Tag Archives: bad breath

Oral Health Pt 3: Importance of saliva

Continued from Pt 2…

Saliva and oral health

Saliva is an integral part of oral health and many people do not actually realise the importance of saliva has in our mouth. The role of saliva is often underplayed due to lack of awareness. Saliva has many important functions and it is unfortunate that most people would only realise this when they have a chronic case of xerostomia or dry mouth, which is often hard to manage as treatment available involves mainly palliative care rather than a cure.

Function of saliva

There are three major salivary glands found in the mouth, along with many more minor ones. Each of the major salivary glands produces slightly different quality of secretion, some being more watery and others with a thicker consistency. All these secretions are combined together in the mouth to form saliva.  Saliva consists of mainly water (95%), enzymes, salivary proteins and ions.  Continue reading →

How Diabetes Can Affect Your Oral Health Part 2

Continuation of Part 1

© get-health-smart.com

A visit to the dentist

Every dental office will treat anyone having diabetes mellitus (DM). On your first visit, you will be asked to fill out a personal medical and dental history for the use of the dentist. Any critical information pertaining to diabetes should be added to the medical and dental history record, which would include information on dosage, time schedules, method of administration, previous adverse experiences with insulin control, number of hospitalizations, and physician recommendations. A good rapport with your dentist is necessary to treat any complications in your mouth.
Continue reading →

How to Make Your Own Mouthwash Part2

Continued from Part1

3% hydrogen peroxide

3% hydrogen peroxide

Hydrogen Peroxide Mouthwash

Hydrogen peroxide has been used as an antibacterial agent for many years because of its oxidizing properties. The chemical is a weak acid and a strong bleaching agent therefore it is not unusual to find hydrogen peroxide listed in the ingredients of some toothpastes and dentifrices. Even dentists use high concentration hydrogen peroxide in professional teeth whitening procedures to remove stubborn stains. Hydrogen peroxide mouthwash can help reduce gum bleeding and clean mouth wounds by killing bacteria and removing dead tissues. Continue reading →

How to Make Your Own Mouthwash Part1

bca66903So you feel that buying a mouthwash could pinch your wallet but yet you can’t help but be concerned about the health of your mouth?

Commercial mouthwashes sold over the counter can be costly especially therapeutic mouthwashes that help reduce the amount of bacteria in the mouth.

However worry naught as there are several homemade remedies available to make your own mouthwash when you are on a tight budget. Homemade mouthwash has mild antibacterial properties that can provide relief for mouth sores and reduce bad breath. Continue reading →

Does Mouth Wash really work?

© Dental Health Magazine

© Dental Health Magazine

Your dentist may be advising you to use a mouthwash whenever you go for a dental visit but frankly is it necessary to use one?

Mouthwashes or mouth rinses have been around for ages and are most widely used by consumers. The traditional purpose for mouthwash has been to keep bad breath away but now there are therapeutic mouth rinses available that help reduce the amount of bacteria in the mouth. Continue reading →

Avoiding Trench Mouth

Acute necrotizing gingivitis © Too Smile Dentals

Acute necrotizing gingivitis © Too Smile Dentals

Trench mouth disease, or acute necrotizing ulcerative gingivitis (ANUG) in medical term, is a condition that affects the gums which as its name implies; destroy gum tissues, create sores and inflame the gums. When irreversible destruction of the periodontal tissues has occurred, it will be called as acute necrotizing ulcerative periodontitis (ANUP). The condition is best seen in patients with HIV infection and AIDS and it has been around since World War I (for many of the soldiers in the trenches were affected by it). It used to be called by many names like Vincent’s gingivitis, Vincent’s gingivostomatitis and ulceromembraneous gingivitis.

Continue reading →

10 Ways to Stop Bad Breath (Halitosis)

Bad Breath © mercola.com

Bad Breath © mercola.com

Bad breath, or also known as halitosis, is a common complaint among adults and you may have experienced it sometime in your life. In most cases, having bad breath is not serious but it can significantly affect your personal and social life by causing embarrassment and self-consciousness.  However having bad breath can also be a sign of a more serious underlying problem. Continue reading →