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Five Ways to Fight Bad Breath

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Fighting Bad Breath | Dental Excel BlogAlmost everyone suffers with bad breath at some point in their lives, often caused by foods, smoking, certain medications or even crash dieting.

Some people simply have ‘morning breath’, which can easily be ‘cured’ by brushing and flossing, or with the use of a good mouthwash. Children and young adults often have days when their breath is bad-smelling, sometimes attributed to hormonal changes in the body.

Most cases of bad breath are temporary and mild, but sometimes can point to a more serious, underlying cause, particularly if the sufferer experiences it for a prolonged period.

Experiencing bad breath can place the sufferer in an awful position. It can be embarrassing, particularly if you work in an environment in close proximity to other people. Some sufferers are not even aware that their breath is bad. Not everyone is comfortable with telling someone they have bad breath, and those sufferers do not get the chance to receive treatment.

What is halitosis?

Halitosis is the medical term given with a clinical diagnosis of bad breath. Halitosis is not the same as ‘ordinary’ bad breath.

What causes halitosis?

The causes of halitosis can be wide-ranging, but the most common causes are:

  • Poor dental hygiene
  • Smoking
  • Gum disease
  • Low-carb diets or fasting
  • Xerostomia (Dry Mouth)
  • Medication
  • Alcoholism

What can you do to fight bad breath?

Visit the dentist

It is a good idea to find out what is happening in your body to cause bad breath before you can begin treating it, and the best way to do this is to visit your dentist. Don’t be shy! Your dentist or dental hygienist is specifically trained, and has seen many, many cases of bad breath in all guises before you.

Regular trips to your dentist for routine check-ups at least twice a year will ensure that any underlying issues can be spotted earlier and treated more effectively.

Improve dental hygiene routines

Often, poor dental hygiene is the root cause of breath smelling badly. Improve your dental hygiene routine by brushing and flossing at least twice a day, particularly after eating. Cleaning the tongue regularly can also help to improve your breath, as can the use of a good quality mouthwash.

Take a trip to your local dentist and ask them for tips and advice to help you.

Stop smoking

If you are a user of tobacco products, whether cigarettes, cigars or chewing tobacco, then you are at higher risk of contracting gum disease or other periodontal issues that can lead to bad breath.

Tobacco products can produce a foul smell of their own that can become offensive when breathed out. Smoking cessation improves oral health, and reduces the likelihood of Dry Mouth and halitosis.

Keep hydrated

Drinking water instead of coffee or tea can not only reduce occurrence of bad breath, but can also improve oral hygiene significantly. Keep your mouth moist and hydrated throughout the day for the best results.

Drinking green teas can also be beneficial, as they contain polyphenols that can help to reduce the sulphuric compounds present in the mouth and throat, subsequently reducing oral bacteria.

Avoid certain medications

If you suffer from halitosis, taking certain medications can exacerbate your condition. Although it can be difficult to avoid certain medications if you are unwell, speak to your GP about possible alternatives if you suffer with bad breath as a result of taking:

  • Antidepressants
  • Pain killers
  • Antihistamines
  • Products containing sodium lauryl sulphate
  • Diuretics

How Dental Excel can help you

Dental Excel in Brisbane and the Sunshine Coast can help you if you are suffering with bad breath. We take a holistic approach to your oral hygiene, and are happy to discuss your condition with you, offering some real, practical advice that you can put into practice straightaway.

We strongly advocate the practice of taking regular oral health checks at your dentist. Your dentist or hygienist can be your closest friend and ally when you suffer with bad breath! Contact us today, and let us help you with your condition.

Dental Phobia | How to Cope | Dental Excel Blog

What is Dental Phobia and How Can You Cope with It?

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Anyone who suffers with a dental phobia will understand how terrifying a simple, routine visit to the dentist can be. Symptoms vary according to the severity of the condition, but can include:

  • Dental Phobia | How to Cope | Dental Excel BlogA build-up of fear over days leading up to the appointment.
  • Loss of sleep.
  • Sweating and nausea.
  • Lack of appetite.
  • Nausea.
  • A debilitating anxiety on the day, often leading to cancellation of the appointment.
  • Paralysing terror in the waiting room.

What is a dental phobia?

The widely-accepted definition of a phobia is ‘an intense, irrational fear’ of something. It is not simply a dislike of attending, which many people have for the dentist, hospital or the doctor, but a condition that leads to the inability to face that fear; igniting the body’s ‘fight or flight’ reaction, and leaving sufferers with the inescapable thought that they will do almost anything to avoid the situation.

A dental phobia is an intense, irrational fear of the dentist.

Sufferers of dental phobia face frustration, anxiety, physical symptoms and as a result, embarrassment when they have a routine appointment approaching. It is an uncontrollable condition, often entirely misunderstood by the people around you. The symptoms are very real, and can be terrifying.

Can dental phobia cause health problems?

Dental phobia, if not overcome, can lead to severe oral health issues. Regular dental check-ups are vital to maintain healthy teeth and gums, and if not attended at least twice a year, issues that may arise in the mouth can easily be missed.

Some dental phobia sufferers can put off routine dental care for years, and will suffer in silence with dental issues, such as pain in the gums or teeth, infection or even broken teeth to avoid a visit to the dentist.

Sufferers of dental phobia face a heightened risk of gum disease and can lose teeth earlier in life than a patient who attends for regular check-ups. Also, the appearance of the teeth can suffer, which can have a knock-on effect to self-esteem. Discolouration is common in teeth that are uncared for professionally, and conditions such as misalignment, overbite or underbite are not recognised early enough. There are many conditions that can be treated quickly and easily with a regular visit to the dentist, as they are spotted early enough to make treatment possible.

At a regular visit to the dentist, patients can ensure that plaque does not build up, and a quick scale and polish can do wonders for the health of your mouth and your confidence.

What can you do to begin coping with dental phobia, and how can Dental Excel help you?

The physical and emotional effects of dental phobia can be treated, and should be addressed, as over time they can only get worse.

For effective treatment of your condition, you need to assess the level of the phobia, and give yourself a little time to work out what will work best for you. Generally, the biggest fears people have are; the fear of pain, the lack of control they experience in the dentist chair and also, the self-consciousness that one’s mouth may be unsightly. All these things (and many more) can trigger an attack of acute anxiety or dental phobia.

Dental Excel dentists on the Sunshine Coast are experienced in handling patients coping with dental phobia on many levels. Our friendly dental nurses and reception staff are also trained to recognise your symptoms, and are happy to help you to overcome your fears.

We have a few ideas, and tricks up our sleeves to assist you with your dental treatment concerns, whether you experience nervousness or a full-blown dental phobia. We enjoy a relaxed, friendly atmosphere at all our practices, and extend a warm welcome to our patients, who benefit from our warm approach. We want to help you keep your teeth for life, and enjoy having us look after you!

Here are some things you could try:

  • Make an initial call to one of our four dental practices on the Sunshine Coast, or our practice in Bracken Ridge – talk to us about your fears.
  • Call in to one of our dental practices and meet the friendly teams. The atmosphere in all our practices is relaxed, we all work better that way! Talk to us and take a seat in the waiting room for a few minutes to familiarise yourself with the place.
  • Ask to see one of the treatment rooms.
  • Ask to sit in a dental treatment chair.
  • Make an appointment with one of our friendly, experienced dentists. Once you have talked through your appointment, you may find you feel more relaxed.
  • Don’t be afraid to ask questions about treatments – we are more than happy to listen and discuss your options with you in advance.

Dental Excel dentists are skilled in pain relief, and can offer you a range of options, including Happy Gas, should you require advanced treatment beyond your regular check-up.

Dental practices today are not what they were a decade ago. Advancements in treatment and technology have brought changes to dentistry, and if you haven’t been to the dentist for a few years, you may be pleasantly surprised at these changes.

Dental Excel technology includes some of the very latest in next-generation dental care practices, such as the Intra Oral Camera, which allows you to see what we see. We pride ourselves in keeping up-to-date, ensuring we can provide our patients with a holistic approach to dentistry. Let us help to alleviate some of your concerns – talk to us today at Dental Excel.

Aging & Dental Care | Dental Excel Blog

Aging and Dental Care – Why is Good Oral Health More Important as We Get Older?

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Aging and Dental Care | Dental Excel BlogDental care is, and should be, an important part of our hygiene routines at all stages of life. As we approach later life, the fact remains that changes in our bodies may require a little extra focus on our health, and our dental routines need to adapt and change too.

Aging is a natural, inevitable process that affects our bodies from top to toe. Since most adults over 55 are now keeping their own, natural teeth for longer, compared to just a couple of decades ago, a few changes to the regular dental care routine can only serve to help keep our healthy smiles in place for even longer.

Certain medications that are more likely to be ingested by us as we age, and indeed, some of the conditions we are more likely to develop, such as diabetes, can lead to problems in the mouth and gingival tissues that we would not have needed to address as closely in our younger years.

Did you know that analgesics and other pain medication can mask dental pain? Therefore, it is even more important for us to adopt greater care in our health routines as we age, and maintaining good oral health with regular dental check-ups is a vital part of that.

Common conditions that can affect aging and dental care for oral health

Diet and nutrition play an important role in our oral health as we get older. An inadequate, or poor diet can have a detrimental effect on general health, but can also lead to disorders of the oral cavity. Eat properly during aging and dental care has some help! Another issue that is almost exclusive to the aging population is the wearing of dentures. Ill-fitting dentures can lead to a reduction in the desire or ability to eat properly, which is not conducive to a good nutritional intake.

Let’s look at some of the common symptoms of the aging process that can affect oral health:

Diabetes

Type 2 diabetes is far more common in the aging populations across the world. Even when carefully managed, diabetes can exacerbate the risk of gum disease, dry mouth and even thrush.

Dry Mouth

Dry mouth can be caused by certain medications given to the older generation to combat typical medical issues associated with aging. Dry mouth can also encourage decay more quickly within both teeth and their roots.

Gum Disease

Without regular, good oral health care, plaque can build up around the teeth and gums, spelling problems in later life with the heightened risk of infection and gum disease. Gingivitis, the swelling, soreness and bleeding of the gums, is the first sign of gum disease.

Sensitivity

Sensitive teeth can be painful, and limit the types of foods that can be eaten comfortably. Sensitivity in the teeth can be caused by a thinning of the enamel, gum disease or cavities, all of which can occur in later life, although are not limited to age. A good oral health routine can help to prevent tooth sensitivity.

How Dental Excel can help you to maintain good oral health in later life

Dental Excel understands the difficulties and challenges that our patients face as they age. Our aim is to work towards the prevention of common oral health issues within the aging and dental care process, with the establishment of a good oral health routine. It is a common misconception that losing teeth as we grow older is an inevitability – properly cared-for teeth can last a lifetime. We are all aging and dental care routines need just minor adjustments, and a little more attention, to keep on top of our oral health.

Regular check-ups are a must for all ages, but particularly as we get older, in order for us to keep a close eye on your oral health.

Ill-fitting dentures are surprisingly common, and we offer a range of solutions to help you stay happy and comfortable with your dentures. Dental Excel embraces the very latest in dental implant and implant bridge technology, and can help you, even if you have previously been diagnosed with low jawbone density problems.

Find out more about All-on-4 Permanent Dentures at Dental Excel.

Contact Dental Excel today to make your appointment with our experienced teams at Beerwah, Bracken Ridge, Wurtulla, Caloundra and Palmwoods. We are dedicated to helping you to keep your beautiful, healthy smile for as long as possible with a good oral health routine, and the latest technology at Dental Excel.