Month: May 2020

The cavities and gum diseases are the results of plaque formation, and this plaque is formed due to the leftover food between the teeth. The leftover food is not cleaned even after the brushing, tempting us to support our dental hygiene with some other element along with brushing.

So, here comes the requirement to floss our teeth. The plaque stays for longer on our teeth and gums; it is hardened by the minerals present in our saliva and a substance named calculus is formed. This calculus is home to various bacteria’s, further leading to gum diseases and is not easily removed by only brushing or flossing.

Why floss

Now, no doubt brushing is an excellent way to clean your teeth, but brushing alone is not enough to keep them in the best condition. This is because brush can’t reach in every corner of your mouth, making flossing necessary for deep cleaning. Besides, flossing has many other hidden benefits-

• For preventive care- No matter how much you care for your teeth, there are always hidden dangers of bacteria’s getting trapped between the teeth.
• Especially when you do not adhere to a proper diet and proper dental hygiene, when you practice flossing correctly, you can remove the hidden debris and reduce the chances of accumulation of bacteria’s.
• Prevent tartar buildup- Flossing removes plaque formation, thus preventing the building of Tartar on the gum line.
• Prevents lousy breath- Flossing daily helps you fight the bad breath by killing the bacteria’s that create bad odour.

How should you floss?

Now the critical question is, what is the right time and method to floss? Well, many people are accustomed to brushing and then flossing, but it is not that effective as with this procedure, the debris released by flossing remains in the mouth only. Whereas when you first floss and then brush, you can easily remove the released particles. For further clarity on the procedure have a look on the flossing instructions given below-

• Step1-Break off around 18 to 24 inches of floss and wind it around the middle fingers of your both hands. Leave 1-2 inches of floss for the teeth.
• Step2- Grip the floss between your thumb and forefinger.
• Step3- Gently rub the floss between your teeth. (Note- Do not snap it into gums)
• Step4- When the floss reaches your gums; bend it from the base to form a C so that it enters between the teeth and gum.
• Step5- Hold the floss tightly and rub it against the side of the tooth. Repeat the same procedure for every tooth and use a new section of floss for each tooth.

It is imperative to follow these steps sincerely. Keep in mind that the flossing should not be too hard or too gentle. In both cases, you will not get the desired results. Plus, there are various types of dental floss. So, you need to analyze your requirements and get the right one for you. Lastly, it may seem to be time taking as compared to brushing, but still, you need to understand that it is a necessary tool to keep your teeth and gums in the best state.

Thus, even if you brush regularly, you need to floss.

Book Appointment to find out which treatment might be best for you.

You may suddenly notice some foul odor coming across your way, and then you realize it was your kid who just spoke something. Its prime time you must have a concern regarding this stinky breath of your child, which is unpleasant and embarrassing. But, before you feel too bad about it, you need to know that your child is not alone to face this. It is a common problem and happens to everyone at some point in time.

What is bad breath and what are the causes to it

Well, this bad breath problem is known as halitosis in medical terms. There can be various reasons behind it, and the best thing is that it can be treated and prevented. Thus before we proceed to anything, let us explore some common causes of bad baby breath:

• Poor oral hygiene- Dental hygiene is something you have to take care of, even when the teeth have not started to come. It is essential to keep the gums clean and have a regular inspection. Otherwise, the food taken by the baby can accumulate in the mouth and cause to smell.
• Smelly food- If the kid has started consuming food, few foods like onion and garlic can be prominent ingredients for bad breath as the food starts breaking in the mouth only. Thus, limiting such things in your child’s diet can lessen the issue.
• Dry mouth- Your saliva is the best cleanser for your mouth, which resists the persistence of bacteria’s and thus keeps foul odor at bay. However, few habits of your kid like breathing through the mouth, less water intake, etc. can cause the mouth to dry, thereby inviting halitosis.
• Ailing’s and infections- There are a few ailing’s like sinus infections, tonsillitis, etc. in which the mucus from the sinuses is introduced in the mouth, causing a foul odor.

How to get rid of bad breath

Bad breath can be annoying and distressing but is not permanent, provided you take the right steps at the earliest. All you have to do is analyze the cause and further follow the required steps to bring some improvement. Below are few such actions you can take:

• Follow proper oral hygiene- Half the dental issues are solved by proper brushing and flossing two times daily as this habit can help you fight the existing bacteria and prevent further diseases.
• Mouthwash- Both the types of mouthwashes: cosmetic and therapeutic are recommended to deal with the bad breath problem. These will not only give a pleasant smell but also keep the child fresh.
• Clean the tongue- Your coated tongue can also be a reason for the foul smell. Thus, make sure you clean the tongue thoroughly.
• See your dentist- If the smell persists after following good oral hygiene, you should see your dentist and talk to him about the issue in detail.

No longer feel shy if you have this problem of bad breath as it can happen to anyone. Make sure to follow the right dental hygiene and visit the dentist to identify the right cause and practice the measures.

Book Appointment to find out which treatment might be best for you.