Bad Breath and Teeth Staining
Halitosis is the medical term for Bad Breath. When people think of bad breath they automatically think that food is the cause of the bad odor. When in reality there are many factors that can lead up to bad breath. Yes food is one of them but there are other reasons as to why a person may be experiencing bad breath or teeth staining. A person may experience bad breath or teeth staining because they may have a health problem that is causing the odor other factors are smoking and chewing tobacco.
There are many health problems that are associated with bad breath. Xerostomia also known as dry mouth can cause bad breath. It causes bad breath when saliva is not present enough in the mouth so that the saliva can “moisten the mouth , neutralize acids produced by plaque and wash away dead cells that accumulate on the tongue ,gums and cheeks .”(“WebMD”) Other diseases associated with Halitosis are respiratory infections like bronchitis or pneumonia, also associated with liver and kidney problems. (“WebMD”)
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infected tooth called an abscessed tooth is assocaciated with bad odor. An abscessed tooth is an infection in the tooth, the infection first starts from the tooth’s inner chamber which is known as “pulp chamber”. Blood vessels and nerves are located in the pulp chamber , the tooth loses the ability to fight off the infection and bacteria spreads throughout the chamber and then exits the chamber where the infection starts to spread throughout the root and bone thus causing the pain some people feel when they have an abscessed tooth .(“Abscessed Tooth Guide”). One of the signs and symptoms that a person may have an abscessed tooth or tooth infection is having a foul odor in the mouth and bitter in the mouth. In order to remove the foul mouth order the person is going to have to go to the dentist to receive treatment. The treatment may vary depending on how severe the infection may be . Another reason why a person may be experiencing bad odor is simply that the person is lacking proper dental hygiene. People are suppose to the brush and floss their teeth every day. By not brushing or flossing the person is allowing bacteria to collect in the mouth which causes the pleasant odor (“Bad Breath”). Brushing and flossing allow the person to remove food that may stick be stuck in between teeth, cheeks and gums. Having the food in those areas will cause the unpleasant order as the food starts to become rotten. When it comes to teeth staining there are 3 different types of teeth coloration. One of them is Extrinsic. This happens when the enamel is stained. It is stained by red wine, coca cola, coffee and other drinks or foods that are known to cause teeth stains. Another extrinsic factor is smoking. Another discoloration is Intrinsic, Intrinsic is when the dentin has darken yellow color tint to the dentin. There are many reason as to why a person may be experiencing intrinsic discolorations. According to Colgate the person may have been exposed to too much fluorine during childhood, your mother used tetracycline antibiotics during her second trimester or you may have used tetracycline when you were 8 or younger. Trauma to a permanent tooth could have caused discoloration to the tooth due to internal bleeding. Another reason may be to a rare condition dentinogenesis imperfecta. Which causes “gray, amber or purple discolorations” (“Tooth Discoloration”) How are foods and drinks able to stain teeth? Well the color for drinks and food come from chromogens which have pigmented molecule that are able to latch onto the dental enamel. Acidity also plays a factor in the staining of teeth. Food and beverages that are acidic promote teeth staining because the dental enamel starts eroding; the tooth then is temporarily softened which allows the chromogens to easily latch on to the dental enamel. A food compound known as tannins is able to boost chromogens ability to attach to the dental enamel. (“Foods and Habits That Stain Your Teeth”). One of the top teeth staining beverages is wine. Red wine to be specific as it is an acidic beverage that contains chromogens and tannins. People may think white wine may not cause staining but in reality it also causes staining. Tea is a top contender for teeth staining, such as black tea that many people consume. Some dentists say that tea is an even bigger teeth strainer beverage than coffee. Due to the fact that tea has more chromogens than tannins. Other beverages and foods that also cause teeth staining are Coca cola, sport drinks, berries, sauces, sweets and hard candy. (“Foods and Habits That Stain Your Teeth”) There are many ways a person can prevent and minimize bad breath and teeth staining .To prevent bad odor the person should have proper oral care. Proper oral care consist of brushing your teeth with fluoride toothpaste so that plaque and food debris are removed .The person should brush their teeth in the morning after waking up , after eating a meal and also at night before they go off to bed . The person should also floss so that they are able to remove food that may have gotten stuck in between the teeth, the person should at least floss at least once a day. It is recommended that the person should switch their tooth brush every 2 to 3 months especially after the person may have been sick. The person should visit their dentist regularly at least every six months. During those visit the dentist will conduct teeth cleaning and oral exam. This will be able to detect any dry mouth or any periodontal diseases that may be causing the foul odor The dentist will be able to apply treatment, which should help eliminate bad breath. If the person is a smoker the person is going to have to quit smoking and chewing tobacco in order for the person for the treatment to work on them. If they continue smoking and chewing tobacco the treatment will not work as the smoking and chewing tobacco are one of the causes of why a person may be experiencing bad breath odor. Drinking lots of water and chewing gum is a helpful to minimize because drinking water and chewing gum help in the production of saliva which washes away bacteria and food particles and also keeps the persons mouth moist. Another way to prevent the foul odor is to not consume many foods and beverages that are known to cause bad breath. (“Dental Health and Bad Breath p.2”) In order for the person to receive actual treatment the dentist if the odor is caused by an oral origin. If gum disease is the cause of bad breath then dentist will either apply treatment or they may refer the patient to a periodontist. If the causes is not oral originated the dentist may refer the patient to a specialist or to a doctor to determine the cause of the odor. (“Dental and Bad Breath p.2”) In order to minimize teeth staining the person can use a straw when consuming a beverage. Not many people will want to use straws when consuming a drink but it will help to prevent staining especially the front teeth. Another thing they can do is to swallow promptly the person should not retain food and beverages for too long in the mouth. “There’s no question that the quicker you drink something the lower the exposure [to stain-promoting substances],” (Debra Glassman, DDS) . Swishing the mouth with water after eating is helpful ,some say it is better then brushing your after eating due to the fact that the enamel is highly vulnerable to abrasion after the consumption of food and beverages that are high in acidity. It is better to brush your teeth after the enamel has re hardened.(“Foods and Habits That Stain Your Teeth”). Treatments that are available to extrinsic staining which are caused by food and beverage choice, are teeth cleanings done by professionals’ .Also good oral care such as brushing, flossing and rinsing the mouth after eating. There are some techniques people can use such as bleaching where the dentist can apply a bleaching gel that is light activated. Where it may take 30 to 40 minutes for the teeth to start whitening. There also other treatments people can use by themselves such as buying whitening products. But the whitening products may not have as a big impact as bleaching teeth with gel. Over the counter whitening products may only remove small stains. In some cases bleaching will not always lighten stains, stains that may be tetracycline stains. The dentist may recommend the patient to cover up the area that is discolored. (“Tooth Discoloration “). Bad breath also known as halitosis and teeth staining are two very important conditions that are treated by dentist everywhere around the world.
These to conditions are caused by the type of diet the person has. If the person has an unhealthy diet it is more likely that they will suffer from teeth staining and foul odor The type of beverages a person consumes also play a big factor in both staining and bad breath . Other factors may be causing these conditions such as having medical problems. At times bad breath and teeth staining can be a sign to the person that they may have a problem in the mouth that is causing the bad breath such a root canal or an infected tooth. In order for the person to prevent this from happening in the future the person should retain from eating foods and beverages that are known to cause bad breath and teeth staining. Proper oral care is needed so it the mouth stays clean from food and
bacteria.
For those that have bad habits with cigarettes, Tobacco Cessation Counseling is available. Cigarettes cause tooth loss, rotting, and surface stains; hygienist make sure to pass this information to the patient and help them to understand that quitting is the best option if they want to keep their teeth. As said before, a hygienist informs the patient on what foods to avoid. Nutritional Counseling is provided if a hygienist believes there is danger with a patients teeth such as diseases. (Dental Hygiene Clinic) Any foods with high acidity is something a dental hygienist would recommend avoiding. For example, apples, hard candies, popcorn, diet sodas, and salad dressing. Enamel is the hardest structure in the human body. It’s even harder than bones. When the enamel is exposed to acid, it wears down and erodes. This is how tooth erosion and decay happens. They will educate the patient with what foods to replace the bad ones with. Although, a dentist is who performs the restorations, a hygienist can still inform what will happen. Because of the fact that hygienists usually see patients before the dentist, they will give feedback to the dentist and recommend restorations in the mouth. They specialize in providing clinical and educational services (Sealy Dental Center) so they are very useful to dentists. When a patient has missing, chipped, or sharpened teeth, a restoration is done to replace the originals. Some examples
The article Poor Teeth was written by Sarah Smarsh with the goal in mind being to shed light on the issue between upper and lower class society in a particularly concrete way. Teeth and dental health are an easy thing for people to imagine in their head because everyone has a set whether they’re white and shiny or black and rotted. This makes it easy to draw a comparison between people that care for their teeth and those who don’t. However, access to dental knowledge and services which the lower class often times doesn’t have is very different between the poor and the rich. While the rich stroll through life showing off their perfect glossy white rows of teeth, there are less privileged people out there with barren mouths whose weak pale gums
In White Teeth, Zadie Smith warns against the dangers of purism and letting cultural background completely shape one’s identity while simultaneously paying tribute to the rich heritage and beliefs of her characters. It is a cautionary tale for immigrants but is never dismissive of their past. Smith is merely advising against tunnel vision and stressing the need to adapt to one’s environment. She shows the beauty that can stem from adaptation while warning that an inability to do so will lead to one’s downfall. London plays an especially important role as the battleground where the past and the present clash; a melting pot with a large immigrant population and inevitable moral struggle.
Dentistry as a profession over the years has evolved rapidly in light of new scientific evidence. Rapidly evolving science and technology have implemented changes within dentistry as evidenced by new standards and guidelines being produced by nationally recognised associations including National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE), Faculty of General Dental Practice (FGDP) and Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network (SIGN) in Scotland, in provision of new scientific evidence. The latest standards and guidelines produced, endorse everyday clinical practice through evidence based dentistry (REF). All dental professionals as part of continued professional development are expected to keep to date on relevant guidelines and knowledge related to their practice (REF). This is supported by the General Dental Council who state all clinicians must maintain their professional knowledge and competence throughout their working career (REF).
There are many different types of diseases that dental hygienist have to be aware of. It is important to know the basic information about the disease and how the disease affects the patient’s oral cavity as well as how to treat the patient. This paper will be addressing liver disease and more specifically, liver disease caused by hepatitis. “The term liver disease applies to many diseases and disorders that cause the liver to function improperly or stop functioning.” (U.S. National Library of Medicine. “Liver Disease.”) A couple signs and symptoms include fever, dark urine, abdominal pain and jaundice, which is the yellowing of the eyes and skin. (U.S. National Library of Medicine. “Liver Disease.”)
Eliminating bacteria through good oral hygiene is not possible. The gum tissue begins pulling away from the teeth. This creates pockets that allow bacteria to build up, which leads to an infection. As your body fights the harmful bacteria, the bone and tissue holding the teeth in place begins to break down. The pockets deepen and begin filling with pus.
Merely the smell of food can trigger saliva (LiveScience (3).) For example, the smell of fried chicken, with rice and gravy, and corn bread makes my mouth salivate. As stated earlier, the digestive system is a complex network that is necessary for the digestion and absorption of nutrients. When something is incorrect with the GI Tract, there is a variety of symptoms to know so, such as; abdominal pain, bloating, constipation, diarrhea, heartburn, vomiting, etc. Most of the symptoms can be avoided or reduced by watching what we eat. (LiveScience (3).) It is important to eat a variety of foods to maintain a well-balanced diet, drink water, and to exercise a minimum of thirty minutes a
Healthcare is a necessity to sustain society. Dentistry is an area of healthcare that I feel extremely passionate about because access to proper dental care is limited, especially in the underserved communities. As an African American, I want to become a dentist and healthcare provider in the hopes of helping patients and adding to the diversification of the field. With a growing minority population in the United States, it has become apparent that there is a shortage of black dentists. This is problematic because underrepresented minorities are in great need of access to culturally connected dentists who understand their clinical needs as much as their lives and their challenges. I believe that when the profession includes a range of ethnicities
A healthy mouth not only facilitates nutrition of the physical body, but it also develops confidence and sensation of health. Oral conditions effect the general health and disease. Oral hygiene prevents bad breathe, gum diseases and tooth decay. Dentists can diagnose and treat oral affliction at the initial level. This help adults and children to maintain excellent dental health during their lifetime.
Picture yourself with a toothache or someone with poor hygiene and knowing you cannot do anything to change it without a dentist. A dentist is specialized individual that treats the diseases and conditions that affect the oral cavity.
Over time as individuals age and are faced with access to care issues they may begin to neglect their oral health. As time passes between dental hygiene cleanings or dentist visits the presence of oral disease may begin to increase.
Teeth whitening is an ever increasing procedure being requested by many patients. In this paper, I will be discussing the biological and chemical mechanisms of teeth whitening, the difference between in office and take home whitening, current products on the market, and current issues and safety concerns regarding teeth whitening. Knowledge of these topics is important to have to be able to safely recommend in office or at home whitening options.
All healthy teeth are alike; each unhealthy tooth is unhealthy in its own particular situation. Many people believe that having white teeth means that their teeth are healthy, however that is not the case in today’s society. Over-the-counter whitening products are causing harm to individuals teeth. Although teeth whitening procedures can whiten one’s teeth and improve self confidence, many procedures are dangerous to the mouth and body; therefore, these products should be further regulated by the ADA and FDA.
While Scholars Head and Dyer focus more on the racial relations between the community of people of color and overalls society, scholar Nick Bentley has chosen to focus on the issues in this novel from a most vast point of view. The critical themes are not just within the microcosm of people of color. He theorizes that England in its entirety is counterproductive to the agenda. Specifically to the novel White Teeth, he criticizes author Zadie Smith for antagonizing the delicacy of the interactions with different cultural groups. Although he does provide compelling arguments that support his claim, it would be advantageous to view the provocation as a critique for improvement.
One last very severe effect of smoking is teeth decay. The reason for teeth decay is tobacco products which damage your gum tissue by affecting the attachment of bone and soft tissue to your teeth. An example of the effect is receding gums. A receding gum line exposes the tooth roots and increases your risk of developing a sensitivity to hot and cold, or tooth decay in these unprotected areas. Additionally, smoking can also contribute to bad breath, stains in the teeth and a build-up of tartar on the teeth.