Category: Dental Health

Choosing Dental Health Care Products

Proper dental health care is important in ensuring that you are as far away as possible from dental problems – and the complications that can arise from these problems. Going for regular dental checkups will go a long way in the maintenance of good oral health, but you will also have to do your share to make sure that your teeth, gums, and the whole mouth area are as healthy as they can be. Getting to know more about dental health care products can help you to realize the important roles that each of these products will play for your oral health.

Toothbrushes – Your toothbrush should cater to your specific oral health care needs, which means that not just any toothbrush will do for brushing your teeth. The right size of toothbrush head is important – a smaller size may require you to do more effort in getting your teeth cleaned, while a much bigger size can be difficult to maneuver inside the mouth and may not be able to reach certain areas. The bristles should also be considered – if your teeth or gums are sensitive, it may be best to choose a toothbrush with softer bristles to avoid further irritation. You can also choose from manual or electric toothbrushes, depending on your preference.

Toothpaste – Choose toothpaste that lists fluoride as one of its ingredients, as fluoride will help protect your teeth from cavities and makes tooth enamel stronger. There is a multitude of toothpaste products out in the market today, and you can choose one that answers your specific dental concern; some of these toothpaste varieties include: anti-tartar, for sensitive teeth, for fresher breath, for teeth whitening, and for total or “complete” care (with antibacterial ingredients).

Dental Floss – Flossing is important in removing food bits or particles that are stuck in between teeth, and can prevent tooth decay and gum diseases from developing. Flossing can be done using wooden dental sticks (which can also be used for cleaning around the areas of dental appliances), inter-dental brushes, waxed floss, dental tape, or even an electric dental flosser.

Mouthwash – Mouthwash can help in the quest to achieve and maintain good oral health, but should not be used by itself (without the aid of a toothbrush, toothpaste, and dental floss). It is best to go for mouthwashes that have fluoride, and anti-bacterial properties – to ensure that the teeth, gums, and the whole mouth are protected from bacteria and infection that can lead to dental problems.

Bad breath often leads to low self-esteem and unpleasant situations when communicating with others. The problem may not be due to a lack of hygiene, but to signal an abnormal condition.

1. What Causes Bad Breath?

Bad breath is mostly due to the degradation of proteins from bacteria to yield volatile sulfur-containing compounds. It can be a warning sign of potential gum disease, which is a major cause of tooth loss. Sinusitis, bronchitis, diabetes, liver or kidney problems, and infections of the nose, throat and lungs may also be the cause of bad breath. Xerostomia or dry mouth is a condition that affects the flow of saliva and can cause bad breath due to a accumulation of bacteria. Susceptible to dry mouth are pregnant or menopausal women, the elderly and those taking certain medications. According to specialists in dentistry, constant breathing through the mouth rather than through the nose increases the risk of bad breath.

Bad breathe can be caused due to the consumption of garlic, onions, coffee and other foods with strong odors.

In close connection with the occurrence of unpleasant breath is smoking. All smokers suffer from this problem. In fact, tobacco usually leads to many other serious dental problems like oral cavity. The presence of tartar also poses risks to the health of teeth and gums, and thus the occurrence of bad breath. The reason is that under it the multiplication of microorganisms continues. Billions of bacteria are found even in one gram of tartar. They, in turn, release substances and toxins that cause tooth decay, inflammation and bleeding gums. The occurrence of bad breath is already a sign that the tartar begins to harm the gums; it is just a matter of time before someone starts to suffer from gum gingivitis. Toothbrush cleans only 60% of the surface of the teeth, so it has no significant effect on the elimination of bad breath.

2. How Can We Deal With The Problem?

In addition to a toothbrush, floss the inter dental space between the teeth. This will help to clean all parts of the teeth and removing food between the teeth. To remove food residue between the teeth, it is important to have a proper technique of brushing. The brush should be moved gently in a vertical direction from the gums to the teeth – the upper jaw from the top down and the lower jaw upwards. This massages the gums and improves blood flow to them.

Remember when you are cleaning your teeth, use your toothbrush and toothpaste to brush your tongue. Chewing sugarless gum is a well known way to freshen your breath; but, also to stimulate salivation, which helps prevent dry mouth. Some food products may also be a useful ally in combating bad breath. Among them are celery, peanuts, low fat cheese, apples, carrots and more. Fruits and vegetables that are rich in cellulose increase salivation. For breath it is appropriate to prepare a decoction of chamomile, wormwood, rosemary, birch leaf or nettle.