while all this is going on, food debris collects in the cavities. Unless you can remove all of it (which isn't easy because cavities usually make excellent storage bins for crap) the trapped food will rot - and add to the smell.
To prevent tooth decay:
• Cut down on acid drinks and sweet foods, especially sticky ones which remain on the teeth for longer.
• Brush your teeth as soon as you can after eating - but DO NOT brush for half an hour after an acid drink (like fizzy pop or fruit juice). The acid in the drink softens the enamel so the brush can rub some of it away. Instead, rinse your mouth with water and wait - and never have an acidic drink just before you go to bed.
• Brush at least twice a day with a fluoride toothpaste. This is especially important before you go to bed because you produce less saliva while you're asleep, and saliva is nature's defence against bacteria and acids.
• Clean between your teeth daily with dental floss or interdental brushes.
• If you don't live in a fluoridated water area, ask your dentist about fluoride supplements. Fluoride strengthens enamel, making it more resistant to acid attack.
• Chew sugar-free gum to stimulate saliva production.
• Ask your dentist about fissure sealants (a protective coating that can be applied to the chewing surfaces of back teeth.)
• Visit your dentist regularly so that problems can be found at an early stage when there has been less damage and treatment is simpler.
Research is constantly seeking new ways to prevent and treat tooth decay. One day it may be possible to restore everybody's mouths to 100% health with a single pill. Until then, follow the regime above.
The third bad breath site is the Tongue
If you were to magnify the surface of your tongue, you would see that it's a lot like a shag pile carpet (only available in a smaller range of colours). Bacteria and food debris collect between the filaments and can contribute to a bad odour.
Mouthwashes help but really only mask the problem. You need to brush - or gently scrape - your tongue. Special brushes and scrapers are available for this and most toothbrushes have a ridged area on the back of the head designed for this purpose (yes that's what they're for). It can take a bit of getting used to and you shouldn't try to go too far back (because, apart from anything else, vomit is highly acidic and bad for your teeth) but persistence will pay off.
Smoking
The link between tobacco and heart disease, stroke, emphysema and cancer (especially, lung and throat cancers) is common knowledge, but smoking also has direct effects within the mouth:
• Increased risk of developing oral cancer.
• Increased build up of plaque and tartar on the teeth.
• Increased risk of developing gum disease, the main cause of tooth loss because it destroys bone within the jaws.
• Increased incidence and rate of receding gums, uncovering the roots of teeth which become sensitive and are more likely to decay.
• Delayed healing following tooth extraction, periodontal treatment or oral surgery.
• Lower success rate for dental implant procedures. This can be so marked that many surgeons refuse to provide implants for smokers, preferring to concentrate on cases that are more likely to work.
• Inflammation of salivary gland openings.
• Discolouration of teeth and fillings.
• And of course, bad breath.
The mechanisms by which smoking (and other tobacco products such as snuff) cause so much harm are well known. If you want to find out about them, there's no shortage of information in print and on line.
Dieting
Low carbohydrate diets such as the Atkins are notorious for causing foul breath. Normally, the body burns carbohydrates as a source of energy but if these aren't available, it burns fats instead. This is an effective way to lose weight but the fat-burning process produces chemicals called ketones that are released in the breath.
So, in this case, the halitosis isn't an oral hygiene problem (unless you're also not cleaning well, of course) and the only cure is to introduce some carbs into your diet.
You can, however, reduce or at least mask the odour by:
• Drinking more water to dilute the concentration of ketones.
• Swishing water around in your mouth after you eat.
• Chewing sugarless gum.
• Sucking sugarless mints - especially those that contain Xylitol, which may kill bacteria and help prevent cavities.
• Chewing fresh parsley.
Ketones on the breath can also be a sign of uncontrolled diabetes. So, let me repeat, if you get an odour you can't account for, please don't ignore it. I'd hate to lose a reader.
Dr Tom D Nolan is the 'Dentist in Town' in Birmingham City Centre, UK.
Once you've been to The Dentist in Town, you'll never want to see a different dentist. If you do, we'll pay for your check-up.
Tom does a lot of cosmetic work for a lot of faces you'll recognize if you live in the UK. He runs half marathons for charity. His immediate goal is to stop moaning about how his knees won't allow him to play football any more (apart from with his 9 year old son - and even then, the tackles are starting to feel a little heavy)
Come and see what we're all about, and find other great articles, at:
http://dentistintown.co.uk
http://dentistintown.blogspot.com
The important point is that if we're aware of the problem, we can do something to cure it and make ourselves healthy again - and if we understand the causes of the problem, we can do the RIGHT something.
Essentially there are two types of halitosis (bad breath): short term and chronic (long term). (Get used to the brackets because, considering how much they annoy me, I do seem to use quite a lot of them)
Short term halitosis is caused by food and drink. I'm not talking about garlic or curry, which have aromas that don't know when to pack up and leave you in peace; I'm talking about things like coffee and cheese, which leave behind a rotten smell which is nothing like that of the original substance. So if you dunk lumps of cheese in your coffee, you have a problem - in more ways than one! (Sorry about the exclamation mark! I hate! exclamation! marks even more than brackets! but I didn't want anyone thinking there's a dangerous medical condition characterised by repetitive cheese dunking - although there might be!)
Chronic halitosis is caused by one or more of the following:
1. Poor oral hygiene - leading to food stagnation, plaque accumulation, tooth decay, gingivitis (gum infection) and periodontal disease (really bad gum infection causing loss of the bone that supports the teeth).
2. Persistent habits or behaviour such as smoking or dieting.
3. Post-nasal drip (catarrh)
4. General medical conditions
And I've got to tell you, Numbers 1 and 2 are way, WAY out ahead of 3 and 4. If you have chronic bad breath, the overwhelming odds suggest you are either not keeping your mouth clean enough or you are doing something to harm yourself. That, of course, is bad in one way but good in another because you can do something about it - if you know what to do.
By the way, while I'm smugly pontificating about harming yourself, let me bring your attention back to the part about bone loss in the list above. You've probably already worked out that if you lose enough bone, your teeth become loose. Lose enough bone and your teeth fall out, or become such a nuissance that you want them extracted. In the human body, nothing bad exists in isolation.
As this is a self-help piece and both post-nasal drip and general medical conditions require professional intervention, I won't go into them here. If you are meticulously doing everything I'm about to suggest and you still have a problem, see your dentist or your GP pronto.
ORAL HYGIENE ISSUES
Let's presume the odour is coming from within your mouth, rather than through your mouth from somewhere else. There are three possible sites:
1. Your gums
2. Your teeth
3. Your tongue
Gums
People talk about gum disease as if it were something you might catch if you're unlucky - like flu or Ebola virus. Sorry, but that's not how it is. In the vast majority of cases, if you have gum trouble it's because, over a long period of time, you haven't been doing something that you should have been doing. None of us likes to take the blame for our own shortcomings and would rather explain that we were late for work because an alien mothership vaporized the bus, than apologize because we couldn't be arsed to get out of bed this morning. Well, you might as well blame a bad hair day on 'computer problems'.
Healthy gums are firm, pink and stippled, like orange peel (apart from the 'pink' bit, which would tend to denote an unhealthy orange). So if any areas of your gums are squishy, red or shiny, you have a problem. Bleeding is another danger sign of gingivitis. Despite what some people might tell you, healthy gums are no more likely to bleed than are, say, eyes or nipples. No-one, outside of an action movie, would ignore blood pouring down their face or soaking through their shirt, but inside the mouth it's less visible, and it gets diluted by saliva and swallowed. It's easy to forget about this blood because it's not in your face (although, of course, it is literally in your face).
Okay, as you've probably gathered by now, we're talking about bugs. Even a healthy human mouth is crawling with bacteria. Many of these are harmless and some are beneficial - but the bad guys are tough and they rarely miss an opportunity to cause havoc. We give them that opportunity every time we leave food behind in our mouths.
Bacteria that live in the mouth digest this food debris and make plaque, a sticky gel that keeps the bacteria and their harmful products in contact with the teeth and gums. Over time, they use minerals from your saliva to build themselves a strong defensive 'bunker' - a hard shell known as calculus or tartar. Then they can really get to work destroying the attachment between your teeth and gums in a nice sheltered environment where your brush can't get at them.
Infected gums discharge a variety of smelly fluids (hands up anyone who'd like to see the next bunch of fame-starved saddos on 'I'm a Celebrity' drink a mug of pus).
Once tartar has formed, you need a hygienist to shift it for you. A dentist can also remove tartar but, speaking as a member of that profession, I have to admit a hygienist will make a much better job of it - and she'll show you how to stop the tartar building back up again.
Remember what I said about all the bad stuff being linked? Inflamed gums recede. So if you've spent a lot of money on veneers, crowns or bridges, those restorations are not going to stay looking good when your gums have shrunk away from them and there's bare root surface on show. This usually happens well before the teeth become lose and start to move around.
So, if you keep your teeth clean (especially in between - so you'll need floss or an interdental brush) you should have healthy gums and steer clear of gingivitis and periodontal disease. Antiseptic mouthwashes help, but they are not a substitute for physically removing plaque.
Which brings us nicely to the next 'stink site'.
Teeth
Tooth decay is the destruction of tooth structure by bacteria. It occurs when foods containing sugars (e.g. bread, cereals, milk, pop, fruit, cakes and sweets) are left on the teeth. Oral bacteria digest these foods and form plaque (remember that sticky gel that keeps the germs and their acid in contact with the teeth?) So while the bugs are destroying your gums, the acids are working on your teeth, dissolving enamel and digging holes. It's an efficient system.
Left untreated, these cavities get bigger and deeper, destroying tooth structure and killing the living part of the tooth (the pulp). When sufficient tooth structure has been destroyed the tooth will collapse. When the tooth dies, you will get an abscess - which, in case you don't know, is not fun.
And while all this is going on, food debris collects in the cavities. Unless you can remove all of it (which isn't easy because cavities usually make excellent storage bins for crap) the trapped food will rot - and add to the smell.
To prevent tooth decay:
• Cut down on acid drinks and sweet foods, especially sticky ones which remain on the teeth for longer.
• Brush your teeth as soon as you can after eating - but DO NOT brush for half an hour after an acid drink (like fizzy pop or fruit juice). The acid in the drink softens the enamel so the brush can rub some of it away. Instead, rinse your mouth with water and wait - and never have an acidic drink just before you go to bed.
• Brush at least twice a day with a fluoride toothpaste. This is especially important before you go to bed because you produce less saliva while you're asleep, and saliva is nature's defence against bacteria and acids.
• Clean between your teeth daily with dental floss or interdental brushes.
• If you don't live in a fluoridated water area, ask your dentist about fluoride supplements. Fluoride strengthens enamel, making it more resistant to acid attack.
• Chew sugar-free gum to stimulate saliva production.
• Ask your dentist about fissure sealants (a protective coating that can be applied to the chewing surfaces of back teeth.)
• Visit your dentist regularly so that problems can be found at an early stage when there has been less damage and treatment is simpler.
Research is constantly seeking new ways to prevent and treat tooth decay. One day it may be possible to restore everybody's mouths to 100% health with a single pill. Until then, follow the regime above.
The third bad breath site is the Tongue
If you were to magnify the surface of your tongue, you would see that it's a lot like a shag pile carpet (only available in a smaller range of colours). Bacteria and food debris collect between the filaments and can contribute to a bad odour.
Mouthwashes help but really only mask the problem. You need to brush - or gently scrape - your tongue. Special brushes and scrapers are available for this and most toothbrushes have a ridged area on the back of the head designed for this purpose (yes that's what they're for). It can take a bit of getting used to and you shouldn't try to go too far back (because, apart from anything else, vomit is highly acidic and bad for your teeth) but persistence will pay off.
Smoking
The link between tobacco and heart disease, stroke, emphysema and cancer (especially, lung and throat cancers) is common knowledge, but smoking also has direct effects within the mouth:
• Increased risk of developing oral cancer.
• Increased build up of plaque and tartar on the teeth.
• Increased risk of developing gum disease, the main cause of tooth loss because it destroys bone within the jaws.
• Increased incidence and rate of receding gums, uncovering the roots of teeth which become sensitive and are more likely to decay.
• Delayed healing following tooth extraction, periodontal treatment or oral surgery.
• Lower success rate for dental implant procedures. This can be so marked that many surgeons refuse to provide implants for smokers, preferring to concentrate on cases that are more likely to work.
• Inflammation of salivary gland openings.
• Discolouration of teeth and fillings.
• And of course, bad breath.
The mechanisms by which smoking (and other tobacco products such as snuff) cause so much harm are well known. If you want to find out about them, there's no shortage of information in print and on line.
Dieting
Low carbohydrate diets such as the Atkins are notorious for causing foul breath. Normally, the body burns carbohydrates as a source of energy but if these aren't available, it burns fats instead. This is an effective way to lose weight but the fat-burning process produces chemicals called ketones that are released in the breath.
So, in this case, the halitosis isn't an oral hygiene problem (unless you're also not cleaning well, of course) and the only cure is to introduce some carbs into your diet.
You can, however, reduce or at least mask the odour by:
• Drinking more water to dilute the concentration of ketones.
• Swishing water around in your mouth after you eat.
• Chewing sugarless gum.
• Sucking sugarless mints - especially those that contain Xylitol, which may kill bacteria and help prevent cavities.
• Chewing fresh parsley.
Ketones on the breath can also be a sign of uncontrolled diabetes. So, let me repeat, if you get an odour you can't account for, please don't ignore it. I'd hate to lose a reader.
Dr Tom D Nolan is the 'Dentist in Town' in Birmingham City Centre, UK.
Once you've been to The Dentist in Town, you'll never want to see a different dentist. If you do, we'll pay for your check-up.
Tom does a lot of cosmetic work for a lot of faces you'll recognize if you live in the UK. He runs half marathons for charity. His immediate goal is to stop moaning about how his knees won't allow him to play football any more (apart from with his 9 year old son - and even then, the tackles are starting to feel a little heavy)
Come and see what we're all about, and find other great articles, at:
http://dentistintown.co.uk
http://dentistintown.blogspot.com
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