Few things can make you more self-conscious than having bad breath. Rather than focus on a conversation with a friend or loved one, your attention will likely be more focused on ways to mask your breath. Unfortunately, this effort may be interpreted as rudeness rather than kindness. Thus, maintaining fresh breath plays an important role in your self-confidence and in your interactions with others. So if you’re looking for tips for fresh breath, look no farther than your Erlanger dentist, Dr. Darlene Henry. She explains the causes and remedies for bad breath.
What Causes Bad Breath?
The most common cause of bad breath is bacteria in the mouth. Bacteria cling to teeth and feed on residual sugar in the mouth. The focus of achieving fresh breath, therefore, is the removal of these bacteria.
Tips for Fresher Breath
Brush and floss your teeth regularly. Brush your teeth twice a day, being sure to angle the bristles of your toothbrush down toward the gum line. Also, be sure to brush your tongue to remove any bad-breath causing bacteria on its surface. Flossing is also an important part of ensuring fresh breath. Floss cleans surfaces of the teeth that a toothbrush cannot.
Attend regular dental visits. Sometimes plaque and tartar stick around despite your best efforts. Professional cleanings can remove this plaque and tartar and the bacteria contained within each of them, resulting in fresher breath.
Stay hydrated. Did you know that saliva plays in important role in cleaning your teeth? Saliva can neutralize acids, protecting teeth from decay. It can also aid in keeping teeth free of bacteria. However, when you are dehydrated, your mouth does not produce as much saliva. Therefore, staying hydrated can actually keep your breath fresher for a longer period of time.
Schedule an Appointment with Your Erlanger Dentist
Professional cleanings can remove bacteria-ridden plaque and tartar and keep teeth healthy. If it’s been more than six months since your last dental visit, schedule an appointment with your Erlanger dentist, by calling our 41018 dentist office at 859-344-8500. We serve patients from Erlanger, Cincinnati, Crestview Hills, Fort Mitchell, Florence, Union, Independence, and Taylor Mill.
Did you know that over 50 percent of adults age 50 and older develop some form of gum disease? Once a person develops gum disease, it could progress into a more severe form that results in the decay of teeth-supporting tissues and ligaments, which in turn, could lead to tooth loss. But what do you think of when you hear the words “gum disease”? Many people automatically think of gingivitis. If you know your Greek and Latin, you’ll know that gingivitis means inflammation of the gums. Itis is a Greek suffix meaning inflammation, and gingiva, is the Latin word for gum. However, inflammation of the gums doesn’t sound so bad, a bit like a rash for your mouth. Surely it will just go away on its own, right? Perhaps not. Recent research shows that the bacterium responsible for gingivitis actually inhibits the immune system from fighting against it. Your Erlanger dentist, Dr. Darlene Henry, discusses this research and the bacterium known as porphyromonas gingivalis.
Porphyromonas Gingivalis and the Immune System
When porphyromonas gingivalis, the bacterium responsible for gingivitis, enters the body, it triggers the production of an anti-inflammatory molecule called IL-10. This molecule interferes with T-cells, the cells responsible for fighting bacteria. Because it has these effects, gingivitis can often progress to a more damaging form of gum disease and eventually lead to tooth loss if it is not treated.
Preventive Care Against Gingivitis
Gingivitis is typically caused by the presence of bacteria on a tooth near the gum line. To defend against these bacteria, homecare and regular dental visits are important. Brush your teeth twice a day, angling the bristles of the toothbrush down toward the gum line, and floss once a day. Also, visit your Erlanger dentist, Dr. Henry every six months for checkups and cleanings.
Schedule an Appointment with Your Erlanger Dentist
Professional cleanings can remove stubborn plaque and tartar and keep teeth healthy. If it’s been more than six months since your last dental visit, schedule an appointment with your Erlanger dentist, by calling our 41018 dentist office at 859-344-8500. We serve patients from Erlanger, Cincinnati, Crestview Hills, Fort Mitchell, Florence, Union, Independence, and Taylor Mill.
As a mother, nothing can light up your life the way your child does. A simple smile can fill your heart with ecstasy. But did you know that recent research has yielded scientific proof of this phenomenon. Your Erlanger dentist, Dr. Darlene Henry, discusses this research as well as your baby’s oral health to help you protect the smile you love so much.
A Mother’s Response to Her Child’s Smile
In a recent experiment, researchers showed mothers pictures of babies experiencing a wide range of emotions. Among these images were pictures of their own babies’. The results were quite interesting, although perhaps not unexpected. By measuring each of the women’s brain activity in response to these images, researchers found that those portions of the brain associated with euphoria were triggered significantly when the women were shown pictures of their own children smiling. When their children were crying or sad, however, the activity in these areas of the brain was almost nonexistent. To read more about the experiment, click on the following link: http://www.scientificamerican.com/article.cfm?id=smiles-and-mother-baby-bond.
Caring for Your Baby’s Smile
Oral care is very important in children. Although baby teeth are not permanent, a good oral health regimen, including regular brushing and flossing and consistent dental visits with your Erlanger children’s dentist, Dr. Henry, are vital. Tooth decay in baby teeth can lead to infections capable of spreading throughout the body. If a child loses a baby tooth too early, he or she may also have orthodontic problems in the future. Thus, it is important to make caring for your baby’s teeth and gums a priority. Schedule your baby’s first dental visit around his or her first birthday. Also, be sure clean your child’s gums with gauze or a washcloth before and during teething.
Schedule a Visit with Your Erlanger Children’s Dentist
Children should also attend dental visits once every six months. Professional cleanings can remove plaque and tartar from areas they miss and reinforce good oral hygiene habits. To schedule an appointment with your Erlanger children’s dentist, call our 41018 dentist office at 859-344-8500. We serve patients from Erlanger, Cincinnati, Crestview Hills, Fort Mitchell, Florence, Union, Independence, and Taylor Mill.
Often, it can be a struggle to get children to brush their teeth. Sometimes, they just don’t want to do it. Other times, they speed through and miss large areas in their mouths. Unfortunately, even though baby teeth aren’t permanent, neglecting to brush can still lead to serious problems. Infections in the mouth can spread throughout the body, causing health concerns, and if baby teeth fall out prematurely, orthodontic problems arise. To help you as you encourage your child to brush more often, try incorporating a customized tooth-brushing chart. Your Erlanger children’s dentist, Dr. Darlene Henry, shares a few tips for encouraging children to brush their teeth regularly and thoroughly.
Tooth Brushing 101: Class Is Now in Session
When teaching children to brush their teeth, be sure to stand behind them as they face the mirror. This position gives you a good vantage point from which to view their work. Teach them to brush in small circles, while angling the bristles of the brush down at a 45-degree angle toward their gums. Have them work on one or two teeth at a time and divide the brushing into three phases. Start with the outer surface of the teeth; then move to the inner surface; and finish with the biting, or top, surface.
Get Your Child’s Free Brushing Chart
A brushing chart is a fun way to remind kids to brush twice a day. The chart is broken into days and night and covers four weeks. Challenge your child to complete the chart, and offer a prize for successful completion. To get a copy of your child’s brushing chart, use the following link: http://www.loveyourteeth.net/. You will be prompted to enter your child’s name so that the chart can be customized. Then, print out the chart, and challenge your little one to the contest.
Schedule a Visit with Your Erlanger Children’s Dentist
In addition to proper homecare, your children should also attend dental visits once every six months. Professional cleanings can remove plaque and tartar from areas they miss and reinforce good oral hygiene habits. To schedule an appointment with your Erlanger children’s dentist, call our 41018 dentist office at 859-344-8500. We serve patients from Erlanger, Cincinnati, Crestview Hills, Fort Mitchell, Florence, Union, Independence, and Taylor Mill.
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