How to Maintain Your Oral Hygiene

/0 Comments/in /by

Having healthy teeth and gums is something that people can take for granted. However, it is important to understand that your own effort at maintaining oral hygiene in LaGrange, KY is critical to keeping your teeth and gums healthy for a lifetime. Premature loss of teeth and developing oral health conditions often go together with not having a consistent routine for taking care of your teeth and gums.

Brush and Floss at Least Twice Each Day

Plaque and tartar can build up quickly when you neglect to brush and floss consistently, resulting in tooth decay and other oral health problems. We recommend brushing and flossing your teeth after breakfast and before bedtime every day. Flossing is especially important because it removes particles from between teeth that your toothbrush cannot reach.

Look for Fluoride

Many Americans do not get the fluoride they need to strengthen their teeth from their diet alone. Buying bottled water with added fluoride and brushing your teeth with fluoridated toothpaste are two simple things you can do.

Stop Smoking and Limit Alcoholic Drinks

The effects of smoking on oral health are obvious. Your teeth take on a yellow or brown appearance and become structurally weaker due to the continued exposure. With alcohol, people tend to focus more on what it does to the rest of the body without realizing that alcohol causes mouth dryness. With less saliva in your mouth, you are more likely to have increased bacteria leading to tooth decay.

Visit Byrne Family Dentistry Twice a Year

Cleaning and polishing your teeth every six months is critical for long-term oral health. Your preventive care visit also gives us an opportunity to check for tooth decay and oral diseases and begin treating them early. Please schedule a dental check-up today if we have not seen you in more than six months.

Sources

Oral Health Tips | Adult Oral Health | Basics | Oral Health | CDC

Bad Breath: Causes, Signs, and Solutions  

/0 Comments/in /by

When your breath smells bad in the morning, it might be easily laughed off in the moment. When it smells bad even after you brush and floss, though, it could be a sign of a bigger problem. You may already know that the clinical word for this condition is halitosis. What you might not know is that the solution isn’t as simple as buying a bottle of mouthwash.

Causes

Common causes of bad breath in La Grange, KY may include the following:

  • Sulfur: We don’t tend to think of foods like garlic and onions in terms of their sulfur content, but this is the compound that absorbs into the bloodstream and affects the breath until the food exits the body.
  • Rotting food: The more you leave behind when you brush and floss, the more food particles have a chance to rot between the teeth and on the gums.
  • Dry mouth: Saliva is a key way that you can cleanse the mouth of debris and particles left behind by food. If you have certain conditions, such as a gland disorder, or you take certain medications, this can affect your breath.

Signs and Solutions

The signs of bad breath are as much to do with societal standards as they are to do with your own. If well-meaning people indicate that your breath might need to be addressed, then this is likely a sign that you need to see a dentist.

Of course, if you find yourself breathing into your hand and being appalled at what you smell in return, this is also a sign that you may need to see a dentist in La Grange, Ky. If your breath isn’t as simple as avoiding certain foods on date nights, Byrne Family Dentistry invites you to give us a call.