As you get older, you’ll realize how important proper oral hygiene is.  There are ways you can keep tabs on your oral health every month or so.  Check your mouth for white and red patches, tongue flakiness, pigmented lesions, and sores with uneven borders.  Oral cancer is rare with non-smokers, but it’s still possible to get it.  In order to check yourself for it, look at your outer and inner lips, and all sides of the tongue.  Look on the outside and inside if you cheers, and if there’s ever abnormalities that last longer than 14 days, ask a dental expert about it. 

Here are some things that you can pay attention to in order to protect your oral health:

Canker sores: these tend to pop up when people are stressed.  You can try a topical pain reliever directly on the spot.  Dentists can also use a soft-tissue laser to get rid of them.

Fix bad breath: If you’re not sure that you have bad breath at any given moment, use a cotton ball or gauze pad on the back of your tongue and smell it.  Whenever you brush your teeth, make sure to also get the back of your tongue, since this is where bacteria really like to proliferate.  Alcohol is found in most mouthwashes, but the problem with that is that alcohol helps dehydrate — thus drying the gums and reducing saliva flow.  After this, the bacteria multiples and causes the halitosis to worsen.  Keep in mind that TheraBreath sells an alcohol-free mouthwash!

Back of the mouth: Make sure to get this area when brushing, especially along the gum lines.  If you have a hard time accessing that area when brushing, slighty open the mouth.

Floss, floss, floss!  This is especially needed to prevent tartar buildup.  Toothbrushes can only get so far between the teeth–only 1 millimeter under the gums.  The problem is that gum pockers are usually 3-4 millimeters, which is deeper.  The bacteria feeds off the particles that get caught in these pockets, and if you don’t take care of the issue, you’ll have tooth decay and in extreme cases, jawbone loss.  Keep in mind that 80% of adults allegedly have a form of gum disease!

By practicing good oral hygiene, you’ll help keep your smile white and clean!

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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 ause 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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More people than you may think have gingivitis–up to half of the U.S. population.  Some people do not even realize that they have it, and they might have common symptoms like bad breath, and/or swollen, red and bleeding gums.  Gingivitis can cause complications like heart disease, pre-term birth, and diabetes if it is not treated.  Most of the time, people think it is caused by a lack of proper oral hygiene or the hormonal changes that occur during a woman’s pregnancy (pregnancy gingivitis). 

A new study, on the other hand, shows that genetics actually can play a major part in the onset and healing of gum disease.  The goal of this study was to pinpoint various changes on a molecular level during the onset and healing processes of the disease.  Research showed that ~30% of the human body’s genes are expressed differently during the formation and healing of gingivitis.  How one reacts to gingivitis depends greatly on how the body’s immune system is activated.  The findings of the study enabled scientists to identify certain biological pathways activated by the onset and remediation of gingivitis, including energy metabolism, immunity response, neural processes, vasculature, chemotaxis, steroid metabolism and wound healing.  The information gathered from this study should certainly help scientists and doctors come up with better cures for gingivitis.

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From the Desk of Dr. Harold Katz

Most of the time I write about bad breath. However there are other oral care issues which have to be addressed on a daily basis to make sure your mouth stays in tip top shape. As your ‘virtual dentist’ I want to cover some of these other topics in upcoming emails to make sure you are well informed about staying your healthiest.

The topic I’d like to touch on today is gum care. Do you see occasional gum bleeding when you brush?  The dreaded ‘Pink in the Sink’? Did you stop flossing because it caused extreme bleeding and irritation? Have you observed gum recession that has continued to get worse over time?  These are signs of gingivitis, and they need to be addressed quickly before becoming a serious problem.

Over time, food particles and other proteins collect in pockets between your teeth and gums. This dark, moist, food laden area becomes a great place for bacteria to live and feast. As their colonies grow and thrive, they irritate your gums and force them to recede down the tooth root. As you floss or brush the irritated gum tissue will bleed and even potentially ooze, becoming inflamed and painful. This irritated tissue will recede, causing root exposure, giving bacteria access to the root for lasting and permanent damage. Bleeding gums can even create opportunity for bacteria to get into the bloodstream leading to far more serious issues like heart disease.

Gum disease is a remarkably common condition, afflicting over forty percent of the adult population. While advanced cases do require the attention of a specialist and dental visits to properly treat, most common cases are relatively mild and can be treated easily with an over the counter medicated oral hygiene regimen. Treating gum disease before it becomes advanced is crucial, as dental treatment for neglected gums is unpleasant and extremely expensive.

I created my PerioTherapy formulas for this very reason : to treat gingivitis and gum disease before it gets out of hand and requires injections or surgery to fix. PerioTherapy uses the power of CoQ10, Tea Tree Oil, and my own proprietary and patented formulas to combat germs at the gumline and strengthen gum tissue, effectively eliminating “pink in the sink.” I perfected PerioTherapy for over a decade in my own practice before making it available to the public. Since then I have sold millions of bottles and tubes in Europe and the US to patients suffering from gum bleeding and irritation. Their reviews have been remarkable, with many patients saying not only have their gums become healthier and stronger but that their dentists have been incredibly pleased with the strides they have made since using PerioTherapy on a daily basis.

If you do suffer from gum issues such as pain, swelling, bleeding, or recession I would recommend you try PerioTherapy for yourself for 30 days. See if this patented process works as well for you as it has for the tens of thousands who are now loyal users. If you don’t see an improvement in your gums in that short time send the products back to me for a full refund.

Yours in good health,
Harold Katz, DDS

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Oral health is an integral part to your body’s overall health, so even if the economy is tough, one must still go to the dentist regularly for checkups.  Dentists are releasing campaigns to make the public aware of the risks of waiting on dental care and neglecting checkups and treatments.  The Dental Trade Alliance, a nonprofit trade association, is helping sponsor this campaign.

Experts say that one should visit the dentist once every six months, and if one does not have a dentist, he or she should find someone knowledgeable in the subject. 

There are various risks of postponing dental care, including:

- Tooth decay.  Since it’s a progressive disease, postponing treatment may make the sufferer in need of a more complex/expensive solution, like root canals or tooth extractions.  Also, it is a contagious disease, and it can be spread to others.

- Periodontal disease that goes untreated has been linked with having damaging effects especially on those with diabetes, heart disease, strokes, or women who are pregnant.

- Constant bad breath / halitosis can also be prevented by having regular checkups / cleanings

The Chicago Dental Society says than half of dentists surveyed said that people were putting off going to the dentist, and more than 40% said that preventive care had decreased.  Also, the Wall Street Journal reported the ADA noticing that unbooked appointiment times were increasing. 

Since there are so many risks associated with neglecting dental care (diabetes, heart disease, and so on), it is important that one does not postpone or forget going to the dentist.  There are even dentists offering discounts to their patients to encourage them to maintain good oral  hygiene in a bad economy. Your oral and overall health care cannot wait, so take action now.

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 TheraBreath is America’s best selling fresh breath mouthwash and toothpaste regimen. Dr Katz, the formula’s inventor and America’s foremost expert on fresh breath, discusses what makes the formula unique.

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In order to stop bad breath, you must stop the production of the volatile sulfur compounds. The only safe and clinically-proven way to do so is to oxidize away the sulfur compounds and the bacteria that create this problem.

For several decades the large pharmaceutical companies have made commercial products that do not oxidize away the odorous and lousy-tasting sulfur compounds created by anaerobic bacteria. After many attempts to “help” the public, the companies only would rely on masking agents which only cover up the malodor and sour, bitter tastes produced by the sulfur compounds with other stronger tastes (i.e. medicinal, minty) and fragrances.

Alcohol:

The end result was a masking chemical and high levels of alcohol. Alcohol makes your breath worse. Alcohol, in chemical terms, is classified as a DESICCANT, or DRYING AGENT. As you know from information in this website and possibly your own personal problems, the dryer your mouth gets, the worse your breath gets.

Here’s how much alcohol (in Percentage and Proof) is contained in the leading products below:

You may also ask yourself, “If those common products kill the germs that cause bad breath like they say they do, then why do I still have bad breath?”

 Ingredients in Oral Products

Here are some other strange ingredients added to mouthwash and other oral products! 

Sodium Lauryl Sulfate: Stop Your Washing Your Mouth With Soap!

Unfortunately, the public is unaware of the ingredients in products they use on a daily basis. For instance, nearly every toothpaste contains an ingredient that has been proven to dry out your mouth and is now scientifically linked to canker sores. It’s called sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS), and is placed into toothpaste (and some mouthwashes) in order to create foaming! (SLS is also the main ingredient in your shampoo – go check it out.) The harshness of this chemical has been proven to create microscopic damage to the oral tissue which lines the inside of your mouth, which then leads to canker sore production. The microscopic damage and shedding of vital oral tissues provides a protein food source to the bacteria that create the volatile sulfur compounds of halitosis and taste disorders. That’s why TheraBreath Oral Products have never contained SLS!

SLS acts just like a detergent. It is used in the laboratory as a membrane destabilizer and solubilizer of proteins and lipids. SLS is used in toothpaste to emulsify (mix) oil and water based ingredients together. In your toothpaste it creates the foam you get when brushing. Since it is classified as a soap, you will easily understand why this ingredient can cause drying inside the mouth for many individuals. The dryness is one of several factors that will lead to bad breath.

Saccharin:

Would you give saccharin to your children? Well, you are – when you provide them with children’s toothpaste from some of the major companies, take a look at their ingredients.

The only toothpaste, formulated to fight bad breath by oxidation AND which does not contain SLS & saccharin is TheraBreath!

Sodium Chlorate:

This is a chemical that is not an oxygenating compound. It sounds like a chemical used in oxygenating products, but in order for it to even start to produce oxygenation, the pH of the solution would need to have a pH of -1 (that’s right -1!). Historically, scientific papers refer to many cases of accidental sodium chlorate poisoning. Consequently, oral products containing chlorates were taken off the market in the UK over 60 years ago (Bibliography of scientific papers on sodium chlorate)!

Benzalkonium Chloride:

Benzalkonium chloride had been used for many years as a preservative in eye drops and also in nasal sprays and drops. Recently, researchers in Europe discovered that this preservative was causing a great deal of allergic reaction among users. It is now estimated that fully 10% of the population is allergic to benzalkonium chloride.

Other studies have shown a direct relationship between BKC and contact dermatitis, another allergic reaction.

Based on these facts, pharmaceutical companies have started to produce eye and nasal drops without BKC in order to provide better products to the public.

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Dr. Katz’s Summary:
Are you a 17-second brusher? Taking a few minutes each day to be thorough with your oral care will guarantee fresh breath and cleaner teeth. Use my detailed “Daily Oral Routine Guide” (bottom of page) to get started.
Let me ask you a quick question…Suppose you had been out in the garden all day long doing yardwork. You’ve been weeding, digging in the dirt, taking care of your rosebushes, etc. You’ve put in a hard days work and your hands (and arms) are filthy, up to your elbows!

When it comes time to clean up,
which of these two options is most appropriate?

Obviously, Option #2 is the right answer (I hope anyway). I guess maybe if you live in a cave then your answer might vary, but for most people I’d say they would agree the answer Option #2.

So, if you wanted to clean your hands better, and the solution is to be more thorough, doesn’t it make sense that if you want fresher breath and cleaner teeth, the solution is to be more thorough also?

I mean think about it…Every day you eat a variety of food and drink, and all kinds of food particles get mashed into the cracks of your teeth and the recesses of your gums.

Doesn’t it make sense that you may need to spend a little time getting that out?

Let me ask you TWO MORE questions:

Now, I’m not telling you to spend hours in the bathroom brushing your teeth. I realize for most people that’s just not practical, but I will say this:

If you spend MINUTES BRUSHING YOUR TEETH (twice a day) and follow the thorough instructions of use (shown below) for 1 week, you will be absolutely amazed at how clean and fresh your mouth feels. And I guarantee your breath will be better, too.

So, do it for 1 week and see how you feel, and from then on, try to be this thorough at least 2-3 times/week. Your mouth (and those around you) will thank you for it!

Daily Oral Routine For Fresh Breath
and A Healthy Mouth!

These instructions are to be followed -3 TIMES/DAY, definitely after breakfast and before bedtime, and ideally after lunch. For patients who can not follow this routine after lunch, we recommend choosing one of either TheraBreath FreshStrips, Chewing Gum, ZOX Breath Lozenges, or my TheraBreath PLUS Extinguisher Spray to maintain fresh breath throughout the day.

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