Navigation

Austin Dental Center

SCHEDULE YOUR APPOINTMENT (512) 454-0414

What Causes Bad Breath?

by Leave a Comment

If you think that poor oral hygiene causes bad breath, you’re right, but maybe not for the same reason that you may have thought. If you don’t brush and floss your teeth enough, bacteria can build up in your mouth. It’s that bacteria that causes bad breath. Better oral hygiene can help. But it’s important to remember that saliva works to flush away bacteria, so if you have a dry mouth, chances are you’ll experience bad breath. Here are some conditions that can contribute to the situation.

• Tooth and gum infections: Bacteria in the mouth that is there as the result of tooth or gum infections can cause bad breath.
• Breathing through your mouth: If you routinely breathe through your mouth for whatever reason, you probably have a dry mouth. That can cause bad breath.
• Medications: Many medications cause a dry mouth, which in turn can lead to bad breath.
• The common cold: If you experience a cold or any other form of respiratory tract infection, you could be breathing through your mouth or taking medications that lead to a dry mouth, both of which can mean bad breath.
• Diet: If you eat a diet that’s very high in protein and/or dairy products, you could be building up a large amount of amino acids in your mouth, and bacteria love amino acids!
• Other illnesses: More serious illnesses, such as diabetes or kidney disease, can also cause bad breath.
• Alcohol or drugs: Heavy consumption of either alcohol or drugs can dry out your mouth, leading to bad breath.

Resource: http://health.usnews.com/health-news/articles/2008/12/02/8-surprising-causes-of-bad-breath

Finger Brushing Teeth After Lunch

by Leave a Comment

Especially for those with a high risk of cavities and gum disease, a toothpaste was released within the past decade in Sweden that contained three times as much fluoride as traditional varieties.

While the product has not been made available to the masses in this country, there is new hope of fighting bacteria with included fluoride absorption that doesn’t require heavier doses of the compound.

While the study performed at Sahlgrenska Academy involved the use of the toothpaste with high concentration, dental professionals everywhere feel that one particular part of the study can provide increased protection, even for those who don’t have access to Swedish toothpaste supplies.

The element capturing attention was the use of an after-lunch finger brushing.

In other words, rather than carting a toothbrush to the office each day, dentists could simply recommend, for those at high risk of decay, to utilize a dab of toothpaste on an index finger. Gently massaging it into the gums and teeth proved to be as effective as brushing a third time each day.

The third dose of fluoride could prove tremendously beneficial to those who are forced to sit in the dental chair more than twice each year.

If you continue to have trouble with cavities even though you religiously follow the guidelines of your dentist, then this method of a third delivery could be a good fit for you.

Want to know more? Continue reading about these study results for brushing teeth.

Men’s Health Week: Oral Health for Men

by Leave a Comment

Like with medical care, men tend to postpone seeing a dentist until they absolutely must go. They are more cavalier about their oral hygiene than their female counterparts. This indifference to their teeth and gums may be taking a greater toll on their health than they realize.

Men often participate in sports that can result in trauma to the teeth. Hockey, football, and baseball all come with a risk factor for broken or displaced teeth—but these are the times when a guy will willingly head for the nearest dentist. He is less likely to do so for a bi-annual check-up and cleaning; yet regular visits to the dentist may unearth advance warnings about oral cancers, or gum diseases that can be cured with just a few changes to a night time routine.

The average man will lose at least 5 teeth by the time he reaches 72 years old and if he smokes, that number more than doubles.

If you don’t want to be one of those old guys gumming your food at the home, take these suggestions to heart:

• Brush daily
• Use a soft bristle toothbrush
• See your dentist twice a year (or more frequently if necessary)
• Replace your toothbrush quarterly
• Learn to brush properly—a quick online search will provide a number of instructional videos on the subject
• Floss daily

Be one of those guys with a sparkling smile and fresh breath. Take care of your teeth, and they’ll take care of you.

Learn more about men’s oral health care here.

Oral Cancer: Knowledge and Early Detection is Your Best Defense

by Leave a Comment

Nearly 35,000 Americans contract oral cancer each year. Some of the best ways to protect yourself from oral cancer is through, good oral hygiene, regular dental check-ups and learning the warning signs of cancer.

Detected early, the recovery and cure rate is very good.

It goes without saying that tobacco increases your risks for all kinds of cancer, but did you know that African Americans are a third more likely to contract oral cancer than a Caucasian? And that the gap between women oral cancer patients and males over the last half century has closed from a 6 to 1 ratio to 2 to 1? Or that the number of people with oral cancer under the age of 40 is 5 times higher than it was just a few years ago?

All of these questions point out that despite warnings on every front, oral cancer—a cancer that is predictable and curable—is on the increase.

Take these precautions to help prevent oral cancer:

• Practice good oral hygiene by brushing after meals, flossing daily, and seeing your dentist twice a year
• Conduct a self-exam watching for white or red spots on the tongue, mouth surfaces, and lips
• Have suspicious spots or sore places checked by your dentist
• Stop using tobacco products
• Limit alcohol intake
• Learn the risk factors and symptoms of oral cancer
• Don’t fall victim to thinking that if you’ve never used tobacco or alcohol you won’t get cancer—anyone can get cancer!

With just these few precautions, you greatly reduce your risk factors for contracting oral cancer.

Learn more about your risks here.

How to Keep Bad Breath at Bay

by Leave a Comment

It’s one of those minor things in life that can be devastatingly harmful in the most important moments in life. Bad breath can literally cause business meetings, love affairs, and first time encounters to go all wrong. When a person is turned off by your breath, he or she will do all that is possible to avoid conversation. After all, when you speak, your breath follows your words.

So, what are you to do if you suspect that you are transmitting a foul odor?

First and foremost, you need to be sure that you are following a proper oral hygiene regime. This should involve brushing and flossing at least twice per day. Many people overlook flossing, but this removes food particles and bacteria that reside between the teeth and can lead to a bad odor of the mouth.

In addition to this, seeing the dentist regularly to check for infections (which can produce funny scents) and to receive thorough cleanings is crucial. If these practices don’t seem to be helping in the battle against the stink, then you might need to consider an oral irrigation system. These products, which can be purchased over the counter shoot water between teeth to remove any stubborn bacteria and plaque. In the process though, they also create ionized water molecules that naturally repel bacteria and plaque that would otherwise adhere to the surface of the teeth.

Because moisture is absolutely essential in keeping your mouth smelling fresh, it is important to drink water regularly throughout the day. Also, for people with notoriously odorous mouths, avoiding alcoholic beverages and mouthwashes is important. These products tend to create dryness.

Smoking and caffeine consumption can also cause this phenomenon. Furthermore, tobacco products produce and unpleasant odor anyway, which can be difficult to combat even with very proactive oral hygiene. Coffees and nicotine also stain the teeth adding another problem to the table. If you wish to make good first impressions, addressing the look and scent of your mouth is integral.

For some, however, the smell goes deeper.

When smoking, caffeine, alcohol, dehydration, and poor mouth care are ruled out, it might be time to look to the sinuses. People who have trouble with allergies or consistent colds and sinus infections are more likely to have trouble with bad breath.

Why?

Well, post nasal drip, which is the draining of the nose down the back of the throat, can leave a film on the back of the mouth and throat, which is a haven for bacteria growth. Bacteria causes foul odor. Sinus irrigators, which can be purchased at most drug stores will help keep this drainage flowing properly and can tackle the lasting film.

If none of this seems to help and you continue to suffer from the embarrassment of bad breath, then it is likely time to consult the professionals. See a dentist to receive more information on possible causes and solutions. Sometimes bad breath is a sign of a bigger problem, so don’t wait.

What Does a Dental Hygienist Do?

by Leave a Comment

Have you been considering breaking into the field of dentistry? Did you see an interesting job posting and want to know more?

Whatever you reason for expressing curiosity, there is much to learn about the position of dental hygienist before making the decision about whether the career is right for you.

The title of dental hygienist requires a special license. Though local regulations will place carrying limitations on what this professional can and can’t do, in most cases, he or she will work under a dentist and perform teeth cleanings, dental sealants, fluoride treatments, scaling and root planing in patients diagnosed with periodontal disease.

In addition to this, the dental hygienist is generally the person that the dental office who will give advice regarding proper oral hygiene.

This professional must pass a rigorous dental hygiene program, which results in an associate’s, bachelor’s, or master’s degree, offered by a school with ADA (American Dental Association) accreditation. Then he or she must go on to successfully complete licensing exams offered by the state in which he or she intends to work. This will involve both written board and clinical board exams.

There is much that this person must do. He or she plays an integral role in the regularly scheduled appointments of patients and must keep very detailed data on the status of the patient, while determining if and when other tests – such as x-rays – should be done. These recommendations are generally passed on to the dentist, who will make the final call.

Want to know more about these professionals? Keep reading here