How to Get Rid of Bad Breath Once and For All

6 Ways You Are Brushing Your Teeth Wrongly

By now, most people have heard that poor dental care is linked to heart disease, as well other health maladies. One of which is erectile dysfunction, according to the American Dental Association (ADA). 

And while you may brush regularly, chances are you’re making at least one of these six mistakes. Here are the fixes for each—to help keep your teeth, heart, and penis performing their best.

1. You don’t clean at the right time of day. “Your toothbrush should be the last thing your teeth touch at night,” says Edmond R. Hewlett, D.D.S., a professor at the UCLA School of Dentistry. Snacking before you sleep significantly raises your risk for cavities if food stays lodged in between your teeth.

Your morning method is equally important: Protective saliva production slows down when you snooze, spurring the bacteria in your mouth to multiply even faster. 

Brush twice a day for at least 2 minutes, making sure you spend 30 seconds on each quadrant (your upper left teeth, your upper right teeth, and so on).  

2. You use the wrong brush.Pick a soft bristle toothbrush that can slip under your gum tissue and dislodge any plaque stuck there, Dr. Hewlett recommends. If the plaque isn’t removed, you increase your risk of developing gum disease. 

Brushing with a medium or hard model—and using excessive pressure—can cause your gums to recede and expose the surface of your roots, or the bottom of your teeth. Since the root surface isn’t as hard as the exposed enamel-covered part of your teeth, scrubbing this area can wear it away more easily and cause little cavities, Dr. Hewlett says. 

3. You follow the wrong technique. A few straight strokes won’t get the job done. Position the handle of your brush so the bristles point at a 30- to 45-degree angle when they touch your gum tissue, Dr. Hewlett advises. Rotate your wrist in a circular motion to effectively remove the plaque, says Dr. Hewlett. 

When you move behind your front teeth, you should turn your tool vertically to better reach the entire tooth. And make sure to give special attention to the back of your mouth, since that area normally hides the largest amount of plaque.

4. You don’t rinse.Swallowing or spitting out your toothpaste doesn’t totally remove all the harmful stuff that you loosened while brushing. Use an alcohol-free mouthwash with hydrogen peroxide, suggests Pia Lieb, D.D.S., a cosmetic dentist in New York City. 

5. You ignore the rest of your mouth.Your tongue traps harmful bacteria, too. Food or debris can easily get stuck in the crevices between the carpet-like strands, known as papillae, on the surface of your tongue. See Why You Need to Scrape Your Tongue Every Day. 

6. You don’t replace your brush. The ADA recommends buying a new brush every 3 or 4 months. (The average brush contains more than 10 million bacteria, according to a British study.) Worn bristles won’t effectively remove plaque or bacteria.

And if you’ve been sick, swap out your brush immediately. Residual bacteria and viruses from an illness can cling to the brush and potentially re-infect you. 

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Men Risk For Breast Cancer May Be Higher Than You Think Find out why it's not just a woman's disease

Just because you don’t have breasts doesn’t mean you can’t get a tumor there.

“It is rare, but it can happen,” says Dr Mary Daly, chair of clinical genetics at Fox Chase Cancer Center in the US.

So if you ever notice a lump in your chest, don’t shrug it off—see your primary care doc right away, says Dr Stephanie Akbari who specialises in breast Health.

And if your mother has breast cancer, do a little digging. In some cases, breast cancer is triggered by a mutated version of the BRCA1 or BRCA2 gene, which can be inherited by both men and women, says Dr. Akbari.

If your mom’s malignancy resulted from one of the mutations, there's a 50 percent chance she passed it on to you, Dr. Akbari says.

In 2013, American actress Angelina Jolie had both her breasts removed to prevent breast cancer after she found out about her BRCA 1 gene mutation.

Fortunately, the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes boost a man's already low risk of breast cancer to only 1.2 per cent and 6.8 per cent, respectively, a study in Journal of the National Cancer Institutereports.

But there is a catch: A BRCA mutation also raises your odds of developing prostate cancer, Dr. Daly says.

To hedge your bets, meet with a genetic counselor to determine whether your family history warrants a DNA test. (Find a counselor at National Cancer Centre Singapore.)

In the meantime, stay lean to reduce the threat of prostate cancer and male breast cancer. Studies show that obesity may be a risk factor for both diseases.

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It's good to know that our fees are as competitive as this orthodontist's cleaning fees! Interesting article.
Although he might only charge $99 for a cleaning, we know he does that with the purpose of gaining new patients for his high $$$ procedure coming from braces...nice try on that marketing strategy.....
http://watchdog.org/215374/dentist-lawsuit-arkansas/

I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW HOW MY DENTIST COLLEGES FEEL ABOUT THIS?

In the state that launched Walmart to international fame on the promise of delivering “low prices every day,” a dentist has been threatened with the loss of his license because he’s not charging enough.

Ben Burris, an orthodontist and licensed dentist who owns 11 offices around the state, began in 2013 offering low-cost teeth cleanings to children and adults who lacked dental insurance. To him, it seemed like a win-win proposition: helping provide an important health service to those who could not afford it and potentially gaining new customers in the process.

Photo courtesy Institute for Justice

SHUT DOWN: In 2013, the Arkansas State Board of Dental Examiners told Ben Burris to shut down his program of low-cost teeth cleanings.

But Burris ran afoul of the Arkansas State Board of Dental Examiners. Under state law, dental specialists like orthodontists are not allowed to provide basic services like teeth cleanings — even though they are also licensed as dentists.

“The state shouldn’t be using its power to stop Dr. Ben Burris from helping people by offering services that he is perfectly qualified and willing to offer,” said Matt Miller, an attorney for the Institute for Justice, a libertarian law firm that is helping Burris challenge the board’s rules.

Miller told Watchdog Radio licensing boards exist to protect the health and safety of consumers — but many times they become “gate-keepers” for a profession and make rules that serve to limit competition or preserve profits.

By preventing specialists like Burris from offering low-cost teeth cleanings, the Arkansas State Board of Dental Examiners is protecting their members from competition, Miller said.

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The State Board of Dental Examiners did not return calls from Watchdog.org. Neither the Arkansas attorney general’s office, which is representing the board in the case.

The board consists of nine members, including four licensed dentists and one dental hygienist. Its website says it was founded “to help protect the interest of Arkansas citizens.”

But it seem like consumers are losing out when the board blocks people like Burris from doing business.

Without insurance, simple teeth cleanings can cost several hundred dollars, but Burris was offering them for $99 for adults and $69 for kids.

“As a dentist, I took an oath to help people, and offering top-notch dental care at an affordable price is how I want to do that,” said Burris in a statement provided by IJ.

Burris says 60 percent of Arkansas residents do not regularly visit the dentist for cleanings, mostly because costs are too high.

The board was successful in getting Burris’ case dismissed from federal court last year, without addressing the merits of the case or why shutting down Burris’ business was in the best interest of consumers’ health and safety.

Now, IJ is asking the 8th Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals to return the matter to the lower court for a full trial.

Because it is a federal case, victory in Arkansas could put pressure on other states with similar laws, Miller said. Seven other states also prevent dental specialists from doing basic dental work like cleaning, even if they are licensed as dentists.

Licensing schemes that do little to protect the public have been increasingly under firefrom business groups and nonprofits like the Institute for Justice and the Pacific Legal Foundation.

Just last year, the U.S. Supreme Court gave approval to the Federal Trade Commission’s decision to charge a similar dental board in North Carolina for approving “anticompetitive and unfair” rules.

In that case, the North Carolina State Board of Dental Examiners issued rules that prohibited non-dentists from performing teeth-whitening services, like can be found in many spas and even at shopping mall kiosks.

The Supreme Court did not explicitly strike down the regulations in that case, but the justices ruled 6-3 in favor of granting the FTC the ability to go after such anti-competitive rules.

As in Arkansas, the North Carolina board was made up of members of the dental profession and funded by fees paid by licensed dentists.  Essentially, it was dentists making laws that other dentists and even non-dentists had to follow, with the power of the state behind them.

“Active market participants cannot be allowed to regulate their own markets,” wrote Justice Anthony Kennedy in the majority opinion.

What are other gum diseasesymptoms and signs?

What are other gum diseasesymptoms and signs?

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A person with gingivitis will typically have one or more of the following:

• Red, swollen gums that bleed very easily, even during brushing or flossing
• A bad taste or mouth odor
• White spots or plaques on the gums
• Gums that look like they're pulling away from the teeth
  
  
  
  
• Pus between gums or teeth
• A change in the way the teeth fit together in the mouth, or spaces opening up between teeth
• Change in the way partial dentures fit

As gingivitis progresses (chronic gingivitis), the affected person may develop receding gums or areas where the root of the tooth becomes uncovered by the shrinking, diseased gums. Deep pockets may develop around the teeth that trap food, plaque, and debris. If gingivitis advances to periodontal disease, the person may lose gum tissue or bone around the teeth and the teeth may become loose or fall out. These changes can develop either very slowly or very rapidly and can affect either a few teeth or the entire mouth. If oral hygiene is almost never done or if the person becomes immune-compromised, acute necrotizing ulcerative gingivitis may develop (ANUG, formerly termed trench mouth). This is a painful condition where infected gums swell, ulcerate, and slough off dead tissue.

It is possible to have gingivitis and not notice any signs or symptoms, so regular visits to the dentist are vital in diagnosing the disease and taking steps in curing or reversing gum disease.

How is gum disease diagnosed?

The following methods and symptoms are very useful in the diagnosis of gum disease:

• Measuring the gums: A dentist or hygienist will use a periodontal probe to measure the depths of the pockets around all of the teeth in the mouth generally once per calendar year. Healthy gums will have pockets 1 mm-3 mm deep. Beyond that, the deeper the pockets, the more severe the disease.
• Taking X-rays: Dental bitewing X-rays will help show the level of the underlying bone and whether any bone has been lost to periodontal disease.
• Examining sensitive teeth: Teeth that have become sensitive around the gum line may indicate areas of receding gums.
• Checking the gums: A dentist or hygienist will look for red, swollen, orbleeding gums. 

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What is gum disease (gingivitis)?

What is gum disease (gingivitis)?

Gum disease, or gingivitis, is inflammation of the tissues surrounding and supporting the teeth and is most commonly a result of poor dental hygiene. Gingivitis is a very common condition and varies widely in severity. It is characterized by red, swollen gums that bleed easily when teeth are brushed or flossed. Gingivitis is not the same thing as periodontitis, although sometimes a person may be affected by both.

What is the difference between gingivitis and periodontal disease?

While gingivitis is inflammation of the gums around the teeth, periodontal disease occurs when the bone below the gums gets inflamed or infected.

Gingivitis starts as food debris mixes with saliva and bacteria-forming plaque that sticks on the surfaces of teeth. If dental plaque and tartar aren't removed by brushing with toothpaste and flossing, it can become mineralized and form tartar, or calculus. Tartar is very hard and can only be removed by a professional dental cleaning.

Both dental plaque and tartar are filled with harmful bacteria, and if they aren't removed from teeth, they will begin to irritate the gums and cause gingivitis. If left untreated, gingivitis will often extend from the gums to the bone and lead to periodontitis. When the underlying bone gets infected, it will start to recede away from the teeth and form deep gum pockets. These pockets collect plaque and bacteria as they are very difficult to keep clean, and more bone loss occurs. As periodontal disease progresses into later stages and more bone tissue is lost, the teeth may eventually become loose and fall out.

What causes gum disease?

What causes gum disease?

Gum disease is mostly caused by improper oral hygiene that allows bacteria in plaque and calculus to remain on the teeth and infect the gums. But there are other factors that increase the risk of developing gingivitis. Some of the most common risk factors are as follows:

• Smoking or chewing tobacco prevents the gum tissue from being able to heal.
• Crooked, rotated, or overlapping teeth create more areas for plaque and calculus to accumulate and are harder to keep clean.
• Hormonal changes in puberty, pregnancy, and menopause typically correlate with a rise in gingivitis. The increase in hormones causes the blood vessels in the gums to be more susceptible to bacterial and chemical attack.
• Cancer and cancer treatment can make a person more susceptible to infection and increase the risk of gum disease.
• Stress impairs the body's immune response to bacterial invasion.
• Mouth breathing can be harsh on the gums when they aren't protected by the lips, causing chronic irritation and inflammation.
• Poor nutrition, such as a diet high in sugar and carbohydrates and low in water intake, will increase the formation of plaque. Also, a deficiency of important nutrients such as vitamin C will impair healing.
• Diabetes mellitus impairs circulation and the gums ability to heal.
• Medications such as antiseizure medications promote gum disease.