Dental Hygiene for Fresh Breath
Bad Breath is No Good
Your mother might have scolded you for a fresh mouth but everyone else in your life would probably prefer it that way. Bad breath is not a pleasant personal characteristic. Poor dental hygiene is usually the cause of bad breath, or halitosis, but it may also be a sign of other health problems. Generally, if you don’t brush and floss daily, food particles remain in your mouth, promoting bacterial growth between teeth, around the gums and on the tongue. Persistent bad breath or bad taste in your mouth may be a warning sign for gum disease.
Traveler's Breath
If you travel frequently, you may be particularly prone to bad breath which can occur when the salivary glands slow down the production of saliva, allowing bacteria to grow inside the mouth and bad breath to develop. The tendency to change your eating habits at the airport or on the plane, the inconvenience of maintaining your dental hygiene routine, and an increased intake of fast food and sodas can produce a sulfur compound that causes bad breath. For those who eat much less when traveling, this lack of food can also result in the bad breath of “morning mouth”. It helps to alleviate some of these causes by drinking lots of water and chewing sugarless gum which stimulates the production of saliva to help wash away food particles and bacteria.
If it isn't bad hygiene...
If you believe that your bad breath is becoming a problem that isn’t improving with proper hygiene, be sure to mention it to us at your next visit. While gum disease and dry mouth can be the culprits, there are many other diseases and illnesses that can cause bad breath including respiratory tract infections, diabetes, chronic acid reflux and liver or kidney problems. Bad breath is just one more example of the profound connection between your oral health and your overall physical condition. The latest medical research continues to prove that the link between the two is much stronger than previously considered.
Dale Carnegie Training
Dr. Hyman's team recently spent time with an Nigel Picasa, an amazing trainer with the Dale Carnegie organization. This type of continuing education is a very helpful in enhancing our communication skills so that we can provide the very best care to our patients.
