going to the dentist with less anxiety
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going to the dentist with less anxiety

Going to the dentist isn't any fun, but it is one of those things that just has to be done. For years, I fought the process and didn't go for my regular cleanings and in the end, it sure didn't pay to do so. I ended up spending ten times as much time in the chair and a boat-load of money in dental repairs. If you don't like going to the dentist, you can make it easier on yourself. This blog will show you a few tips that can help you improve the experience and get through the treatment without as much discomfort.

going to the dentist with less anxiety

Don't Let Bad Breath Keep You From Dating And Socializing

Jordan Arnold

Everyone has a little bad breath from time to time -- maybe after they eat garlic or when they just wake up in the morning. But when your bad breath is a constant, ongoing problem, it can become a major hindrance in your life. Ongoing bad breath can keep you from engaging in social situations and may even keep you from dating. If you're tired of letting halitosis ruin your dating and social life, take control by getting to the root cause of your condition. Here's a look at some of the most likely causes.

Gum Disease

Gum disease is quite common in the United States. In its early stages, it's easy to miss since it mostly causes minor redness and some bleeding when you brush. But before long, it can progress to the point of causing pockets to form between the teeth and the gums. These pockets start trapping plaque and oral bacteria, which leads to bad breath. Since brushing and flossing don't clean down in the pockets, your bad breath lingers even after your oral hygiene routine.

If your gums are painful, developing pockets, or appear to be separating from your teeth, you need to see your dentist for gum disease treatment. At this point, the condition is too serious to treat effectively at home. Your dentist will use a procedure called root scaling to clean deep below the gums, which can stop gum disease in its tracks. Antibiotics may also be prescribed to help your body fight off the related bacteria.

Tooth Decay

Minor cavities don't usually cause bad breath, but if you have not been in for a checkup for a while, it's possible that you have more progressed tooth decay. The bacteria that cause the decay is smelly, and since decayed teeth tend to be quite porous, brushing and flossing alone won't remove these bacteria or the odor.

Other signs of tooth decay include sensitivity to heat and cold, pain when you bite down, and the appearance of a brown or yellow spot on the tooth. Thankfully, having the cavity filled or the tooth covered with a crown (if the decay is serious) should correct all of these issues.

Tonsil Stones

It's possible that your teeth and gums have nothing to do with the problem -- your bad breath might be coming from further back! Take a look at your tonsils, which are the little pads of flesh on either side of your throat. Do you see white spots on them? Are they overly swollen? Sometimes, food particles get caught in your tonsils, and after bacteria feed on them, calcified little balls called tonsil stones form. They exude a terrible odor whenever you open your mouth.

You may be able to dislodge your own tonsil stones by pressing on them gently with your finger. Gargle with antiseptic mouthwash to rinse them away and also help prevent future ones from forming. In the long-term, you'll probably want to see an ear, nose, and throat specialist. They can use a special laser tool to seal the crypts in your tonsils where food gets caught, which should keep tonsil stones at bay.

Esophageal or Stomach Problems

In rare cases, ongoing bad breath can be caused by a problem in your esophagus or stomach. A condition called gastroesophageal reflux disease, for instance, causes partially digested food to flow back from the stomach into the esophagus, leading to bad breath along with heart disease symptoms. Another condition called Zenker's diverticulum can cause pits to form in the esophageal lining. Food may get caught in these pits, emitting nasty odors when it begins to rot.

If you're tired of bad breath holding you back, start by making a trip to the dentist or checking out websites like http://www.silveradofamilydental.com. If they rule out the most likely causes -- gum disease and tooth decay -- you can then move on to seeking diagnosis by a physician. 


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