We cannot neglect dental hygiene. If we do then our teeth will decay and fall off. We can also suffer from severe toothache.

A public personality who has to reach out to the people has to have a bright smile. His or her smile will attract the attention of the masses. Obviously, teeth matter. Teeth in proper shape will draw admirers.

How do we take care of our teeth?

• Brush regularly and properly. One must brush in the morning and at night as well before going to sleep.
• Swish our mouth with water after meals.
• Floss properly.
• Purchase a toothpaste that contains fluoride.
• Using anti tartar-toothpaste as well as mouthwashes is beneficial.
• For sensitive teeth use a special toothpaste.
• Use braces to keep the teeth in proper shape.
• Tooth-whitening products are available.
• Eating excessive sugar products can also affect your teeth. A 3 hour gap must be given in between such eats.
• Better to avoid eating sugary foods before going to bed. One must definitely brush the teeth.
• One must visit the dentist regularly.
• Gums also should be well taken care of.
• Get your teeth cleaned regularly.
• Use a mouthwash. It is anti-septic.
• Do not use cheap dental products such as toothpaste, mouthwash etc.

One must visit one’s dentist on a regular basis to keep one’s teeth in good shape. Bad teeth can affect your body systems and also cause bad breath.

Certain types of bad breath are considered to be normal. They need not be health concerns. Bad breath occurs in the morning hours, as bacteria is formed overnight. Less saliva is formed at night. In the day time lot of saliva is formed which cleanses the mouth of decayed food. At night this is not so. Dead cells stick in the inside of the mouth as well as the inner part of the cheek. When the bacterial thrives on these bacteria for food, bad odor emanates from the mouth.

Causes of bad breath

• Lack of proper dental hygiene- Not brushing frequently or properly and also not flossing well allows food particles to remain in the mouth, which causes bad breath.
• Infections of the respiratory tract-  Lung, throat or sinus infections.
• Mouth infections- Periodontal (gum) disease.
• External agents- Coffee, onion, garlic, cigarette smoking and chewing of tobacco.
• Systemic(bodywide)illnesses- Liver disease, Diabetes, kidney diseases, sinus disease, reflux disease, lung disease as well as others.
• Psychiatric illnesses- Some might believe they have bad breath others do not notice. This is known as “pseudohalitosis”.
• Dry mouth- This is due to medicines, salivary glands or mouth breathing.

Symptoms of bad breath

• Improper dental hygiene-  Teeth are coated with plaque or film. Food may be trapped between the teeth. Gums may be pale or swollen.
• Bad odor- The mouth smells bad.
• Mouth infections- These include swollen gum or red gums which can bleed very easily while flossing or brushing. Pockets of pus or pus found at the base of the tooth. Painful gums or open sores on one’s gums or tongue.
• External agents- Cigarette stains on the teeth as well as the fingers. Coffee stains on the teeth are also visible.
  Respiratory tract infections- Swollen nymph nodes, sore throat, fever, stuffy nose, yellowish or greenish discharge from the nose, coughing that causes mucus.
• Systemic(bodywide) illnesses- Diabetes symptoms, kidney failure, or disease of the liver and lung disease.

How long does bad breath last?

This would much depend upon the cause. In case, it is due to improper brushing or flossing then once this rectified the breath will improve. The dentist also can take care of it. In case it is due to systemic illnesses, it can be along term problem. It can be dealt with proper medical treatment.

Prevention of bad breath

• Brush properly.
• Floss regularly.
• Use a mouth freshener such as antiseptic mouth wash.
• Regular dentist visits.
• Drinking a lot of water.
• Chewing sugar less gum.
• Celery.
• Raw carrots.

Treatment of bad breath

• Treat according to the causes.
• Maintain proper dental hygiene.
• Consult the dentist regularly.
• Use a mouthwash on  a daily basis.

Bad breath can be quite embarrassing. It can putt off a person. Even relationship can get affected. Proper dental hygiene can help you get rid of the problem.

Bacterial Plaque are not the only one of the factors that causes caries but one of them. The structure of teeth is as such that it influences the occurrence caries. Tooth decay occurs most widely in stagnation areas, such as caries is caries is common in pits and fissures of teeth. These areas cannot be reached by toothbrush and the plaque present there remains undisturbed despite frequent brushing. Abnormal, displaced teeth also prevent natural and artificial cleansing and thus leads to stagnation.

The better and easier way to fight decay is to cut down the intake of sugar and sugar related foodstuff. This is tough as sugar is present invisibly in many food items. The major benefit of brushing in fighting decay is that it stops the plaque film from building up to a great thickness and thus cuts down the acid production.

The other simple and easy ways to prevent tooth decay are:

1. Fried foods, yes they are bad for obese people but they have some benefits too. They coat the teeth and protect them from coming in contact with dangerous acids.
2. End your meals with fibrous foods and salads. They are supposed to possess mild cleansing properties as they could remove food debris from the teeth. They also stimulate periodontal tissues.
3. Never end your meals with sweets and desserts.
4. Limit the intake of refined carbohydrates. Refined carbohydrates are sugar, flour and other carbohydrates, which is treated to make them whiter, less fibrous and tastier. These carbohydrates are sticky and stick to teeth for long periods. They could be easily broken down to acids by bacteria in the mouth. These acids are primary cause for tooth decay.
5. Look out for sugar content in foods. Go for unprocessed foods like meat, eggs, fish, cereals, vegetables, fruits or cheese. Vegetables contain 2-3% sugar which is very safe for teeth where as fruits have 12%. One of the natural food that contain high sugar is honey (70%) which could be avoided for betterment of teeth.
6. Include adequate amount of calcium, phosphorus, fluoride and vitamins like A, C and D in your diet. All of these are there in a normal balanced diet. Fluoride could be supplemented by artificially fluoridating drinking water (1 part of fluoride per million part of water). Fluoride makes teeth more resistant to decay.
7. Regular visit to dentist could assist in early detection of severe dental problems.