Even though February is National Pet Dental Health Month, proper oral hygiene for pets should be practiced year-round. Bad breath in your pet can be a symptom of an oral health dilemma. Taking your dog or cat to the veterinarian is one of the most important things that you can do to prevent and treat periodontal (gum) disease in your pet. According to sources, an estimated 68% of cats and 78% of dogs that are 3 years of age and older have a form of oral disease.

In recognition of National Pet Dental Health Month, more information is being released for pet owners and vets to help improve or maintain a good level of oral hygiene for their animals. It reminds us of the old saying, “an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.” All breeds of these animals are susceptible to developing periodontal disease. Studies show that the top breeds of dogs that are predisposed to getting gum disease are the Toy Poodle, Yorkshire Terrier, Maltese, Pomeranian, Shetland Sheepdog, Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, Papillion, Standard Poodle, Dachshund and Havanese. The disease is most prominent in the following types of cats: the Himalayan, Siamese, and Persian.

Each year that your pet is alive, the risks of developing the disease actually increase 20%. Vets everywhere should insist that pet owners should treat the disease if it is diagnosed, so that it does not become serious.  Let’s not forget that TheraBreath has an excellent oral health formula specifically made for dogs and cats. Stop bad breath in dogs and cats today!

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There are many things that people may not realize regarding oral care and its relationship to overall health.  Dental health is a very important thing and should not be neglected.  Here are certain things that you may not have known about dental care and dentists:

Pay More Attention

• Just because your mouth may not hurt, does not mean it is healthy. 
• Your oral health can affect the rest of your body
• People with HEALTHY gums should go to the dentist twice a year.  Most people do not.  If your gums are NOT healthy, you should go even more. 
• People tend to brush their front teeth more, and many people have periodontal disease in their back teeth because of this
• People tend to spend around 2-3 minutes total brushing per day, even though proper oral care requires at least ten minutes of brushing and flossing each day.  Kids tend to spend even less time than adults. 

Bad Breath

• Chewing gum or mints is not going to cover up the smell from smoking cigarettes.  This is because the smell is deeply ingrained in the mouth and gum tissues.
• Most dentists won’t tell you if you have halitosis unless you ask.
• People need to floss since brushing does not go deep into the gums.  If a person brushes and flosses properly, gets regular cleanings, and STILL has bad breath, then he or she should check into diet and health complications.

Children’s Teeth

• Dentists may secretly blame parents when their kids’ teeth go bad.
• Cavity-causing bacteria CAN be spread from person-to-person via saliva.  This includes parents to children– if a parent tastes a baby’s food, and puts the same spoon back into the baby’s mouth, the baby is at risk.
• Children with dental problems, like toothaches, tend to have more problems in school.
• There’s a significant risk of infection with any kind of mouth piercing if it is not performed in a sterile environment.  Also, tongue piercings tend to chip the front teeth.

Patient Concerns

• Having metal fillings removed can release more mercury than leaving them in.  Metal fillings are much more durable than tooth-colored fillings.
• People are exposed to more radiation standing outside for an hour than they are when they have dental X-rays taken.
• People are getting teeth pulled that don’t need to be just because they can’t afford to fix them.
• Very few insurance companies cover dental implants, even though they’re better than dentures
• Teeth that are not aligned correctly can cause migraines. 
• Bleeding gums is one of the first signs of diabetes. 
• Did you know that teeth get whiter when they dry out?  If you go to the dentist to get your teeth whitened, and your mouth is left open for an hour, the teeth could be two shades whiter from dehydration alone. 
• Cosmetic dentistry only works in a healthy mouth.  Always treat your gum disease first.
• When you go to the dentist, check to see if the magazines in the waiting area are up-to-date…this shows if they pay attention to detail.

Here is an interesting quote by dentist Damian Dachowski: “When someone meets you for the first time, the first thing they notice is eyes. Second is teeth, and third is hair. But people spend way more money on their hair than their teeth.”

Source: Reader’s Digest

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Bad breath (halitosis), especially if its chronic, can sometimes be a symptom of a much more major dilemma. It is very important that people do not overlook this problem, because it can be a sign of a terminal illness. Dental experts have linked halitosis to everything from pneumonia, bronchitis, chronic sinus infections to liver problems, kidney problems, and diabetes. People who have gastritis can have halitosis because of their stomach’s high acidic levels.

Unfortunately, most people do not regard bad breath as a serious problem, and just try to disguise it with peppermint or mouthwash. halitosis-2/" title="Halitosis">Halitosis has also been linked to chronic acid reflux and constipation. If one is practicing good oral hygiene, and avoiding foods that cause strong odors like petai, onions, etc., then it is possible that one has a problem that is more than just bad breath.

Many people will find that chewing gum only hides the bad breath and bad tastes temporarily. According to dental experts, 80% of bad breath sufferers have a mouth-related illness causing the problem; however, few people actually make regular visits to the dentist as needed. Tooth decay, cavities, gingivitis, dry mouth (xerostamia, caused by the lack of saliva), and oral cancer all cause halitosis. If a person has gum disease and does not treat it, it can lead to serious damage to the gums and jawbone. Some sources say that mouthwashes containing alcohol have been linked to oral cancer!  TheraBreath is an example of a mouthwash that does NOT have alcohol as an ingredient.

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Gingivitis is a general term for different types of infections in the gingiva. Bad breath-causing bacteria cause gingivitis, so it is important to keep the oral cavity clean. By exercising proper oral hygiene, you can clean up any gingivitis that you have and prevent it from occuring.

You should brush at least 2-3 times a day, and it is also important that you use a decent toothpaste. PerioTherapy is excellent for those with periodontal infections. Flossing is very important because it gets rid of the plaque between the teeth. Generally, you should floss twice a day (at least once for sure) before you brush your teeth. Try using oral rinse every day (preferably twice at least), since this can reach areas that your dental floss and toothbrush do not reach. A tongue scraper will eradicate bacteria from the tongue. Also, after you use a tongue scraper and toothbrush, make sure to rinse them with hot water.

If left untreated, gingivitis can be really severe and turn into gum disease. Bleeding, swollen, and painful gums all can occur, as well as tooth loss that could allegedly lead to heart disease. If you are dedicated to curing your gingivitis and doing the right procedure, you can get rid of this oral health problem and potentially the bad breath that goes along with it. It not only depends on your dentist, but it also depends on your habits and the oral care products you use.

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Unfortunately, pregnant women with bad breath may have a problem that is staggering in its implications.  Previously, we have discussed the relationship between gum disease and reproductive health (pregnancy gingivitis), which can result in a baby being born prematurely.  Research shows that the bad breath-causing bacteria may even be linked to stillbirths.

Allegedly, the oral bacteria can be transferred to the placenta if it enters the blood stream through open sores in the gums.  The unborn child is not equipped to fight the disease with its immune system in the same manner an adult can. 

Since bleeding gums/pregnancy gingivitis is extremely common among pregnant women, it is vital that expecting mothers brush and floss frequently during the day, after snacks and meals.  Surgery may be needed for serious infections. 

Whereas pregnancy gingivitis is common, the possibility of having a stillbirth is not.  Nonetheless, taking healthy steps will make pregnancy easier and reduce anxiety levels.  Here are some tips for practicing good oral hygiene:

- Go to the dentist regularly for checkups and cleanings.
- Brush your teeth at least 2-3 times a day, ideally after every meal and snack.  This prevents plaque/tartar building up.
- Floss after every meal.
- Use an oral rinse (like TheraBreath) at least 2 times a day. 
- Use a tongue scraper to prevent the bad breath-causing bacteria from building up.
- Eat healthier (more vegetables, less sweets).

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Many people (usually around 3 out of 4!) have symptoms of periodontal disease, which is an infection of the tissues supporting your teeth.  These symptoms include persistent bad breath; bleeding gums (especially when you brush); red, swollen, and tender gums; gums that recede from the teeth; pus between the teeth and gums when the gums are pressed; permanent teeth that are loose or separating; changes in your dental structure when biting; and changes in the way dentures fit.  Health gums have a healthy pink color, they do not bleed, and the gum line hugs the teeth tightly. 

Here are the various stages of periodontal disease:

1)  Gingivitis:  The gums bleed easily when you brush, floss, or probe them.  The gums are inflamed and sensitive to touch, and there is the possibility of halitosis and bad taste.  The gums between the teeth may look bluish-red in color.

2) Early Periodontitis: The gums may start pulling away from the teeth, and the inflammation and bleeding of the gums is more noticeable.  There is bad breath and bad taste , slight loss of bone (horizontally on X-ray), and there may be pockets of 3-4mm between the teeth and gums.

3) Moderate Periodontitis: The gum may boil, and abscesses may develop.  Since the gums are receding, the teeth appear to look longer.  The front teeth may start to drift, showing spaces.  The person suffering often has chronic bad breath, bad taste, and both horizontal and angular bone loss (on X-ray).  The pockets between the gum and teeth range from 4-6mm deep.

4) Advanced Periodontitis: The teeth become loose or mobile.  Bad breath and bad taste are chronic, and the roots of the teeth are exposed and extra-sensitive to hot and cold temperatures.  On X-ray, there is severe angular and horizontal bone loss, and the pockets between the gum line and teeth are more than 6mm deep.

Gum Disease Cure

So what should you do if you are having any of these symptoms?  You should definitely go and get diagnosed and your teeth cleaned by your dentist.  Also, a good gingivitis cure is PerioTherapy, which is a product line that focuses on gum care.  Try it out!

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Happy new year everyone!  Since we all want a fresh start with the new year, why not also start with fresh breath? In order to combat bad breath, we need to know what causes it in the first place. Anaerobic bacteria exists in the biofilm that is formed on the tongue, and these bacteria break down proteins in food, resulting in the production of offensive smells due to gases like hydrogen sulphide and skatol.

Here are some tips to help avoid halitosis this new year:

1) Proper oral hygiene. One should gargle with lukewarm water after eating, even if it’s just a snack. Brushing should be done 2-3 times a day, and you should also use floss and a tongue scraper. Add TheraBreath to your daily regimen.
2) Proper brushing techniques. Avoid brushing too vigorously, as this does damage to the gums. Excessive brushing can damage tooth enamel. Try to brush the upper teeth in a downward direction, and the lower teeth in a upward direction.
3) Tooth picks
4) Food habits. Some foods that people eat are certainly smellier than others. Sometimes they say “an apple a day keeps the doctor away, but a raw onion a day keeps everybody away.” Also, try to maintain regularity in food timing.
5) Water intake. Keep hydrated to maintain a stable level of saliva.
6) Natural fresheners. Try spices like clove, cardamom, cinnamon, ginger, and cumin seed. Citrus fruits can help banish bad breath.

And if these bad breath cures do not work, try the following:
1) Remove the underlying cause. Get checked out for general and systemic diseases like gastric disorders, diabetes, fevers, liver diseases, etc. If you have an infection, antibiotics, antifungal and antiviral medicines can help. You may even want to try saliva-producing tablets.
2) Get regular dental checkups and cleanings. If you have caries, make sure they get filled.
3) Tonsillectomies can help if you have recurrent tonsilitis.
4) Homeopathy. In this case, medicines are selected based on the physical, mental, social, and emotional characteristics of a person.
5) Psychological counseling.  Sometimes chronic halitosis sufferers are very depressed and have the tendency to avoid the public. 

Good luck and happy 2010!

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Bad breath plagues everyone from time to time.  In order to cure bad breath, one must know what is causing it.  The cause determines the cure for halitosis.  Sometimes food can cause bad breath (i.e. foods with spices like cumin and curry) for days on end, after they’re eaten and digested.  Food that becomes stuck in the oral cavity and lodged between teeth can definitely cause foul smells.  Poor dental health like tooth decay, a lack of oral cleanliness and periodontal diseases can all contribute to the bacteria that causes bad breath.  These bacteria build up between the teeth and omit foul odors.  It is important to practice good oral hygiene by brushing teeth regularly and using floss and oral rinse after eating.  Also, one should take trips to the dentist at least twice a year. 

Morning breath is extremely common among humans because some people have their mouths open while sleeping, which dries the tongue, gum, and cheek tissues.  Saliva, which normally flows through the mouth during waking hours, cleans up dead cells.  When one is sleeping, this does not happen, thus creating halitosis. 

Underlying illnesses can frequently cause bad breath, like some cancers, diabetes, liver issues, lung sicknesses, kidney failure, lingering acid backwash, and metabolism problems.  If you have any abnormal symptoms, you should get checked out by a doctor.

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Do you want to get rid of your smelly breath? Read and try some of the following tips. Banish bad breath today.

1. Keep hydrated with water. Bad breath can be caused by dry mouth.
2. Gargle with TheraBreath Oral Rinse. This can be a long-lasting halitosis cure.
3. Have a meal that comes with ginger, basil, parsley, or mint leaves.
4. Try eating a Waldorf salad with extra apple. Apples can help freshen your breath and remove pieces of food stuck between your teeth.
5. A LITTLE bit of whiskey can help kill the bad breath-causing bacteria on your teeth and mask small amounts of malodor. However, do not have too much, since breath worsens with the more alcohol consumed.
6. Scrape your tongue! Sometimes you might have a white coating on your tongue, particularly if you have a thrush infection. If you’re out and about, you could sneak off with a spoon to scrape your tongue if you do not have a tongue scraper available.
7. Rinsing your mouth with water can also help combat halitosis. You can also use a paper towel to rub your teeth.

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Most of us know that the offensive odor coming out of someone’s mouth can be associated with poor oral hygiene, gingivitis, caries, tonsilitis, tonsillar plaques, various foods, tobacco, dehydration, and various diseases in the body.  Homeopathy can be an effective cure for chronic bad breath because it treats the individual as a whore rather than targeting certain parts/organs.  Sometimes for a permanent bad breath cure, it can work if the physical, emotional, mental and social spheres of a person are targeted.  If these spheres are not in equilibrium, that’s when things tend to go awry. 

When using homeopathy to treat halitosis, it is important to note the other symptoms that a person is having.  Sometimes excess stress can attribute to bad breath.   In order to figure out the best remedy, one should take these precautions beforehand:

• Correct oral hygiene in the morning/bedtime
• Clearing saliva and nasal secretions often as well as clearing the throat
• Regular dental checkups for filling pockets or erosions, and avoidance of gum/dental problems
• Keep hydrated to prevent dry mouth and wash away food particles
• Use tongue scraper

Also, you should avoid:

• Cigarettes, chewing tobacco, and other stimulants
• Dairy products
• Garlic, onions
• Chocolates and other sweets

Also, underlying health conditions should be ruled out by doing the following:

• Endoscopy (sinuses)
• CT scan (nasal obstruction, lung issues, etc)
• Blood tests (diabetes, infections, allergies, metabolic diseases)
• Urine tests (diabetes, ketone bodies, metabolic diseases)

Temporary treatments:

• Cleansers, pastes, mouthwash, mouth deodorants, tongue scrapers/wipers
• Chewing gum increases salivary gland production
• Cloves, camphor, cardamom, green pudhina leaves, guava leaves, betel leaves can mask the foul stench

Permanent treatment can only be successful if the root cause of the halitosis is diagnosed.  These treatments should be given for issues like recurring colds, sinusitis, dental issues, gingivitis, stomatitis, indigestion, and so on. 

Homeopathic remedies for bad breath most commonly are: Asafoetida, Baptisia, Baryta mur, Benzoic acid, Bromium, Calc carb, carbolic acid, Carbo animalis, Carbo veg, Crot – hor, Graphites, Hepa sulf, Kali sulp, Merc sol, Nat sulp, Nit acid, Opium, Plantago, Psorinum, Pulsatilla, Rhus tox, Sepia, Silicea, Staphysagria, Sulphur, Tarentula, Tellurium, Thuja, and Tuberculinum.

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