This results in poor oral hygiene causing bad breath. Studies report that about 50 – 65 per cent of the working population suffer from bad breath.

The main villains

• If food remains in your mouth for a long time, it increases the chances of tooth decay. Rinsing your mouth immediately after eating is a good habit, especially if you have just eaten something sweet. This will prevent the formation of plaques.

Both, rinsing after meals and brushing teeth twice daily, are critical to keep tartar and plaque at bay. Use clinically-tested toothpaste that provides longer protection.

Research shows that even common conditions like acidity and indigestion cause bad breath.

• Other factors that adversely affect oral hygiene are smoking, chewing beetle nut and tobacco. These habits lead to bad breath, tooth decay, gum disease, damage to tooth enamel and eventually tooth loss.

Knights in shining armour

• Dentists say that poor oral hygiene is the main cause of gum disease and tooth decay. Hence, along with brushing your teeth twice a day, it is also important to clean your tongue regularly. This practice reduces bad breath and improves oral hygiene as a large number of bacteria reside in the rough corrugated surface of the tongue.
• After you eat a high-sugar snack, rinse your mouth with water, and then eat a small piece of cheese or chew some sugar-free gum. Cheese provides calcium to replace the lost minerals and helps to even up the bacterial balance in your mouth. Chewing gum also stimulates the flow of saliva. Opt to drink your soft drink with a straw. This will limit the amount of sugar that touches your teeth.
• Supplements, like vitamin C, help decrease the occurrence of dental cavities, bad breath and gum disease. Vitamin C is vital for the production of collagen—the main protein-building block for all living tissues—which, in turn, makes the tissues more resistant to bacterial penetration. Vitamin C also keeps oral tissues healthy. A deficiency of vitamin C causes gums to swell and bleed.
• The best drinks for teeth are plain water or milk. Drinking coffee or tea stains your teeth and dries your mouth. Caffeine inhibits your saliva’s ability to combat tooth decay. Acidic drinks like orange juice can also attack your teeth. To avoid damaging your teeth, brush your teeth within an hour after you consume any acidic food or drink.

A happy ending

Given below are some useful tips to keep your teeth healthy for as long as you want:

• Drink plenty of water.
• Eat a variety of healthy foods from all the five major food groups.
• Avoid high-sugar foods.
• Brush twice a day. Learn the correct way to brush from the dentist. Avoid aggressive brushing.
• Remember to floss everyday.
• Get your teeth checked and cleaned every six months.
• Rinse your mouth thoroughly after every meal.
• Get all existing dental problems—bleeding gums, missing teeth, cavities—treated immediately. Prolonging treatment can lead to further severe complications. Bad breath may be caused by existing oral diseases such as gum disease and Candida infection. In such a case, see your dentist as soon as possible.
• Have herbs, the natural antibiotics. Fresh parsley and aloe vera are effective in preventing bad breath. Chew fresh parsley whenever you can. It not only detoxifies your mouth, but it also contains abundant chlorophyll, which sweetens your breath. Furthermore, all this will increase the flow of saliva that helps avoid dry mouth. Make your own mouthwash: mix two teaspoons aloe vera juice with a tumbler of water.
• Eat crisp fruits and vegetables such as apple, celery, cucumber and carrot. Chewing them cleans the mouth naturally by removing plaque and food particles stuck between your teeth and gums.
• Chewing sugarless gum increases salivation. Saliva has anti-bacterial properties so the more saliva you have, the more you suppress the bacterial growth. Fennel seeds, cinnamon sticks, mastic gum and fresh parsley are some of the commonly found food items that help you salivate naturally.
• Stay away from foods that cause foul breath such as garlic, onions, meats, fish, and cheese.

This was first published in the January 2010 issue of Complete Wellbeing.

The post Simple tips for good oral hygiene appeared first on Complete Wellbeing.

Now that we understand the role brushing plays in dental hygiene, why not make the most of it? Let me list a few tips that can make this daily routine even more effective for you.

Do it right

The best way of brushing is as follows:

• Choose a brush that suits you best—soft, medium or hard bristles.
• Put the brush into your mouth at a 45-degree angle against your gum line. Then start brushing using short and gentle strokes, as doing it too hard will create problems like weak gums, loose and sensitive teeth in the long run. It is best to brush in and up-down direction, beginning from where your gums and teeth meet to the chewing surface of the teeth.
• Clean all parts of your mouth—teeth, gums, tongue—one at a time.
• Use short sweeping strokes to clean the chewing surfaces of your teeth. Do not miss any pits or crevices.
• Hold your brush at 90-degree and clean the interiors of your front teeth [both top and bottom].
• Brush the roof of your mouth and also your tongue in the forward direction. These are the breeding grounds for most bacteria.
• Brush for a full 2 – 3 minutes. Keep a timer in case you find it difficult to keep track of the time.
• Rinse your mouth with a fluoride mouthwash. Fluoride keeps a check on the bacteria in your mouth thus preventing the formation of cavities, plaques and other dental hazards.
• Change your toothbrush every three months. In fact, dentists say that you must change your toothbrush soon after recovering from any infection. This is because the bristles hold on to the germs, which can lead to a re-infection.

Here are some guidelines for brushing the teeth of toddlers:

• Brush their teeth at the same time everyday. This will make them realise that brushing is an important and unavoidable routine of the day.
• Allow them to use not more than a small pea-size of toothpaste. Most children end up eating the toothpaste and that causes teeth stains.
• Let your child choose his/her own toothbrush—maybe of his/her favourite colour or cartoon character. This will make brushing fun and s/he will look forward to it.
• Teach your child good dental habits and the importance of dental hygiene.

The post The right way to brush appeared first on Complete Wellbeing.

Individuals with high stress levels tend to increase their bad habits, which can be harmful to periodontal health. They are less attentive to oral hygiene and may increase their use of nicotine, alcohol, or drugs. Such individuals should seek healthy ways to relieve stress through exercise, balanced eating, plenty of sleep, and maintaining a positive mental attitude.

Stress-related disorders

According to Harvard University research, stress can lead to bruxism, dry mouth, burning mouth syndrome, and lichen planus. If untreated, stress-related gum disease can also cause loss of teeth and loss of bone in the jaw. Symptoms include tender bleeding gums, swollen gums, bad breath, and loose teeth.

Bruxism

Bruxism is characterised by the grinding and clenching of teeth. The condition has been linked to work stress [Journal of Community Dentistry and Epidemiology] and personality type [Journal of Behavioural Medicine]. In the personality type study, it was found that people who were shy, apprehensive and given to worry, tended towards bruxism. When combined with erosion [the effects of acids on teeth from diet or other sources], bruxism can have devastating effects on teeth and may require extensive corrective treatment.

Unconscious clenching or grinding can lead to problems like:

• Cracked teeth
• Sensitive teeth due to wear of the teeth
• Headaches, or tiredness of the jaws on waking
• Flattened or chipped appearance of the teeth.

Treatment for bruxism includes the use of mouth guards / splints and relaxation techniques such as meditation.

Dry mouth

Dryness of the mouth can be caused by stress. More often, it may be caused by medications taken to treat stress, anxiety or depression. Reduced saliva in the mouth can have consequences such as:

• Reduced taste and appetite
• Increased tooth decay because of the lack of protection
• Difficulty in wearing dentures due to lack of lubrication
• Increased plaque accumulation and consequent increased gum disease
• Greater wear of the teeth and subsequent sensitivity.

Burning mouth syndrome

Burning mouth syndrome [BMS] is a painful, frustrating condition often described as a scalding sensation in the tongue, lips, palate, or throughout the mouth. Although BMS can affect anyone, it occurs most commonly in middle-aged or older women.

Moderate to severe burning in the mouth is the main symptom of BMS and can persist for months or years. For many people, the burning sensation begins in late morning, builds to a peak by evening, and often subsides at night. Some feel constant pain; for others, pain comes and goes. Anxiety and depression are common in people with burning mouth syndrome and may result from their chronic pain.

Other symptoms of BMS include:

• Tingling or numbness on the tip of the tongue or in the mouth
• Bitter or metallic changes in taste
• Dry or sore mouth.

With a little awareness and knowledge about oral care, there could be some prettier smiles around the world and less misery from tooth decay.

The post How Stress Harms Your Oral Health appeared first on Complete Wellbeing.