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Should I Use a Mouthwash? | Schnecksville Dentist

When we think of dental hygiene, we think of a few key pieces of equipment for a healthy clean mouth – a toothbrush, toothpaste, floss and mouthwash. Each of these things plays a certain role in doing the job, but are they all necessary?

For the most part, all of these dental tools are necessary, but mouthwash is the exception. We are told that it is helping with bacteria that causes bad breath, leaving us with a minty-fresh mouth. Unfortunately, that isn’t the case.

Firstly, bad breath is caused by bacteria in our mouths. If you don’t brush and floss regularly, it is easy for plaque and harmful bacteria to collect and multiply inside of our mouths. We naturally produce saliva to help our mouth maintain a healthy pH balance, making it a natural defense against bad breath.

Now let’s look at mouthwash. We know that mouthwash is full of alcohol, some as much as 25 percent. We also know that alcohol dehydrates us. If mouthwash dehydrates us, we are not producing enough saliva. Not enough saliva, our pH balance is thrown off and bacteria is allowed to collect, doing the exact opposite of its goal.

The claims made by mouthwash ads to kill bacteria and bad breath chemically is true, but it cannot distinguish between the harmful bacteria and the bacteria it needs to leave alone because it is actually helping our mouth.

So, what do we do when we get a case of bad breath? Forget about mouthwash and use water. Brush and floss, and tongue scrape at least once daily. If you don’t have a dental kit around, an apple or a stick of gum will help produce saliva.

For more information about mouthwash, call Dr. Ladani in Schnecksville, PA at 610-799-0600 or visit www.extraordinarysmiles.net.

Dr. Sandip Ladani proudly serve patients from Schnecksville and all surrounding areas.

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Bad Breath and What We Can Do About It | Schnecksville Dentist

If someone offers you a mint, chances are it’s a subtle hint that you may not have the freshest of breath. Halitosis is something that can be a temporary situation or something more serious. But with national days like Coffee with a Cop (October 5th), Moldy Cheese (October 9th), Sausage Pizza (October 11th), and American Beer (October 27th), it may be a good idea to talk about why we get bad breath and what we can do to avoid it.

Obviously, eating stinky foods will cause this issue, but there are times when bad breath is more than just some garlic breath. Physical conditions like issues with tonsils or your stomach, even some medications that can cause your breath to smell. If you find that your bad breath is becoming more common, check in with your doctor. Here are some other tips to preventing smelly breath:

  • Stay hydrated. If you can’t brush your teeth after a meal, drinking a lot of water can help speed up the process of cleaning harmful bacteria and debris from between your teeth.
  • Don’t drink too much coffee. It may be tasty, but coffee is a tough smell to get off the back of your tongue.
  • Avoid tobacco products. Cigarettes, pipes, and snuff can foul your breath.
  • Cut back on alcohol. Because of dry mouth, too much beer, wine, and hard liquor can make your breath reek for up to eight to 10 hours after you finish drinking.
  • Chew sugarless gum. 20 minutes after a meal can help with saliva flow, just make sure it’s 100% xylitol-sweetened to help reduce cavities.

For more information about bad breath, call Dr. Ladani in Schnecksville, PA at 610-799-0600 or visit www.extraordinarysmiles.net.

Dr. Sandip Ladani proudly serve patients from Schnecksville and all surrounding areas.

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What You Need to Know to Keep Your Gums Healthy | Schnecksville Dentist

We may not know exactly what gum disease is, but we know we don’t want to have it. Gum disease is an infection of the tissues that surround your teeth. Because gum disease is typically painless, you may not even know you have it. And this is why you really need to keep your dental appointments – they are the only ones that can diagnose periodontal disease.

But what causes gum disease? Plaque is the primary cause of gum disease. However, other factors can contribute to periodontal disease, ranging from hormonal changes, certain illnesses, medications, genetics to poor dental hygiene and bad habits, like smoking.

Gum disease may progress without producing obvious signs, even in the late stages of the disease. But there are some symptoms you may want to keep in mind. If you find you have any of these symptoms over time, it’s time to check in with your dental professional:

  • Bleeding gums
  • Red, swollen, or tender gums
  • Persistent bad breath or bad taste in the mouth
  • Receding gums
  • Formation of deep pockets between teeth and gums
  • Loose or shifting teeth
  • Changes in the way teeth fit together when biting down

Thankfully, it isn’t difficult to keep gum disease at bay. Make sure you brush, floss and rinse with fluoride every single day. Choose to eat healthy and clean. Munching on healthy snacks and chewing sugar-free gum will produce saliva, the way we rinse our mouths naturally. If you are a smoker, make an effort to stop. Not only is tobacco use bad for you overall, but it wreaks havoc on your mouth. And lastly, keep your dental appointments in order to ensure all of your efforts are doing the job.

For more information about gum disease, call Dr. Ladani in Schnecksville, PA at 610-799-0600 or visit www.extraordinarysmiles.net.

Dr. Sandip Ladani proudly serve patients from Schnecksville and all surrounding areas.

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There’s Nowhere to Hide | Schnecksville Dentist

While cavities and plaque build-up may be what’s on your mind before a teeth cleaning, your dentist is looking for a whole lot more. Diseases like cancer, anemia and diabetes will first be identified by the dentist in a regular examination, and this can save lives. So, before you try to think that you can pull a fast one on your dentist, think again…

Flossing only before appointments. Sorry, but you can’t fool your dentist into thinking you floss daily by doing so the night before or morning of your visit.

You’re pregnant. Nearly 40% of women will develop gingivitis during their pregnancy because of an increase of progesterone, which facilitates the growth of bacteria, causing gingivitis.

Thumb sucking. Most children that suck their thumbs or a finger have no long-term effects from the habit, but prolonged activity may show significant changes to their bite or the position of their teeth.

Bad breath issues. Dentists are trained to identify “fruity” smells (uncontrolled diabetes) and “fishy” smells (kidney or liver failure). If the smell is very foul it could be a major health issue.

Eating disorders. Bulimia exhibits a very distinct pattern of tooth wear that your dentist can easily identify. Other possibilities include acid reflux and the use of antidepressants or mood-elevating drugs.

Oral cancer. The first signs of oral cancer can be seen from the following: unexplained bleeding in the mouth, white, red, or speckled patches, swellings or eroded areas on areas inside the mouth.

Soda and energy drinks. Teeth can be softened by sodas and energy beverages over time, which may make a tooth more susceptible to chipping.

For more information about dental health, call Dr. Sandip Ladani in Schnecksville, PA at 610-799-0600 or visit www.extraordinarysmiles.net.

Dr. Ladani proudly serve patients from Schnecksville and all surrounding areas.