Dentist Near Me
Halitosis, commonly known as bad breath, is commonly
associated with certain foods. Garlic, onion, and cabbage can all cause a foul
odor and taste for several hours after you’ve eaten them. This type of
temporary halitosis is easily solved by avoiding the foods that cause it.
However, in some cases bad breath is a chronic problem that simply changing
your diet won’t solve.
Long-term bad breath is caused by the presence of bacteria
in your mouth. These bacteria are most often found on the back of the tongue
and thrive when your mouth is dry. There are a variety of ways you can help
reduce or eliminate chronic bad breath. Some of these include:
Practice good oral
hygiene.
Brush your teeth after you eat as often as possible and at
least twice daily. Clean between your teeth using dental floss or another
interdental (between teeth) cleaner at least once each day. Food particles
between teeth will break down slowly and cause unpleasant odors and tastes.
Brush your tongue.
Even if you brush and floss your teeth as recommended, the
bacteria causing your bad breath may remain on your tongue. Use a tongue
scraper or toothbrush to gently scrape away any particles of food or bacteria
every time you brush. For best results, place the scraper or brush as far back
as you can manage without gagging. This will generally become easier over time.
Keep well-hydrated.
Dry mouths allow bacteria to thrive. By drinking plenty of
water, you can help prevent the bacteria growth and reduce or stop bad breath.
Avoid bad breath
triggers.
Onions, garlic, cabbage, coffee, and tobacco products are
all known to cause bad breath.
Chew sugarless gum.
By chewing sugarless gum, you increase saliva production and
keep your mouth moist. This helps slow or prevent bacteria growth, minimizing
chances of bad breath.
Improve your diet.
Crunchy fruits and vegetables, yogurt, and foods rich in
vitamins C and D all work to prevent the growth of bacteria, keep your mouth
cleaner, and increase saliva flow.
See your dentist.
Follow your regular schedule of dental hygiene appointments
and exams. If you have tried the tips above without improvement, make an
appointment for an exam to see if there may be an underlying condition that
requires treatment. Treat any oral illnesses, such as decayed teeth, periodontal
(gum) disease, or infection.
For more information about the potential causes and treatments for halitosis, contact our office.
18243 Harwood Ave.
Homewood, IL 60430
(708) 799-5162
During this visit, our team will spend time discussing proper brushing technique and oral hygiene with your child. Depending on your child’s age, we may also teach them about the correct use of floss and mouthwash. Our team members are friendly, patient, and great with kids, and will answer every question.
We may recommend that fluoride be applied to the teeth as part of your child’s treatment. Topical fluoride is used to strengthen enamel and make teeth more resistant to tooth decay.
Sealants are highly effective in preventing tooth decay and cavities on your molars and premolars. These areas are the most susceptible to cavities due to the anatomized grooves.
Typically, children get sealants on their permanent molars and premolars as soon as these teeth come in. These sealants can protect the teeth through the cavity-prone years of ages 6 to 14. However, adults without decay or fillings in their molars can also benefit from sealants.
The process of applying sealants is easy and fast. The application steps are as follows:
There are over 12 million new cases of cancer diagnosed each year. There are a large variety of different kinds of cancer, some of which are more preventable than others. It might seem obvious that practicing good oral health and avoiding tobacco and other harmful substances can help protect you from the risk of oral cancer. However, there are other types of cancer that can be prevented through good oral care as well.
Keeping up optimal oral health takes more than brushing and flossing. Maintaining oral hygiene demands a bit of work, but it is worth it in the long run. Here are four ways you can improve your dental health right now.
1) Replace your toothbrush more often. When was the last time you replaced your toothbrush? A month ago? Six months? Most people don’t swap out a new brush often enough, which can lead to reduced brush effectiveness. Change your brush at least every three months. Be sure to switch after having an infection like the cold or flu to prevent reinfection.
2) Lay off the fizzy drinks. The acids present in soda wear away enamel, weakening your teeth and leaving them vulnerable to decay. In fact, people who drink three or more glasses of soda per day experience about 62% more tooth decay than those who choose another beverage like water.
3) Opt for chocolate. Everyone loves a sweet treat now and then, but did you know that certain candies are better for your teeth than others? The American Dental Association reports dark chocolate is the healthiest option, as it is soft and washes off your teeth easier than other candies. Hard, sticky, and sour goodies should be avoided, because they can stick to your teeth and even cause chips or cracks if you bite down too hard.
4) Visit your dentist. Trips to our office should occur at least twice a year—not just when you have a toothache. We offer preventative care, vital education, and important cleanings, which are all part of maintaining excellent oral health.
We are pleased to offer a variety of solutions to keep your smile healthy. We are also able to customize a health plan tailored to your specific needs. 
Research completed by the CDC shows that nearly half of US adults suffer from some form of gum disease. Without proper detection and treatment, this disease can fester and spread, leading to a number of oral and overall health concerns including loss of teeth, bleeding and inflamed gums, heart disease, respiratory issues, stroke, and more. The damage periodontal disease is able to inflict on your body can be hugely mitigated through early treatment.
When caught in its early stages, gum disease can be relatively easy to treat. Early signs of gum disease include bleeding or sensitive gums, chronic bad breath, and small pockets beginning to form between your gums and teeth. Our doctor will measure the space between your gums and teeth and may recommend a treatment plan of scaling and root planing. These treatments are designed to remove the buildup of tartar and plaque around a tooth and smooth the area around the root to help prevent future buildup. They can often be completed in one visit. After treatment, our doctor will provide you with a plan for better oral care at home. It’s important to follow up with regular professional examinations and cleanings in order to prevent the future spread of gum disease.
If scaling and root planing are not sufficient to correct the damage caused by gum disease, more invasive procedures such as gum grafting, bone grafting, and dental implants may be necessary. While these procedures can help repair the damage caused by advanced periodontal disease, they generally require much longer recovery times and may not completely undo the damage inflicted on your mouth.
Early diagnosis and treatment is your best chance for mitigating the potentially life-threatening effects that periodontal disease can have on your body. If you are experiencing chronic bad breath, sore or bleeding gums, or have noticed a recession in your gumline, you could be experiencing the early stages of periodontal disease. Contact our office today to learn more or to 
Multivitamins are an excellent way to help children and adults receive nutrients that their diet lacks. For parents of picky eaters, this can be especially helpful. However, not all vitamins are created equally. Chewable, gummy vitamins are often marketed to children but carry risks to your child’s oral health. Here are three ways gummy vitamins affect your child’s oral health.
