April 5th, 2010
Bad breath is an embarrassment that we could all do without. One of the worst things about bad breath is that it is often hard to know if you are suffering. This can lead to that horrible moment when someone else has to tell you that your breath smells. The anxiety to avoid this cringe worthy moment at all costs, can lead many people to take measures to prevent it. But often this can lead people to make the wrong choices.
Many people use mouthwashes or breathe sprays and mints to try and combat the problem, without realising that this will do little more than mask the problem for a very short time and can even make the problem worse. In the US, the Food and Drug Administration conducted tests into the effectiveness of mouthwash and the results were very interesting. It was discovered that mouthwash did not stop the causes of bad breath but only masked the smell from anything between ten minutes and two hours before the smell came back. As a result mouthwash is no longer able to claim that it prevents bad breath in the United States. Similar results were discovered for breath mints and sprays.
In some further studies it has been found that mouthwash can actually make the problem worse as it disrupts the regulation of bacteria in the mouth. Millions if bacteria live in the human mouth in a delicate balance controlled by saliva. Mouthwash kills too many bacteria and changes the production of saliva meaning the bacteria can come back stronger and smellier.
The only way to really prevent bad breath is to make sure you are cleaning your teeth with effective brushing and flossing everyday. Make an appointment with a Central London dentist to find out more about stopping bad breath.
March 16th, 2010
Bad breath can be an embarrassing hygiene problem that unfortunately affects others probably more than it affects you. In fact it is often very difficult to know that you have bad breath unless someone tells you, which can in itself be very embarrassing, especially if is happening on a regular basis.
The fear of bad breath can often lead people to take action in an effort to stop it but in doing so they may not be addressing the cause of the problem, and in certain cases even making it worse. Using mouthwash, breath sprays or gum can temporarily cover the smell of bad breath but it will not stop it and at best will only mask it for a few hours. Furthermore, mouthwashes can disrupt the regulation of bacteria in the mouth and result in bad breath coming back time and time again. This happens because it kills bacteria in the mouth and changes the saliva production levels. Saliva is the body’s natural defence against oral bacteria and regulates it to keep it at a healthy level.
The only real way to beat bad breath for good is to improve your general standard of oral hygiene. Improved brushing and flossing can help to remove bacteria, plaque and food debris that stick to teeth causing decay and the breakdown of particles which cause bad breath. It is also recommended by dentists to use a tongue cleaner to remove bacteria form the grooved surface of the tongue.
London W1 dentists can give you further advice on the most successful ways to improve cleaning and beat bad breath. By following their advice and sticking to a through cleaning routine, you should be able to leave the anxiety of bad breath behind once and for all.
June 21st, 2008
Many people use mouthwash as a part of their dental hygiene. And it definitely helps to cut out bad breath and other dental related problems. But do you know exactly what a mouthwash is and what it contains? Are you wondering how to use it effectively to protect your teeth? Here are some tips and facts about mouthwash and their use.Most of the mouthwashes and rinses are designed to be used only after brushing. And if you ask your dentist in London he’ll tell you why. Only a proper tooth brushing technique can remove the food ingredients from your teeth. Mouthwash just acts as a mouth deodorizer with a few additional helpful ingredients to control bacteria in your mouth. But its absolutely necessary to keep you teeth clean with a tooth brush.
There are different types of mouthwashes available in the market.
• Fluoride rinses are very useful to protect against cavities by making the enamel harder.
• Anti-plaque rinses contain ingredients which help to loose and detach plaque from tooth surface as well as the gum line.
• Smoker’s mouthwashes also are available in the market. These will remove tobacco stains from the teeth and mouth.
• Desensitizing mouthwashes are used to control teeth sensitivity and have to be used in conjunctions with desensitizing toothpaste.
Gargle with a mouthwash for 30 seconds. Then spit it without swallowing. Preferably brush your teeth first and then start gargling with a mouthwash. If you are using a medicated mouthwash then it’s a good idea to avoid eating food for at least 30 minutes after the mouthwash. You can use your mouthwash more often. But limit its use to once a day for children as the major ingredient of all mouthwashes is alcohol. If you are using mouthwash to control your bad breath do it only on a short term basis.
