September 2nd, 2010
Chewing gum has made the jump in recent years from confectionary to boosting your dental health through cavity control and plaque protection. A number of high profile dental health agencies including the American Dental association have recognised the benefits of chewing gum. This has meant that chewing gum has enjoyed spectacular growths in sales over the last few years. But just what is it about gum that makes it so good for your teeth?
There are many benefits associated with stimulating saliva through the chewing of gum. It is the simple motion of chewing that stimulates the salivary glands and produces more saliva. In theory you could chew anything but gum is convenient and can be made to taste in many flavours.
Research indicates that there are further health benefits from chewing gum that include keeping plaque at bay, strengthening enamel and cleaning the teeth. Chewing gum can also help to reduce gum disease and bleeding gums. There are also some studies that show that chewing gum can have wider health benefits including helping weight loss and improving short-term memory.
However, there are a few things that you need to bear in mind when you decide to start chewing gum. One of them of course is that the gum needs to be sugar free in order to have the beneficial qualities. Obviously, chewing gum with a high sugar quotient will not be good for the teeth and could even damage them further. Low-sugar gum is widely available from most shops and newsagents, as well as specialist dental gum from chemists and your Central London dentist.
July 5th, 2010
Bad breath is a problem that can affect all of us at some time but for some people it is more of a problem than for others. If you suffer from bad breath on a regular basis it can lead you to try all sorts of remedies and potions in an effort to beat it but the real answer could be a lot more simple.
Studies have shown that using oral hygiene products like mouthwash and breath spray is not only ineffective against bad breath but in some cases can even make the problem worse. The very best that these products can offer is to mask the smell of bad breath from anything between ten minutes and two hours but they do not attack the cause of the problem and it will eventually return.
In some cases, it can disrupt the natural production of saliva, the body’s own defence against bad breath which really can make the problem more severe and unpleasant for you and those around you. The scores of internet sites offering the magic formula to treat bad breath if only you part with your hard-earned cash are also not telling you the whole truth. The reality is that bad breath is most effectively treated by improved oral hygiene.
That’s right. It really is that simple. Bad breath is caused by a build up of plaque and bacteria on and around the teeth. These bacteria decay and release foul smelling odours which become bad breath when we breath out. By improving your brushing and flossing, you will remove more bacteria and hopefully eradicate the problem. Flossing is particularly good for removing the particles of food stuck between the teeth that are often the source of bad breath. Ask your City of London dentist for more information about bad breath and how to beat it.
July 1st, 2010
Even the most cursory glance of the internet when searching for oral health products will reveal literally thousands of products promising to cure bad breath and keep your mouth clean. The reality is, however, that not only are many of these products completely ineffectual at preventing the problems but they could even be making it worse.
This happens because they can interrupt the natural production of saliva in the mouth, the body’s natural defence against oral concerns. This most commonly occurs when people try to treat their bad breath. We all know that this can be a very embarrassing problem, as it happens to all at some point or other during our lives, so we can understand the desire to find a miracle cure to keep us free from this social problem. But the truth is that there is only one true cure for bad breath and that is keeping your teeth and gums as clean as possible.
Proper brushing and flossing will remove plaque and bacteria from the surface of the teeth and remove any food debris that may be stuck in the gaps. Once the bacteria is gone, the source of the smell is removed. This is not the case with some oral hygiene products, especially mouthwash and oral sprays. They do not remove the bacteria or food debris, but only mask the smell for a short period of time. The smell will eventually return anything between ten minutes and to hours later. They also interrupt the production of saliva, which also helps to remove bacteria and keep bad breath at bay. Ask your London W1 dentist for more information about how best to beat bad breath and other dental concerns.
