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Preventive Measures:
WHAT CAUSES BAD
BREATH?
The causes of bad
breath include decaying teeth, trapped particles of stale food infections of
the nasal cavity or lungs and uncontrolled diabetes. Mouthwash does not
remove the causes of bad breath, it can only mask the odour.
To keep your breath
fresh and your teeth clean and free from decay, you should brush your teeth
thoroughly with a fluoride toothpaste at least once a day, preferably just
before going to bed. However, if you have a breath problem, brush your teeth
after every meal. Products containing fluoride have been shown to reduce
decay by about 25 per cent when used regularly.
The best kind of
toothbrush is one with a small flat head of medium-soft nylon bristles. You
should start brushing at a different place every time you clean your teeth.
Otherwise, you may find yourself cleaning the same areas repeatedly, while
leaving other areas uncleaned.
When brushing your
teeth, do not wet the brush first. Put a small dab of paste on to a dry
toothbrush. The saliva in your mouth will provide all the moisture needed.
Too much paste creates too much frothing, which hampers cleaning. Try to
remove all the plaque (the sticky film that forms on the teeth and gums)
from the backs, front and biting surfaces of the teeth and gum margins and
from between the teeth.
However, regular
brushing alone will not remove all the plaque from between the teeth.
Supplement it by using dental floss or for people with clear gaps – wooden
toothpicks. Get the dentist’s advice before trying either because used
incorrectly, they can damage the gums.
Bad breath can also be
caused by such foods as garlic or onions. Residual oils from these foods
pass into the bloodstream and through the lungs; and the odour is expelled
with each breath. So if, you suffer from bad breath, it is advisable to
avoid these foods.
If, after making sure
your teeth are as clean as can be and after avoiding the foods mentioned
above you still suffer from bad breath, then you may have an infection of
the nasal cavity or lungs or may be suffering from diabetes. You need to
consult a doctor for a medical examination and treatment if your bad breath
is caused by any of these conditions.
If you
would like to know more about this topic or to consult us, please feel free
to visit our clinic or contact us by phone -
(020) 3874658 or 0722 784882.
Dr. Oliver Wala
Post-treatment Tips:
-
Dentures: For tips on
how to care for your dentures, click
here...
-
Braces: For tips on
how to care for your braces, click
here...
-
Tooth Extraction: For
tips on what to do after tooth extraction, click
here...
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