Halitosis, or bad breath, is an uncomfortable and embarrassing situation that nearly 80 million people face every day. Not only does that foul odor in your mouth hurt your confidence, but it could be damaging your oral health as well. Thankfully, a few simple but very effective improvements to your daily dental routine can keep your smile looking and feeling fresh. Your Beaufort dentist explains the five best ways to keep bad breath at bay. 1. Brush and floss more often Plaque, the sticky buildup on your teeth, collects bacteria that cause bad breath. Trapped food also adds to the problem. Brush your teeth at least two times each day, and floss at least once. If you're concerned about your breath, do both a little more often. …
Brushing and flossing daily are just the start to learning about oral hygiene care, facts, and methods. Here you can learn so much more.
Causes of Bad Breath
Bad breath happens to all of us. It even has a scientific name: Halitosis. Bad breath occurs when bacteria breed on the tongue, teeth and in the oral cavity. When bacteria in our mouth break down the proteins in our food it creates a sort of sulfuric type of odor. But for some people, stinky breath is more than just a periodic nuisance that strikes first thing in the morning or after a garlicky meal. It may be a constant source of embarrassment or distress. In rare cases, it m All Posts ay even signal a brewing health condition. If you are experiencing bad breath that cannot be explained by bad oral hygiene habits such as smoking or what you ate or drank, one of these reasons may be the cause; Poor oral hygiene Most bad …
The Importance of Periodontal Maintenance
Periodontal disease, also known as gum disease, is an oral condition that affects the gums and supporting structures in your mouth. It is caused by the harmful bacteria trapped in plaque. As plaque hardens into calculus (tartar), the disease becomes more established in your mouth. Gum attachments begin to separate from your teeth and create pockets that harbor these harmful bacteria. If gum disease is allowed to progress without treatment, the condition may become irreversible. The gums are one of the main supporting structures of teeth, and unhealthy gums often indicate a risk of eventual tooth loss or oral infection. Periodontal maintenance appointments work to treat gum complications and help patients maintain healthy gums, …
8 Great Tips for Good Oral Hygiene
As a parent, we know you have so much on your plate already. We certainly don’t want to add to it, but we do want to help improve the quality of life for you and your family! Oral hygiene is more than just brushing and flossing; the goal of family dentistry is to make oral hygiene enjoyable and simple so that people of all ages are more willing to take care of their smiles. Why is this so important to us? Because we know that an unhealthy mouth can cause more health and problems throughout the body. Plus, people who are happy with their smiles are typically much more confident and happier in general. Check out these eight oral hygiene tips so mouth-health becomes a simple priority for your family. 1. Brush and floss properly How, …
Regular Teeth Cleaning vs Periodontal Maintenance
You might think that dental checkups are always the same. While both regular cleanings and periodontal maintenance are performed on a routine schedule, they differ in that one is a preventative measure, and the other is a treatment. Professional dental cleanings are an essential component of preventing gum disease, but there’s no one-size-fits-all treatment for maintaining healthy teeth and gums. Different patients may require different cleaning procedures, depending on the state of their oral health. Regular Cleanings: For Patients with Good Oral Health Brushing and flossing twice a day is crucial, but even if you practice excellent oral hygiene, plaque buildup is still inevitable. If it’s not removed regularly, it can eventually …
Receding Gums: Symptoms, Treatment & Prevention
Gum recession is when the margin of the gum tissue surrounding the teeth wears away, or pulls back, exposing more of the tooth, or the tooth's root. When gums recede, gaps can form between the gum and tooth, allowing disease-causing bacteria to build up. If left untreated, the surrounding tissue and bone structures of the teeth can be damaged, sometimes resulting in tooth loss. Receding gums is a widespread dental condition. Most people aren’t aware that they have receding gums since it occurs gradually. The first sign of gum recession is usually tooth sensitivity, or you may notice a tooth looks longer than normal. Typically, a notch can be felt near the gum line. Gum recession is not something you want to ignore. If you think your …
What is considered is Preventive Dentistry?
Preventive dental care includes actions taken by a patient to prevent against oral diseases and maintain a healthy smile for a lifetime. These actions include daily brushing with a fluoride-containing toothpaste, flossing, and maintaining a healthy diet – along with scheduling regular oral exams and professional cleanings. Dental insurance plans tend to prioritize preventive dental care because of the important role it plays in overall oral health. Therefore, preventive dental services are often covered at 100 percent with minimal or no deductibles or co-pays (in other words, minimal out-of-pocket costs). In addition, with most plans, preventive services are not counted against your annual maximum. Which services or …
Why Do We Brush Twice a Day?
You have probably heard your dentist say—on more than one occasion– that you should brush your teeth at least twice a day. However, you may not know why brushing two times daily is important. Here are a few reasons for this popular dental recommendation: Plaque is continually produced. When you eat, leftover bits of food mix with the bacteria inside your mouth to form plaque. The filmy, sticky substance coats your tooth enamel and gums. Although the development of plaque is a continual natural occurrence, the substance can cause a great bit of damage to your teeth. Because plaque adheres to your teeth and gums, it places bacterial acid in direct contact with them. The bacteria within the plaque feast on the food particles in the …
Do You Really Need to Go to the Dentist Every 6 Months?
Do you really need to go to the dentist every 6 months? Some dentists recommend it, but you might feel like it’s excessive. If you don’t have dental insurance it can be costly and even if you do, it’s time-consuming. What can a dentist do twice per year that you can’t do at home? Aren’t yearly visits enough? If you want to keep your teeth in perfect condition, the fact of the matter is that twice per year visits really are going to be your best option for a happy and healthy smile. Not convinced? That’s okay. Let’s talk about it! Here are 5 reasons that you should see a dentist every six months. 1. Brushing Won’t Get Everything You might be a diligent teeth-brusher (or a more realistic one, be honest!) but brushing, or even a …
How to Use an Interdental Brush
Step-by-step instructions Make it a daily routine to brush between your teeth with an interdental brush. It will keep your mouth healthy and prevent gum inflammation and cavities. Interdental brushes can also be used for cleaning of implants and orthodontic appliances. Make interdental brushes part of your daily routine Did you know that a toothbrush can only reach 60% of the tooth surfaces? Dental plaque builds up between your teeth where a toothbrush does not reach. It is a good idea to use an interdental brush as part of your daily cleaning routine to prevent gum inflammation, cavities and bad breath. An interdental brush is a small brush specially designed to clean between your teeth, where a regular toothbrush does not …