Archives

You are currently browsing the archives for April, 2007.

How to get rid of halitosis?

Halitosis, or bad breath,  is a very common problem and concern to your interpersonal relationship. The fact is no one will tell you when you have halitosis or bad breath. So some people with halitosis are completely unaware of the problem. The good news is that halitosis can often be prevented with some simple tips.

How to get rid of halitosis? There area some tips to prevent halitosis:

- Halitosis is usually caused by the bacteria that live in a mouth, that cause by poor oral hygiene. So, essential step to prevent halitosis is brush your teeth properly every day

- You can use dental floss to cleaning the hard-to-get-at places.

- Scientific studies have shown that halitosis is caused by bacteria that trap on the back of your tongue. So remember to clean and scrub your tongue.

- Avoid mouthwash products that contain alcohol and dyes that make halitosis worse

- Halitosis is caused by lots of things including certain foods, usually caused by the breakdown of food in your body such as garlic or onion.

- Drink plenty of water to keep your mouth moist.

- Eat a well–balanced diet.

- Do regular check-ups with your dentist to see if you have other oral health problem.

There are some of tips how to get rid of halitosis, which may help you to prevent halitosis. So when you found that something wrong with your breath, start looking for a possible cure for your halitosis or bad breath.

Bad breath is such a common problem, although common, halitosis is not a simple matter as it might signal a more serious medical problem that needs to be treated and solved. So take your action now ….be free from Halitosis forever.

Read more: Natural Cure for halitosis

Does halitosis make your feel EMBRASSING? I want to give The GOOD News with “EFFECTIVE How to Get Rid of Halitosis”, Instead you just “MASK” the problem Click here => Discover How to Get Rid of Halitosis FOREVER!

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Willy_Sandy

No matter how hard the bristles of your brush are or aggressive the technique you use to brush, brushing your teeth alone will not clean between the teeth.

Along with brushing your teeth twice a day, flossing at least once a day helps to clean your teeth surfaces and helps in the prevention of gum disease, bad  breath and tooth decay.

In fact, flossing your teeth is the single most important factor in preventing gum disease or periodontal disease, a disease that affects more than 75 percent of the U.S. population. This is because most people fail to floss, and those that do often find that they are not doing it correctly.

You should floss your teeth on a daily basis before brushing. If you are only going to floss once a day, the best time to floss is in the evening before you retire. If you brush without flossing, you miss nearly 40 percent of tooth surfaces. Think about if that you’re your whole body that you consistently fail to wash 40 percent of. Sooner or later, people will notice. The same thing happens in your mouth as bacteria build up between your teeth, leading to bad breath and gum disease.

Learning the art of dental flossing takes time and patience. A good dental professional will show you how to floss properly. If they don’t offer to show you, ask. There is no dental floss that is better than another. The type of dental floss you use depends solely on your personal preferences. There are waxed flosses, coated flosses, Teflon flosses, flavored flosses and floss picks. Try some and see what works best for you. To floss correctly, follow the steps below to enjoy clean, disease free gums and teeth.

1. Cut a piece of floss approximately 18 inches in length. Wind the floss around your two index fingers, middle fingers, or thumbs. Decide which combination is most comfortable to you.
2. You need to hold the floss tightly, leaving approximately an inch in between your fingers holding the floss. Next, guide the floss between teeth removing plaque and debris by moving the floss up and down against each tooth.
3. Floss down to the gum line. At this point pull the floss into a U-shape against the tooth. Carefully slide the floss between the gum and tooth until you feel resistance. Be careful to avoid the triangular papilla between the teeth.
4. Hold the floss against the tooth. Carefully scrape the tooth’s side, moving the floss away from the gum. The cleaning takes place on the outward sweep, so don’t traumatize yourself trying to get the floss in to tight places. In order to clean both sides, insert the floss twice into each space between your teeth (the inter dental space).
5. You will now want to repeat this for all of your teeth. As you approach the back teeth, get a fresh section of floss. Make sure you get all your teeth even though some may be difficult to reach.

Create a habit of flossing your teeth in the same way. This will help you not to forget any teeth each time you floss. Also, take care not to floss too aggressively. Just like when you brush your teeth too hard, damage to the gums can occur, so be careful to avoid flossing too hard against the gum line. If you have not flossed for a while, you may find that your gums bleed and are sore for the first few days when you start flossing. This does not necessarily mean that you are being too aggressive.

Bleeding gums are common when you are first starting but will heal as the plaque is broken up and the bacteria are removed. After flossing for several days, your gums will toughen up and shouldn’t bleed.

If you are experiencing difficulty flossing, your dentist should be able to show you some techniques or alternatives to regular floss. Just remember, if you were to toss out your toothbrush, and floss properly once or twice every day, you will achieve better dental health than just brushing three, four, or even ten times a day.

Dr. Benjamin Kim, DDS, is a leader in Avon cosmetic dentistry. Dr. Kim is highly experienced in Smile Makeovers, Dental Implants and Sedation Dentistry.

To get more information on how Dr. Kim can give you a brilliant smile visit the West Cleveland Smile Center or call (216) 251-8826.

Article Source: http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Dr._Benjamin_Kim

It is important to understand that for the most part we will be discussing bad breath remedies that would apply to an average bad breath problem. Serious medical conditions require intervention by your dental physician.

After visiting your dentist, if he cannot find a medical explanation for a persistent case of bad breath, consider trying some of the remedies we present.

De-Mystifying the Mouthwash Myth

As we mentioned earlier, all people have bad breath on occasion. When they do, most people immediately reach for the mouthwash. Not only is this ineffective but this action can also exacerbate the condition. Why is this so?

Mouthwash contains flavouring and dyes but most importantly the primary component is alcohol! They claim to kill bacteria, which is true in most cases. However, the bacteria is quick to return with an exponential affect because the alcoholic content causes dry mouth which is the leading cause of bad breath. It creates a very ineffectual cycle of repetition.

Commercial mouthwash products also contain other harsh chemicals. Studies have shown that excessive amounts of mouthwash irritate the gums, tongue, palate and mucous membranes in the mouth. If the user is a smoker AND consumes alcohol, heavy use of mouthwash can even cause certain cancers. It would be prudent to look at some of the other methods to deal with bad breath and stay away from the mouthwash.

If you would like to freshen your breath try preparing your own breath freshening mouthwash. A rinse consisting of a few drops of peppermint oil in a glass of water will do the trick nicely just don’t count on it to kill bacteria. Also just use it as a rinse and do not swallow.

There are other essential oils that work as well. Try tea tree, myrrh, spearmint, and ginger are also effective.

Rinsing your mouth with salt water is a great home remedy for a sore throat. It is also good for eliminating bad breath. You might also try rinsing with lemon or lime water as well. Both are equally effective and may taste a bit more pleasant than salt water.

Try drinking a small amount of apple cider vinegar in a glass of water at least once a day. Banish the breath mints and chewing gum.

Neither of these commercial products are particularly helpful as they only mask the problem and in fact could cause tooth decay. Try some of our alternative recommendations:

Remember the trick the Greeks used? Anise seed is readily available and chewing on a few of them work just as effectively today as they did several thousand years ago. Fennel, cinnamon and cloves also work well. Try popping a few into your mouth after meals to fight bad breath.

There are many other natural replacements for commercial mouthwash. Try adding a bit of baking soda to your toothpaste. After all, not only is it used in cooking and the laundry, we also use baking soda to absorb odor in the refrigerator. It will work well to help eliminate bad breath.

Did you ever wonder why parsley and mint are often used as a garnish when dining out? Just like the Greeks, remember the Romans. Chewing on parsley helps fight bad breath.

The reason is the high content of chlorophyll. Chlorophyll very quickly changes carbon dioxide into oxygen in the body. This prepares the digestive tract to prevent gases and toxins from backing up and by lubricating the tract and various valves.

Boil a mixture of myrrh resin, sage leaves and lavender flowers in a small amount of water. Gargle three times a day as a bad breath remedy.

Aloe vera will cleanse the colon and prevent toxins that could possibly back up in the digestive tract. Getting to the “root” of the bad breath problem.

Poor dental hygiene is a major factor for the cause of bad breath. Yes, you’ve heard it before, brush and floss after every meal and make regularly trips to your dentist for cleaning and examination.

But, how many of us actually follow this regimen? Not enough, according to the American Dental Association. They report that periodontal disease is the leading cause of tooth loss in the United States. Periodontal disease actually takes place in two different stages.

Gingivitis is the first stage and only affects the gums. Gingivitis IS reversible if caught before it moves into the second stage called periodontitis. Periodontal disease is irreversible, causing tooth loss and potential bone damage.

We have discussed the leading cause of bad breath in a previous chapter. Many of the same causes apply to the risk factors for periodontal disease such as tobacco and certain drugs. But there are other factors for periodontal disease which can also manifest as bad breath. Some of these additional risk factors are:

· Ill fitting dentures or bridges
· Teeth that are crooked
· Old fillings that no longer fit their cavity
· Pregnancy

The symptoms of encroaching periodontal disease also closely mimic some of the same symptoms of bad breath, with bad breath actually becoming symptomatic with periodontal disease. Some of these not previously mentioned are:

· Bleeding gums
· Teeth that are loose
· Gums that are swollen and tender
· Changes in the bite
· Gums that are receding away from the teeth
· Changes in prosthetic dentures

Periodontal disease is nothing more than plaque. While it may sound harmless, quite the opposite is true. The buildup of this plaque also causes bad breath. Get rid of the plaque and you will eliminate the bad breath and reap the benefits of healthy gums.

Plaque is the carrier for that sulfur producing bacteria that we discussed earlier. It creates a sticky film that is always present in your mouth. When you eat or drink you add to the buildup of plaque. Plaque is a pesky creature that is also a bit shy. He likes to burrow in and hide just beneath the gum line where he develops a breeding ground for more of his bacterial friends. You can smell them, but it can be difficult to even know that plaque is hiding away and doing its damage.

This is why regular brushing and flossing is so important. You need to ferret out the problem and deal with it. It’s an ongoing process and you’ll NEVER be rid of it as long as you like to eat, drink and oh yes, live! You must brush at least twice a day to remove all traces of bits of food and plaque. Don’t forget to brush the gums as well!

Yes, you should brush after every meal, but if it isn’t possible and you don’t wish to brush after having a meal out at a restaurant, excuse yourself, visit the restroom and at least rinse your mouth well. This practice will go a long way toward healthy gums as well as reducing bad breath resulting from the bacteria remaining in the small bits of food.

You must floss every day taking care to reach every hidden scrap between the teeth. Brush your tongue daily. Ugh! A nasty tongue has to be one of the worse offenders for bad breath. Did you know that the ancient Romans brushed their tongues daily? Amazing, isn’t it, how some practices come full circle.

Using your soft bristled brush, brush the tongue gently, taking care not to gag yourself. Do try and reach as far back as comfortable to remove as much of the offending buildup as you can. It’s in that region toward the back of the tongue that produces the majority of the bad breath.

*******************************************************************
Gaetane Ross is a Certified Natural Health Consultant who has spent over 4 years focusing on Nutrition and Health. She also specializes in Alternative Medicine, Spiritual Healing and Healthy Lifestyle. Gaetane’s mission is to positively transform the lives of everyone she meets by providing advice on Healthy Living.

Please visit Gaetane’s website for Professional Health Advice or Nutritional information at:

http://live-o-natural.com/

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Gaetane_Ross