When was the last time you furtively breathed into your hand to do a quick check for bad breath? Do you ever wonder if what you're smelling is your breath or your hand? Next time, try this: Lick the back of your wrist, wait a minute for your saliva to dry, then take a whiff. This trick takes into account two important facts: the bacteria on your tongue is a common cause of bad breath, and the back of your wrist is usually cleaner than the inside of your hand!
Keep in mind that there are two types of bad breath: Transient bad breath and chronic bad breath. Most of us suffer from transient bad breath at some point or another – common causes are smoking, eating smelly foods like onions or garlic, and failing to brush and floss regularly. "Morning breath" is a familiar example of transient bad breath.
Fortunately, avoiding transient bad breath is simple. Follow these guidelines and you can stop chugging those breath mints with a mouthwash chaser:
* Brush twice a day with a fluoride toothpaste – and don't forget to brush your tongue. Let that bacteria know who's boss!
* Floss twice a day to remove hidden food particles and bacteria between your teeth.
* When you're brushing and flossing, take a minute to scrape your tongue, even the way-back, hard-to-reach part. You can find a tongue scraper at your local drugstore.
* Denture wearers: Remove your dentures before bed and cleanse them thoroughly before replacing them in the morning.
* Avoid habitual indulgence in candy, gum, lollipops, and other sources of sugar, which can cause tooth decay.
* Drink plenty of water throughout the day. Staying hydrated helps keep a healthy amount of saliva in your mouth.
* Visit your dentist. Regular visits help you maintain good oral health and prevent situations that can cause bad breath.
* Quit smoking! Bad breath is the least of the long list of health hazards associated with this habit.
If you find yourself habitually checking for (and finding) bad breath, you may have more than just a transient problem. Chronic halitosis (another word for bad breath) affects some 40 million Americans, and sometimes signifies the existence of a medical disorder.
There are several potential reasons behind the occurrence of chronic halitosis. One is the onset of periodontal (gum) disease, which occurs when a film of bacteria called plaque forms on the teeth, causing infection and subsequent weakening of the gums. Another possible source of halitosis is xerostomia, or "dry mouth": when the flow of saliva through your mouth decreases, bacteria that would normally be flushed out stays put. A third potential cause of chronic bad breath is a condition called ketosis, which is found in people with high-protein, low-carb diets – sorry, Atkins lovers! Finally, there is a broad range of serious health problems that carry bad breath as a side effect; a few examples are respiratory tract infection, chronic bronchitis, diabetes, and liver and kidney disorders.
If you've followed the guidelines listed above and you continue to suffer from halitosis, discuss the problem with your dentist. If he or she determines that your oral health is not the issue, the next step is visiting your family doctor or a specialist who can identify the cause and prescribe appropriate treatment.
Of course, most cases of bad breath are – not surprisingly – tied to your oral health, and your
dentist can develop a treatment plan to address the problem and have you breathing with confidence once again. Call us at A
dvanced Dental Care of Las Colinas if you have any concerns about your teeth!
Dr. Dunn's case of the month goes to Mr. W! He is the feature this month because of his amazing transformation that was accomplished with only one veneer! 
At Advanced Dental Care of Las Colinas, we know that losing your first tooth, or any baby tooth for that matter, can be exciting! Your baby tooth may be gone, but in no time you will have a bigger, “grown-up” tooth in its place. So what do you do with the lost tooth? That’s simple…place it under your pillow at night and when you are fast asleep the tooth fairy will come and whisk your tooth away leaving behind a special gift just for you! Here’s a simple craft project I found a little while back that will help make the tooth fairy’s job a little easier and give your tooth a special place to stay until it is taken away. Please click on the link for instructions and pictures!
Thanks to new CEREC technology, today most crowns can be done in one visit to our office. Our space age computer utilizes a digital 3D image taken with a special camera. The picture is fed into an onsite milling machine that precisely shapes and smooths the crown or restoration using diamond coated instruments. Next the crown is polished to a high gloss and ready for permanent placement. All of this without those yucky impressions that are required for other crowns! Dr. Dunn has found the quality and the fit to be comparable to, or even surpass, that of our best lab made crowns. In most cases you can actually leave with your new crown the same day!
When was the last time you furtively breathed into your hand to do a quick check for bad breath? Do you ever wonder if what you're smelling is your breath or your hand? Next time, try this: Lick the back of your wrist, wait a minute for your saliva to dry, then take a whiff. This trick takes into account two important facts: the bacteria on your tongue is a common cause of bad breath, and the back of your wrist is usually cleaner than the inside of your hand!
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