Thursday, January 28, 2021

Mask Mouth...Yuck!

Before the pandemic, hopefully, a close friend or family member would nicely inform you that your breath was bad. Now we are almost to the one year mark where masks have been mandated and I'm sure at one point you have smelt your own breath and thought... gross, does it always smell like this? The answer no.

 Unfortunately, at this time, most of us are experiencing "mask mouth".

On a regular basis, we naturally breathe through our nose, however, wearing a mask makes us feel like we are suffocating, so we tend to breathe through our mouth more. This is where "mask mouth" comes into play. 

By breathing in through our mouth, it's causing it to dry out. When our saliva dries out, bacteria begin to form causing bad breath and cavities. 

The mask also forces us to breathe in recycled air which makes the bacteria to keep building.

Below are a few ways to help combat "mask mouth":

  • Stay Hydrated
  • Eat a balanced diet
  • Avoid smelly foods (onions, eggs, brussel sprouts)
  • Wear a new mask every day or change it halfway through the day.
  • Maintain proper oral hygiene
  • Use mouthwash after every meal

If you notice your breath becoming worse or hasn't subsided, you should contact your dental office and schedule a routine exam and cleaning!

Thursday, January 21, 2021

Your Toothache Could Be Telling You Something!

Most people who get a toothache get just that... A toothache. All they know is that it hurts really bad and the dentist will fix it (when and IF they even get around to going). But did you know that your toothache just might be telling you what kind of problems you may be in for?

Here's how to tell:

Sharp pain and tooth sensitivity (intermittent): Cold sensitivity is a symptom of gum recession, loss of enamel from over-brushing, age, and wear and tear, or a small cavity. Heat sensitivity could also be a small cavity, but could also very well be an abscess, a crack, or a sign of severe decay.

Chronic toothache (more than one tooth): Could be nerve damage from grinding your teeth, severe decay, or dental trauma from an accident or injury.

Throbbing toothache: This is a sign of infection. Swelling of the face may also accompany this type of toothache and is also a sign of an abscess.

Pain while eating: This could indicate tooth decay or a slight crack in your tooth.

Pain in the jaw (back): This could be impacted wisdom teeth, but could also be related to teeth grinding or even possibly TMJ.

Many people wait until they are in RAGING pain to see a dentist. The thing is, if you go to the dentist at the first sign of a problem, you'll save yourself a whole lot of pain as well as a whole lot of money. It could mean the difference between a small, inexpensive filling and a painstaking, costly root canal. 

The bottom line here is DON'T IGNORE THE PAIN!!! If you can feel it, it's time to go to the dentist!

This information was gathered from a great website for dental research. Check them out here!

Thursday, January 14, 2021

How To Nurse A Weekend Toothache

So it's the weekend and everyone is busy.. And where are you? At home with a toothache, wishing Monday would hurry up and arrive so you can get to a dentist. Here's a few tips on how to make it throughout that painful weekend with out suffering completely:

- Try rinsing your mouth out first. Take a mouthful of room-temperature water and rinse vigorously. Many times, a painful toothache can caused simply by trapped food.

-If that doesn't work, try flossing GENTLY. This should get rid of the problem, unless your problem is something other than just stuck food.

-Numb the pain- Take a shot of whiskey (do not swallow it), and hold it in your mouth right over the painful tooth. Your gums will absorb the alcohol and it will numb the pain.

-Rinse with salt water- Make sure the water is room temperature. This is very soothing and cleansing and will help keep it from getting any worse.

-Massage your hand- No, I'm not kidding. Rubbing an ice-cube in the V-shape between your index finger and your thumb for 5-7 minutes can reduce the pain by 50%.

-Put a little clove oil on it- You can purchase this over the counter. Simply drop a little right on the tooth.

-Try not to bite- This is a no-brainer. Obviously, if you have a toothache, try not to bite on that side whatsoever.

-Try icing it up- This may not work if you have sensitivity to cold. If you don't, you might try sucking on an ice cube- on or near that tooth. If sucking on an ice-cube isn't going to work, try puting an icepack on your cheek in 15 minute intervals.

-Shut your mouth- If you are having sensitivity to cold, breathing through your mouth can cause even more pain. Try breathing through your nose.

-Take Aspirin- And no, don't put it directly on your tooth or gum, this can cause damage. Actually take and swallow an aspirin every 4-6 hours.

-Keep it cool- Try to avoid getting to warm or hot. And definitely avoid placing heat on the area. Heat draws infection to the surface, making it worse and more painful.

This information is not intended to replace regular, professional dental care. Do-it-yourself dentistry is never a good idea. These tips are to GET YOU BY until you can see a dental professional. This information was gathered from various online sources.


Repost by MoobiDoo April 14, 2009

Tuesday, January 12, 2021

Milk - The Surprising Protection For Your Teeth!

 If you are an avid milk drinker like me, then this is a blog you definitely want to read. I go through 2 gallons of milk a week, and I mean I GO through it. I personally drink at least 2 gallons of milk per week. What can I say, I love milk! So I had to ask to the question, is it good for your teeth? Well, great news my fellow milk drinkers! IT IS!

It has been proven that dairy products such as milk and cheese actually reduce tooth decay. Milk contains proteins called caseins which will join together with the calcium and phosphorus to create a protective later on the surface of your teeth. (aka enamel). This helps prevent tooth decay by reducing the bacterial acids. Furthermore, the calcium and phosphorus also help strengthen and even repair the enamel on your teeth.

So, drink up my fellow milkaholics. It will help keep our smiles bright!

Oh yeah on a side note: The ADA has recommended not to have milk and cookies because as we all know they sugary items such as cookies are bad for your teeth. However... there is still hope for us on that, too. It is recommended that you have the cookies THEN the milk. That will eliminate the sugar acids that attack your teeth.

As great as that sounds, milk and cookies always sounds better than cookies then milk or milk after cookies, and we all it know it tastes better too!

Thursday, January 7, 2021

Keto Breath? What Is It?

 You most likely have heard of the Keto Diet. If you haven't, this is a low card, no sugar, and high-fat diet. 

If you are on this diet/lifestyle, your dentist is probably praising you. This is because the less sugar that is eaten, means healthier teeth and gums. 

On the other hand, it can cause halitosis (bad breath). Luckily this is usually temporary. Since the body is not used to using the extra ketones your body is producing. Once your body has adjusted, the halitosis should subside. 

There are a few remedies that you can try to help reduce the keto breath:

  • Stay hydrated with water
  • Eat less protein
  • Brush and floss regularly
  • Keep breath mints on hand
  • Slightly increase carb intake
Most importantly, be patient, it should subside shortly!

If after a month and no relief of keto breath, you should contact your dentist for an exam. There could be something else going on.