The prevention of dental decay begins with cutting down the amount of sugars taken in all forms. Most people think we refer only to sweets as the culprits. But there are other dangerous sugar-containing foods as well.
Some of them are:
1. All sugars (including honey)
2. Soft drinks such as colas and lemonades
3. Nearly all cereals
4. Cakes, biscuits and puddings.
5. Jam on your bread, marmalade on your toast
6. Chocolates, sweets and toffees
7. Peppermint sweets (they are the most dangerous because people believe the peppermint taste to be 'medicinal'. These sweets are almost pure sugar)
Research has shown, both dental decay and periodontal disease are the result of bacterial action, in the plaque, which collects on the teeth and gums.
A chocolate candy bar of about 50 grams may contain the equivalent of ten teaspoons of sugar! A slice of two-layer chocolate cake may be the equivalent of fifteen teaspoons of sugar!.
These sugars are not an essential part of a normal diet. By reducing the total intake, it will not only benefit the teeth, but also the general health. However, it is the frequency of sugar intake, more than the total consumption, which is important in influencing tooth decay. Research also shows that the acid formed on the tooth in seconds from sugar might take twenty minutes or more to disappear from the mouth. Thus, small sugary snacks every two or three hours throughout the day will keep the teeth bathed in a dangerous acid state.
If children must have sweets, they should have them only once a day (preferably during meal time). But it is better to recommend healthy snacks. A good list would contain:
Fruits: Apples, Oranges, Pears, Bananas
Vegetables: Carrots, Celery, Tomatoes, Lettuce, Cucumbers
In this way if we eliminate sugar, we reduce the formation of plaque by depriving the bacteria of the food, from which they form the acid.
Limit your intake of food and liquids with a high acidic content which include lemons, grapefruit, vinegars, spicy foods and condiments. High consumption of acidic foods and liquids will cause tooth erosion.
Lastly, be weary of hidden dangers to your teeth. Many cough and throat sweets, lozenges, syrups and elixirs are loaded with hidden sugars (sometimes up to 50-60 percent).
What's that smell?
Try this. Begin by holding your hand (palm facing you) approximately 3 inches in front of your mouth. Now blow a full breath into your hand. While keeping your hand in place, take a whiff of the air in front of your hand. What do you smell? Hopefully nothing, or better yet, something pleasant. For those of you less than happy with what you're smelling right now, this post may prove to be particularly prudent.
Halitosis (bad breath) can be caused by:
Certain food such as garlic, onions, fish, meat, cheese, etc.
Poor general oral hygiene
Nasal and sinus infections
Faulty dental restorations
Xerostomia (dry mouth)
Other underlying health conditions
7 Tips for Preventing Bad Breath
Knowing the causes of bad breath can help us to understand the measures we need to take to prevent it. In no particular order, here is a list of preventive measures you can take starting today to reduce the likelihood that you will have bad breath:
1) Brush & Rinse (with water) After Each Meal - This is one of the best ways to ensure good breath as you are removing excess food particles from in and around the teeth.
2) Floss at Least Once Per Day - Flossing is equally as important as brushing. Just like recommendation number one above, flossing is intended to remove food particles from between the teeth. This will, in turn, create an unfavorable environment for bacteria growth.
3) Brush Your Tongue - Gently brush your tongue from back to front after brushing your teeth.
4) Chew Sugarless Gum - Chewing sugarless gum can increase the flow of saliva and reduce the chances you'll experience dry mouth-related bad breath. You can also try sugarless throat lozenges to create the same effect.
5) Drink Plenty of Water - This recommendation follows the same lines as the above suggestion. Drinking plenty of water reduces the occurrence of dry mouth by stimulating saliva production. Alcohol and caffeinated drinks cause dehydration. Stick to water.
6) Change your toothbrush monthly - Bristles will wear, fray and stiffen during use, which will prevent you from safely and thoroughly cleaning your teeth.
7) Quit Smoking - Bad breath is inevitable if you smoke. However, following the above tips can minimize your severity of bad breath.
Toothaches are nothing new. Everyone has experienced a toothache in one form or another over the course of their lives. Thankfully, we are experiencing it less and less than our ancestors with advancements in dental care, and regular checkups. However, should you be so unfortunate to get a toothache, there are some simple steps you can take to minimize or possibly eliminate your tooth pain.
10 Tips for Treating Toothaches
1. Take two Aspirin, Acetaminophen or Ibuprofen
Ibuprofin is best since it does a good job of reducing painful inflammation. However, be sure to read the instructions on the bottle for proper usage of whichever medicine you choose to take.
2. Antiseptic Rinse
Using an antiseptic rinse along with brushing 2-3 times per day may help relieve a minor toothache until you can get to the dentist.
3. Apply garlic and salt to the tooth
Mash a clove of garlic together with a pinch of rock salt and apply the paste to the site of the toothache. Garlic has allicin, a powerful antibacterial compound. This is thought to help stop the bacteria which cause toothaches. (tip courtesty of ehow.com)
4. Put cold compress on side of cheek
5. Numb the affected tooth/teeth with a desensitizing agent
Use oral over-the-counter topical tooth analgesics. This remedy will not eliminate a toothache, just numb the area for temporary relief.
6. Chew on a Piece of Onion
Onions are believed to kill some forms of bacteria which can cause a toothache.
7. Rinse your mouth with water
This can help to remove any food debris that may be aggravating your toothache.
8. Plug the tooth with gauze or wax
Plugging the affected tooth with gauze or wax can reduce its sensitivity to eating or drinking.
9. Elevate your head
Elevating your head can reduce the pressure to the affected tooth and its surrounding area - thus reducing the pain you're experiencing.
10. Seek Dental Care Immediately
These remedies may provide short term pain relief only. A good rule of thumb is if the toothache is causing you to lose sleep or consume your attention throughout the day it's time to see your dentist. Don't assume that your toothache is no big deal and let it worsen. What you have could be a tooth abscess which needs to be treated right away to avoid the infection from spreading.
This is perhaps the single most-asked question in the history of dentistry. However, dental professionals, to this day, are unable to reach a consensus on the optimal brushing interval for the average person.
Several reasons. Acidic drink and food consumption, genetics, and environmental influences all affect the rate at which it becomes necessary for an individual to brush his/her teeth.
However, the American Dental Association officially recommends that individuals brush twice daily. They do not, however, specify the best times of the day to brush. Generally, it is recommended to brush after breakfast, and before bed. Make it a habit of adding a brushing after lunch as well.
So, why brush anyway? Brushing is very important to maintaining good oral health because it effectively removes plaque buildup that can lead to tooth decay. Be assured, avoiding tooth decay is worth the effort to brush 2-3 times per day.
In summary, if you brush 2-3 times per day you are probably fine. However, if you already brush with this frequency and still notice an inordinate amount of plaque buildup, contact your dentist, because this could be the sign of a more serious oral or medical problem.