Whether you call it bad breath or halitosis, it’s an unpleasant condition that’s cause for embarrassment. Some people with bad breath aren’t even aware there’s a problem. If you’re concerned about bad breath, see your dentist. He or she can help identify the cause and, if it’s due to an oral condition, develop a treatment plan to help eliminate it.

What you eat affects the air you exhale. Certain foods, such as garlic and onions, contribute to objectionable breath odor. Once the food is absorbed into the bloodstream, it is transferred to the lungs, where it is expelled. Brushing, flossing and mouthwash will only mask the odor temporarily. Odors continue until the body eliminates the food. Dieters may develop unpleasant breath from infrequent eating.

If you don’t brush and floss daily, particles of food remain in the mouth, collecting bacteria, which can cause bad breath. Food that collects between the teeth, on the tongue and around the gums can rot, leaving an unpleasant odor.

Bad breath can also be caused by dry mouth (xerostomia), which occurs when the flow of saliva decreases. Saliva is necessary to cleanse the mouth and remove particles that may cause odor. Dry mouth may be caused by various medications, salivary gland problems or continuously breathing through the mouth. If you suffer from dry mouth, your dentist may prescribe an artificial saliva, or suggest using sugarless candy and increasing your fluid intake.

Tobacco products cause bad breath. If you use tobacco, ask your dentist for tips on kicking the habit.

Bad breath may be the sign of a medical disorder, such as a local infection in the respiratory tract, chronic sinusitis, postnasal drip, chronic bronchitis, diabetes, gastrointestinal disturbance, liver or kidney ailment. If your dentist determines that your mouth is healthy, you may be referred to your family doctor or a specialist to determine the cause of bad breath.

Maintaining good oral health is essential to reducing bad breath. Schedule regular dental visits for a professional cleaning and checkup. If you think you have constant bad breath, keep a log of the foods you eat and make a list of medications you take. Some medications may play a role in creating mouth odors. Let your dentist know if you’ve had any surgery or illness since your last appointment.

Brush twice a day with fluoride toothpaste to remove food debris and plaque. Brush your tongue, too. Once a day, use floss or an interdental cleaner to clean between teeth.

Mouthwashes are generally cosmetic and do not have a long-lasting effect on bad breath. If you must constantly use a breath freshener to hide unpleasant mouth odor, see your dentist. If you need extra help in controlling plaque, your dentist may recommend using a special antimicrobial mouth rinse. A fluoride mouth rinse, used along with brushing and flossing, can help prevent tooth decay.

Sometimes parents do not realize that a baby’s teeth can decay soon after they appear in the mouth. By the time decay is noticed, it may be too late to save the teeth. You can help prevent this from happening to your child by following the tips below:

1. After each feeding, wipe the baby’s gums with a clean gauze pad. Begin brushing your child’s teeth when the first tooth erupts. Clean and massage gums in areas that remain toothless, and begin flossing when all the baby teeth have erupted, usually by age 2 or 2½.
2. Never allow your child to fall asleep with a bottle containing milk, formula, fruit juice or sweetened liquids.
3. If your child needs a comforter between regular feedings, at night, or during naps, give the child a clean pacifier recommended by your dentist or physician. Never give your child a pacifier dipped in any sweet liquid.
4. Avoid filling your child’s bottle with liquids such as sugar water and soft drinks.
5. If your local water supply does not contain fluoride (a substance that helps prevent tooth decay), ask your dentist how your child should get it.

Start dental visits by the child’s first birthday. Make visits regularly. If you think your child has dental problems, take the child to the dentist as soon as possible.

Decay occurs when sweetened liquids are given and are left clinging to an infant’s teeth for long periods of time. Many sweet liquids cause problems, including milk, formula and fruit juice. Bacteria in the mouth use these sugars as food. They then produce acids that attack the teeth. Each time your child drinks these liquids, acids attack for 20 minutes or longer. After many attacks, cavities start to form on the teeth.

It’s not just what you put in your child’s bottle that causes decay, but how often — and for how long a time. Giving your child a bottle of sweetened liquid many times a day isn’t a good idea. Allowing your child to fall asleep with a bottle during naps or at night can also harm the child’s teeth.

Many diseases of the teeth and surrounding tissues cannot be seen when your dentist examines your mouth. An X-ray examination may reveal:

• small areas of decay between the teeth or below existing restorations (fillings);
• infections in the bone;
• periodontal (gum) disease;
• abscesses or cysts;
• developmental abnormalities;
• some types of tumors.

Finding and treating dental problems at an early stage can save time, money and unnecessary discomfort. It can detect damage to oral structures not visible during a regular exam. If you have a hidden tumor, radiographs may even help save your life.

Article Published by Web MD.  For more information, please see Dental Health: Dental Bonding on Web MD.

Dental bonding is a procedure in which a tooth-colored resin material (a durable plastic material) is applied and hardened with a special light, which ultimately “bonds” the material to the tooth to restore or improve person’s smile.

For What Conditions Is Dental Bonding Considered?

Dental bonding is an option that can be considered:

• To repair decayed teeth (composite resins are used to fill cavities)
• To repair chipped or cracked teeth
• To improve the appearance of discolored teeth
• To close spaces between teeth
• To make teeth look longer
• To change the shape of teeth
• As a cosmetic alternative to amalgam fillings
• To protect a portion of the tooth’s root that has been exposed when gums recede

What’s the Procedure for Having a Tooth Bonded?

• Preparation. Little advance preparation is needed for dental bonding. Anesthesia is often not necessary unless the bonding is being used to fill a decayed tooth. Your dentist will use a shade guide to select a composite resin color that will closely match the color of your tooth.
• The bonding process. Next, the surface of the tooth will be roughened and a conditioning liquid applied. These procedures help the bonding material adhere to the tooth. The tooth-colored, puttylike resin is then applied, molded and smoothed to the desired shape. An ultraviolet light or laser is then used to harden the material. After the material is hardened, your dentist will further trim and shape it, and polish it to match the sheen of the rest of the tooth surface.
• Time-to-completion. The procedure takes about 30 to 60 minutes per tooth to complete.

What Are the Advantages and Disadvantages of Dental Bonding?

• Advantages: Bonding is among the easiest and least expensive of cosmetic dental procedures. Unlike veneers and crowns, which are customized tooth coverings that must be manufactured in a laboratory, bonding usually can be done in one office visit unless several teeth are involved. Another advantage, compared with veneers and crowns, is that the least amount of tooth enamel is removed. Also, unless dental bonding is being performed to fill a cavity, anesthesia is usually not required.
• Disadvantages: Although the material used in dental bonding is somewhat stain resistant, it does not resist stains as well as crowns. Another disadvantage is that the bonding materials do not last as long nor are as strong as other restorative procedures, such as crowns, veneers, or fillings. Additionally, bonding materials can chip and break off the tooth.

Because of some of the limitations of bonding, some dentists view bonding as best suited for small cosmetic changes, for temporary correction of cosmetic defects, and for correction of teeth in areas of very low bite pressure (for example, front teeth). Consult with your dentist about the best cosmetic approach for your particular problem.

Do Bonded Teeth Require Special Care?

No. Simply follow good oral hygiene practices. Brush your teeth at least twice a day, floss at least once a day and see your dentist for regular professional check-ups and cleanings.

Because bonding material can chip, it is important to avoid such habits as biting fingernails; chewing on pens, ice or other hard food objects; or using your bonded teeth as an opener. If you do notice any sharp edges on a bonded tooth or if your tooth feels odd when you bite down, call your dentist.

How Long Does Bonding Material Last?

The lifespan of bonding materials depends on how much bonding was done and your oral habits. Typically, however, bonding material lasts from 3 years up to about 10 years before needing to be touched up or replaced.

How Much Does Dental Bonding Cost?

Costs may vary depending on where you live. Generally, bonding can range in cost from $100 to $400 per tooth. Check with your dental insurance company to find out if the cost of bonding might be fully or partially covered.

For more information, please see Dental Bonding on Web MD

TITLE OF PRESENTATION*:  Dam-It, It’s Easy!sm -Basic Program

SYNOPSIS OF PRESENTATION

This fast-paced seminar combines a multimedia presentation with Hands-On participation featuring simplified dental dam application techniques that expedite dental dam placement.

Basic techniques discussed during the presentation include:

*  Clampless Technique-An alternative to using clamps
*  Simple guidelines for clamp/retainer selection
*  Winged Technique-A combined-step method
*  Modified Winged Technique-The wingless alternative
*  Loop Technique-A method to expedite dam placement through tight contacts

LEARNING OBJECTIVES

Participants learn to apply dam for the following procedures:

*  Endodontic Therapy
*  Restorative Dentistry (Posterior teeth)
*  Composite-Bonding (Anterior teeth)

In addition, helpful hints and suggestions are given for dam usage for various clinical procedures, which include interproximal restorations, structurally compromised teeth, and fixed bridges.

SPEAKER’S BIOGRAPHICAL DATA

Mary R. Costello, CDA, has a BS in Health Administration from Governors State University, Illinois.  She has over 40 years experience in the dental field, serving as Expanded Duties Dental Auxiliary for the US Army, a Dental Coordinator for a hospital-based dental center, and a Dental Dam Instructor, lecturing throughout the United States and Canada on Dental Dam Dentistry.  Mary is currently Manager of Continuing Education and Professional Relations-Hygenic Products for Coltene/Whaledent, Inc.

*Please note the material in this program is copyrighted.   This program cannot be reproduced (audiotaped/videotaped) for distribution without the written consent of Coltene/Whaledent, Inc.

For more information, please contact Mary Costello at MRC3236@aol.com.

Everyone wants their dental website to be ranked #1 in Google or Yahoo and it sounds like if you pay enough, you should be able to purchase that location.  However, this is not the case.  If a company tells you they can get your dental practice website ranked #1 in Google by next week then they’re either lying or they’re planning on using Google Adwords to have you pay per click.  It is possible to immediately get ranked #1 in Google for highly uncompetitive terms.  However, competitive terms have many factors.involved and will take time and trial and error.

Organic results on Google are not for sale like ad space. If you want to pay for placement, consider a pay-per-click campaign. Numerous factors are involved with organic website rankings for dental websites.  For example, longevity of your site on the Internet (at the same domain), keyword choices, alt-tags, keywords in your copy, and competing dental websites, to name a few.

There is nothing more beneficial than being on the first page of search engine results for highly competitive terms. People usually choose dental websites to visit based on the top listings – so that is definitely where you want to be. However, a good, honest website design and marketing firm will tell you that they can’t guarantee a #1 rank in Google but they can work with your site’s statistics and analytics to improve ratings.  Work, wait, analyze results – again and again.

Google, Yahoo, and other major search engines change their strategies constantly in an effort to weed out websites that are using “black hat” strategies for optimal placement. Rules exist in the organic website marketing world. If your web company plays by the rules and works hard for you, you’ll see lasting results that make everyone happy. If not, your site could get banned by Google, Yahoo, or other engines setting you back months or even years.

Click here for helpful information about search engine optimization for dental websites.

Pola Office+ Whitens in 30 Minutes

April 29, 2008 by DentalBlogs.com

Made by SDI, and Australian company with a North American branch, the pola system has five solutions: poladay, polanight, polaoffice, polazing (an in-office boost), and polapaint (no trays, good for touch-up). Dental Products Report featured procedural information (provided by SDI) on polaoffice in the April 08 issue, page 128. Basically, you apply the gel to teeth, use of a curing light is optional, and let the product set up for 8 minutes; repeat three times. Polaoffice contains 37.5% hydrogen peroxide and potassium nitrate to reduce sensitivity. Want to learn more? Visit www.polawhite.com online or order brochures by calling 800-228-5166.

Written by DentalBlogs.com on April 25, 2008

With exciting dental tools, like CEREC, iTero, and diode lasers, as well as the popularity that Extreme Makeover brought to cosmetic dentistry, being a dentist in 2008 seems like a pretty good career choice. The industry is moving forward, expanding; there are new revenue-generating opportunities…but the US economy is stormy right now, and no one knows for sure what the future holds for business – dentistry included. Robert W. Baird released a poll that predicts a slowdown in expensive dental procedures. The report caused a drop in some dental suppliers’ stocks, Dentsply, Henry Schein, Patterson, and Sirona, to name a few. It might be wise for dentists to refocus on the bread-and-butter services that people need, rather than the cosmetic services they want, to rise above the stormy sea of our economy, at least until the tides change. You might want to consider altering your marketing, including your website, hold messages, print materials, and in-office promotions to lean more toward the health benefits of good dental care, rather than the esthetic benefits.