Bad breath is truly an unpleasant experience to deal with. The condition is known in medical terminology as halitosis. A sign of poor oral hygiene or an underlying medical issue, bad breath reflects poorly on one’s grooming in personal and professional situations. It can lower the self-esteem of a person suffering from the condition and make conversations an unpleasant experience. Let’s examine the most common causes of bad breath: Oral health problems One of the biggest causes of bad breath is dental disease. Tooth decay and deep cavities are the common culprits that cause bad breath. Gum disease and yeast infections of the mouth are also other common dental health issues that lead to bad breath. If one has persistently bad breath that refuses to go away even after brushing and experience a gum or toothache, they should head to a dentist immediately. Early treatment of tooth and gum problems can save one from a big dental bill later on. Poor oral hygiene Mouth odor is common in people who do not take good care of their teeth. Food stuck between the teeth and an uncleaned tongue can leave a truly foul mouth odor that is unpleasant for the individual themselves and for anyone around.

There are different types of toothpaste available in the market. Several are specialized in solving a particular problem, while others are all-in-one and contain a combination of ingredients which help your teeth stay clean and germ-free. Out of the different ingredients that are present in toothpaste, one which is extremely beneficial is fluoride. It is claimed that fluoride-free toothpaste will not help improve the strength of your teeth. What is fluoride? A naturally occurring mineral, fluoride is found in water bodies like lakes, rivers, and oceans. Fluoride has been added to water supplies as well by many governments as the mineral helps in strengthening the enamel of the tooth. How does fluoride help prevent tooth decay? Fluoride slows the breakdown of enamel and paces the process of remineralization. The regenerated enamel crystals are harder, bigger in size, and acid-resistant. Although it is porous in property, tooth enamel is hard. When there is a plaque on the surface of the teeth, acids can be produced that penetrate the pores of the enamel and break it internally. This process is known as demineralization and creates a weak spot within the tooth that has chances of turning into a cavity if it is not treated on time.

Dental fillings and repairs are of utmost necessity to protect the health of your teeth and to prevent further decay and damage. What is a dental filling? A dental filling is a treatment suggested to remove cavities. The dentist removes the infected part of the tooth, cleans it to remove dead tissues, and then fills with a special material. The filling method is also used to repair broken teeth and to resolve other forms of teeth damage. The procedure of filling The filling process usually takes a few days, but it also depends on your dentist. Once the diagnosis is made, the dentist will first numb the tooth area with the help of anesthesia. Then, the decayed tissues and other dirt from the region is forced out through a drill. The next process is air abrasion treatment to ensure complete removal of decayed tissues. Once all damaged tissues are removed from the area, the dentist will clean it to remove bacteria. The next step is filling the material in the tooth, and finally, polishing. For a tooth-colored filling, the dentist uses a special light to fix the color of the filling. Types of filling materials used Due to advancements in dental medicine, today, different types of filling materials are available.

Dental cavities are holes in the teeth that occur because of decay. They can cause severe pain in the teeth and can even lead to the loss of the tooth. Read on to know more about this dental problem. Dental cavities Cavities in the teeth are holes caused by tooth decay. They are also known as dental caries. Cavities can start off as small holes called microcavities. These microcavities may not lead to any symptom like pain, and so, you may not even realize that you have them. Most people realize they have cavities in the teeth only when they start feeling pain. Even when pain is experienced, many people are scared to visit the dentist. As a result of this, they only end up visiting the dentist when it is too late, by which time the cavity would have probably destroyed the tooth. This is the reason why it is necessary to visit the dentist regularly. Tooth decay The sugar we consume through our food reacts with bacteria in our mouth and helps produce acids that can attack the outer layer of the tooth, known as enamel. Gradually, it causes the minerals in the teeth to dissolve. Once the outer layer gets dissolved, it attacks the inner layers of the tooth or the pulp that is soft and sensitive.

Imagine, being toothless at a young age! Your oral cavity contains millions of germs and bacteria. Most of them are found between your teeth. A regular brush is unable to reach the tiny spaces between teeth. So, even if you brush regularly twice a day, the bacteria and other germs continue to live on inside your mouth, often leading to dental problems. Here is where flossing comes into the picture. Flossing is often considered to be optional. The truth is for proper oral care, flossing is necessary. Benefits of flossing When one talks about dental care, most assume it is only about brushing. In the long run, relying only on brushing could also ruin your teeth. Flossing is often seen as a non-essential activity, but it has so many benefits for your health that you should make it a habit. Here are some amazing ways in which flossing helps: Freshen up your breath Parts of food often get trapped between your teeth. Bacteria soon get collected on the food remains leading to bad odor. If regular flossing is done, the food remains can be removed preventing their accumulation. This helps in preventing bad breath. It provides more benefits than brushing Though the procedure of complete oral care constitutes both brushing and flossing, it is flossing that is more advantageous than brushing.