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Which foods cause bad breath?

Shoaib Merali — Mon, 04 Sep 2017 14:12:42 +0000

It can wreak havoc on your social life. It can ruin relationships. It can even make your own children run away in terror. We’re talking about bad breath, a condition from which one in four adults in the UK suffers.

In nine out of ten cases, bad breath is caused by a dental problem. These problems include gum disease, tooth decay, poor dental hygiene, tongue coat, throat infection, and faulty restorations.

But did you know that food can also cause bad breath? It’s true: some foods have been scientifically proven to promote halitosis. Read on to find out more.

Culprits of bad breath

Garlic and onions. If you always eat garlic and onions, then it shouldn’t be a surprise that your breath sometimes makes people turn away in horror, and not just vampires either. Both garlic and onions contain smelly sulphur compounds that linger in your mouth. These compounds are expelled when you exhale, thus letting everyone in a five-metre radius know exactly what you had for lunch. And there’s not much you can do about the smell either. As the author of author of Garlic: The Mighty Bulb says, “It goes right into your system and seeps out through your pores, not just your breath.”
Alcohol and caffeine. Alcohol and caffeine can also cause bad breath. Again, this is probably not a surprise. Who hasn’t woken up with a hangover and then discovered they have morning breath? Alcohol and caffeine cause bad breath in the same way: decreased saliva production. When you drink an espresso or sip a cocktail, the saliva production in your mouth is decreased. This makes your mouth go dry, which is the perfect environment for bacteria to grow. The bacteria in turn produce smelly gases that cause bad breath. So, if you want to avoid bad breath, think twice about your nights on the town and your daily caffeine dose.
Spicy foods. This is also common sense, but spicy foods such as strong curries can temporarily cause bad breath. This is because spices such as cumin have a strong and lasting aroma. Just think of the breath of people stumbling out of their local curry house. Or on second thought, maybe don’t.

Foods and drinks that combat bad breath

Thankfully, some drinks and food actually make your breath smell better.

Water. Water is a great choice as it washes away bits of food in your mouth, and promotes saliva production. It’s also odor-free. What’s not to love?
Chewing gum. Chewing gum is another way to reduce bad breath. The act of chewing secretes saliva, which in turn helps kill the bacteria in your mouth. Gum also helps loosen bits of food from your teeth. But don’t use gum that contains sugar, otherwise you’ll be encouraging bacteria instead of killing them.

Conclusion

If you have persistent bad breath, then see your dentist or doctor. Sometimes bad breath can be a sign that there’s something seriously wrong with your body, such as diabetes, cancer or even liver failure. Rest assured though that most cases of bad breath go away with after an improved oral hygiene routine.

The post Which foods cause bad breath? appeared first on Benson Dental Practice.

Teeth Stains: Causes and Treatments

Shoaib Merali — Thu, 01 Jun 2017 13:55:10 +0000

More and more people in the UK are turning to teeth whitening treatments to get a smile like Joey Essex and Simon Cowell. But if your teeth are yellow or brown instead of white, then read on to learn the cause of teeth stains and what to do about them.

Causes of stains

There are two types of staining: internal and external.

Internal staining is related to the inside of the tooth (the dentine). Unfortunately, this type of staining occurs with age, since dentine naturally gets darker and more yellow as you get older. Enamel also wears down with age which makes the yellow dentine more visible. Internal staining isn’t just age-related however – it can also occur due to genes, high fluoride levels, antibiotics, and developmental disorders.
External staining is related to the outside of the tooth (the enamel). This type of staining is mainly due to environmental factors, such as smoking, food and antibiotics.

Food is one of the main causes of external staining. Food stains usually occur when pigments called ‘tannins’ attach to the enamel. These tannins are found in substantial amounts in coffee, tea and red wine. Foods such as curry, pasta sauce and berries are also thought to stain teeth.

Tar in cigarettes is the other main cause of external staining. Tar causes a brown or black stain known as tobacco stain. Tobacco stains are difficult to clean, which means they will not come off with brushing. It’s best to stop smoking as soon as you can, but we also know how difficult it can be to stop. Nicotine replacements, exercise, chewing gum, and avoiding stress can help.

Staining treatments

The easiest way to keep your teeth white is by preventing staining in the first place. If you already have stained teeth however, then you might want to consider one of these staining treatments:

Brushing. Simply brushing with toothpaste removes most stains. However, you’ve probably noticed that brushing alone doesn’t remove stains entirely. Even if you brush twice a day, stains will still build up over months and years.
Scale and polish. The good news is that dentists can remove surface stains with a scale and polish. However, a scale and polish will not necessarily make your teeth white. This is because age-related issues such as darkening of the dentine mean you might have naturally yellow teeth.
Bleaching. If you’re looking for white Hollywood-style teeth, then you’ll want bleaching. This treatment is the best way to change the colour of your teeth from yellow to white. Keep in mind however that teeth bleaching only lasts a few months, after which you will need to get the teeth rebleached. Also, teeth bleaching doesn’t work on false teeth, fillings, veneers or crowns.

If you’d like to talk to us about tooth discoloration treatments, then don’t hesitate to contact us today. Also, remember that the best and safest place to get a bleaching treatment is from a dentist.

The post Teeth Stains: Causes and Treatments appeared first on Benson Dental Practice.

How Stress Affects Your Oral Health

Shoaib Merali — Fri, 28 Apr 2017 11:46:23 +0000

Are you stressed at work? Work-related stress is quite common – apparently one-fifth of EU workers are officially stressed, according to a recent EU report. This makes stress one of the most common work-related problems in the EU. Prolonged stress affects not only our physical and mental wellbeing, but also our dental health too. In this post, we’ll show you four common ways how stress can affect your oral health, and also how to deal with them.

Mouth sores

What are they? Mouth sores, also known as ‘canker’ sores, are small spots that appear in your mouth. You can identify them by their white or yellow centre and the red ring that surrounds them. They are linked to stress but no-one knows what actually causes them.

Should I be worried? Fortunately, canker sores are usually nothing to worry about. Saying that, it’s best to get them checked out if they persist for more than two weeks.

What should I do? Most mouth sores go away on their own after a few days, but if you need immediate relief, try rubbing an over-the-counter numbing cream onto the sore. Some people also report that rinsing with salt water works too.

Teeth grinding

What is it? Bruxism (teeth grinding) is a classic dental problem in stressed people. Patients with bruxism typically grind their teeth at night, though some people are known to grind during the day too.

Should I be worried? Yes, because bruxism can slowly wear down the protective enamel of teeth over time. Eventually you might need extensive dental work to repair the damage.

What should I do? The most effective treatment for bruxism is a mouth guard. A dentist can make you a high-quality mouth guard.

Poor diet

What is it? When you’re stressed, you might turn to comfort foods such as chocolate, ice cream and other sugary snacks.

Should I be worried? Yes, as a diet high in sugar can both lead to tooth decay and gum disease.

What should I do? Maintain a healthy diet as this will also have a positive effect on your mental health. Also, exercise has been proven to be good reliever of stress, so think about joining the local gym.

Neglecting to take care of your teeth

What is it? Stress can change your mood and make you neglect your dental hygiene routine.

Should I be worried? Yes, because you need to brush and floss every day to avoid tooth decay.

What should I do? When you’re stressed, don’t neglect your teeth, as this will lead to more issues in the long run. So, remember to brush twice a day and floss once a day.

Importantly what we’ve found is that being embarrassed about your smile can have a whole host of negative effects on your mental well being. If you’re concerned about anything mentioned in this article please get in touch with us and book in to see one of our dentists.

The post How Stress Affects Your Oral Health appeared first on Benson Dental Practice.

How to take care of your dental night guard

Shoaib Merali — Mon, 12 Dec 2016 11:20:28 +0000

Some of our patients have sleep bruxism, which means they grind and clench their teeth during the night. This grinding can cause excessive wear and even fracture of the teeth, eventually requiring extensive dental work to repair the damage. Thankfully there is a solution: night guards (also known as bruxism splints). These are plastic appliances that fit over the teeth and protect them from grinding.

Night guards must be worn throughout the night. This means patients wear their night guards for an average of around eight hours a day. Therefore, it’s important to keep night guards clean and cared for. If you’re unlucky enough to have bruxism then this article will show you how to take care of your night guard.

Keep your night guard clean

You should clean your night guard once a day to remove any food and bacteria that transferred onto the guard overnight. The best way to clean a night guard is simply by brushing it with a toothbrush and toothpaste. After brushing, rinse off the toothpaste with warm water.

Some dentists recommend patients store their night guard in cold tap water when not in use. Others recommend drying the guard and then storing it in a container. Whichever method you use, be sure to clean the glass or container regularly too. This is because placing a night guard into a container that hasn’t been cleaned in a long time can contaminate the guard with bacteria.

Keep your night guard away from heat

Some night guards are made of a material that changes shape under heat, such as boiling water. However, sometimes even heat from a radiator or sunlight can affect the shape of night guards. Therefore, don’t leave your night guard in a hot area, such as in direct sunlight, because this can change its shape.

Replace your night guard when needed

Like all good things, night guards do not last forever. They can only endure the grinding of a patient’s teeth for so long before they thin and break.

Your guard’s lifespan will depend on the severity of the patient’s bruxism. Patients who grind their teeth a lot can wear down a night guard in just a few weeks. Other patients find their night guard lasts months before it needs replacing.

The lifespan also depends on the material it is made from. Patients with severe bruxism need acrylic night guards, which is a very tough material and can last for up to five years. But since these guards last so long, it is especially important to take care of them properly.

Examine your guard regularly for holes and other signs of breakage. If there are large holes or cracks, then it’s time for a replacement.

Contact us for a custom-made night guard

We offer custom-made night guards for patients with bruxism. If you suspect you grind or clench your teeth during the night, then pop in for an appointment. We’ll inspect your teeth and let you know whether you need a night guard. Book an appointment by calling us on 01384 637 835 or by emailing us at info@bensondental.co.uk

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