Bad breath is known in the dental world as halitosis. This condition affects everyone at some point. Thankfully, no matter how many first impressions may have been ruined with bad breath, there are simple steps to drastically reduce halitosis, if not completely eliminate it.

Symptoms

You know that you have bad breath if you can clear a 75 maximum occupancy room with a hearty “hello.” Before this happens, you can check your breath by cupping your hand over your mouth and nose and exhaling from the back of your throat. This is where most bad breath originates. If this exhale causes you to lose a little bit of respect for yourself, then it’s time to do something about it. Before we find a solution, let’s learn more about halitosis.

Causes

Halitosis has multiple causes, which come to no surprise to anyone who’s been on the receiving end of morning breath after it’s mixed with a cup of coffee!
The morning time is a trigger for most people to experience bad breath. The flow of saliva nearly stops while we sleep, which causes a buildup of bacteria in the mouth. Brushing away the bacteria in the morning is helpful. Remember to brush your tongue!

Certain foods can make our mouths smell. Think onions! Some foods, like garlic, are absorbed into our blood stream and exhaled through our lungs. All the toothpaste in the world can’t cover this smell. Engaging in some activity to make yourself sweat might help speed along the process.
When your body burns fat, ketones are produced which are released through your breath. These ketones usually have an sticky sweet odor. Staying hydrated and making smart dieting choices will help avoid the ketac smell.

Treatment

The best thing you can do to prevent halitosis is to practice good oral hygiene. This includes flossing and brushing your teeth and tongue. Paying clear attention to the very back of the tongue can help eliminate some of the more stubborn bacteria which may be hiding out there. It’s also important to take note of what foods give you the worst breath. Hopefully the combination of all of these tips will help prevent your bad breath.

Just because your baby is going to lose his or her baby teeth doesn’t mean that they’re unimportant. Baby teeth are place holders for adult teeth, so if a baby tooth comes out too early due to improper care, then the adult tooth that fills in the space will invariably be crooked or misaligned. For this reason, it is extremely important to care for baby teeth in the same fashion as caring for adult teeth. We need to be as diligent about baby tooth decay as we are about adult tooth decay.

Symptoms

Tooth decay can appear as soon as the first baby tooth comes into the mouth. The initial stages of baby tooth decay occur in the same way as the initial stages of adult tooth decay. The tooth may appear yellow or darker than normal. The child may complain of discomfort when chewing or biting on food. The latter stages and symptoms of decay are much more obvious. The majority of tooth decay in infants and toddlers is caused by a baby bottle. This is why baby tooth decay is often referred to as “baby bottle tooth decay.” The other of the infant can transfer bacteria from her mouth to that of the infant. Also, the baby may be drinking too much fruit juice or sweetened milk, both of which cause and encourage decay. Pacifiers that are dipped in honey are also culprits in baby tooth decay.

Prevention

Though baby bottle tooth decay is scary, it is completely avoidable and preventable. Just incorporate the following steps into your baby’s oral hygiene routine to ensure a solid foundation for healthy teeth, gums and a dazzling smile.

Improve your oral health if you’re the mother or primary caregiver for the infant. Mothers and caregivers often wipe off the nipple of bottles with their own saliva. This is fine so long as the mother or caregiver has great oral hygiene. It is completely possible to spread bacteria from the mother or caregiver to the infant via the nipple on the bottle.
After each feeding, wipe the baby’s gums with a clean, damp cloth. After teething, gently brush the child’s teeth with an infant sized toothbrush and warm water. It is important not to use fluoridated toothpaste when brushing a toddlers teeth until he or she understands how to spit out the toothpaste.

Avoid giving your child fruit juices or any other sugary drink. If the infant or toddler does get to drink juice, make sure to mix it with at least half water.

Treatment

The best treatment for baby bottle tooth decay, as with any disease, is prevention. Make an appointment with the Dental Center within six months of seeing the first baby tooth erupt in the mouth! This simple “happy” visit can more than pay for itself when you child effortlessly grown into a healthy smile.

Even though most people only associate family dentists with taking care of families, and even though the term “family dentist” contains the qualifier “family,” these dental practitioners are in fact for everyone! Truth be told, the term “family dentist” is something of a misnomer. A family dentist is a dentist for everyone, even if you don’t have little ones running amok. All other types of dentists specialize in one age group or specific type of treatment.

It’s easy to think that you don’t need to go to the dentist if you’re taking good care of your teeth. There are two things very wrong with this line of reasoning. Most likely, you probably don’t take as good of care of your teeth as you think and a dentist or dental professional can clean your teeth much better than you ever could. Your teeth don’t need to be super cleaned every day, but every six months or so will make a world of difference. Think about your car – sure, you wash it, keep it clean and put gas in it. But you still need to take it to qualified professional for maintenance like oil changes and fluid flushes. You need to treat your teeth the same way.

When you’re looking for a dentist, really you’re looking for qualities that you would want in a friend. If he or she looks you in the eye and at least pretends like he/she is interested in what you have to say, then at least the dentist will pretend to be interested in your teeth. Or, for a short cut, just as your prospective dentist if he or she is good at golf. If your dentist replies with a hearty “Yes” and a big smile, then chances are he or she is probably not a good dentist!

Fractured teeth are quite common, especially as we age. There are several types of fractures that affect the teeth, and treatment options vary depending on the condition of the fracture. From small cracks or fissures, to actual split teeth with root damage, your dentist can address and correct your fractured teeth. Don’t wait to have your fractured teeth examined – the longer a fractured tooth is ignored, the greater the long term health impact can be.
There are several types of fractures, and we can treat them all. The most minor fracture is a craze line, or minor crack, which is simply a surface crack affecting the enamel of the tooth. These don’t need any treatment, but if they bother you cosmetically you can consider polishing, or dental veneers.
Other cracked tooth damage can be quite significant, involving the tooth as a whole. These cracks often affect the surface and even the nerve of the tooth- and can be treated with typical dental filling materials such as those used in filling cavities. The pulp may be damaged as well, which may require a root canal.
Minor chips on the teeth are quite common, and most don’t require treatment for the architecture of the tooth. Many minor chips can be polished, or treated with a bit of filling material to address the appearance of the tooth.
The most dangerous types of fractured teeth involve seriously broken teeth, and teeth that are split. In these cases, most patients experience significant pain and tooth sensitivity. Treatments include root canals, followed by crowns. Severe vertical breaks may require the removal of the tooth, and a dental implant to restore your smile.
It’s important to visit your dentist for any type of tooth pain in order for a correct diagnosis.

Porcelain dental veneers are one of the most versatile, low-pain, and quick methods of cosmetic dentistry. Dental veneers can address almost every cosmetic issue you may have about your teeth- from fixing the appearance of crooked teeth, improving discolored teeth, and even fixing spaces between teeth.
Most veneers are made of porcelain for several reasons. Porcelain is a material that’s most like your natural teeth- so when you get your veneers installed, you most likely won’t notice the difference between the veneers and your own teeth! Porcelain is a very strong, yet translucent material that is resistant to stains. Just think about the fact that porcelain has been used in teacups for centuries because of its delicate appearance and resistance to tea and coffee stains, and you can see why it’s the most popular material for dental veneers.
Your dental veneers will be made to match your natural teeth as much as possible. Ask your dentist about bleaching your teeth before ordering your veneers’ color, before the procedure- so your existing smile and your new veneers will be the shade you desire.
Not only can veneers help cosmetically, they’ll also help improve strength and functionality for your teeth. They are particularly helpful for teeth with worn enamel or minimal damage. And dental veneers generally involve minimal pain and discomfort, with little to no side effects or recovery. You care for them just like your regular teeth- brushing, flossing, and keeping your regular dental check-ups.
When you consider all of the benefits dental veneers offer, and all of the cosmetic and physical issues they can address, you’re probably interested in talking to Dr. Gilmer about this option. After the veneers are placed, you‘ll be walking out of the dentist’s office with a brand new smile!