Many of us love our caffeine fix first thing in the morning. Whether it's black coffee, a vanilla latte, or your standard iced skinny hazelnut macchiato, extra shot, light ice, and no whip. But — you may have to push pause on your order for a few days after getting your tooth pulled. While it's a very common and simple dental procedure, you'll need to properly care for yourself and follow your dentist's instructions to heal. So, should you drink coffee after a tooth extraction? The answer is — no, you should not. You should help your mouth on its way to a quick recovery so you can quickly get through the drive-thru coffee line.
How To Reduce Risk of Complications
When you hear the term "blood clot," it may not conjure up any pleasant thoughts. But they are necessary and help the healing after tooth extraction. However, according to the Mayo Clinic, when a blood clot doesn't develop before your wound heals as it should, a dry socket occurs. This can lead to considerable pain, discomfort, and a bad taste in your mouth. Drinking coffee increases the risk of a dry socket. Therefore, it's smart to turn off the coffee maker for a few days.
What to Eat and Drink After Tooth Removal
What your body consumers post-procedure influences the effectiveness and length of your recovery. So following your dentist's recommendation is vital. The University of Utah has created instructions for your entire week following the extraction. It features recommendations, tips, and what to expect, like plenty of water and a small meal upon arriving home. Soft and bland foods (eggs, mashed potatoes, cottage cheese, etc.) are always smart. It's also wise to continue to hydrate over the next few days, but not with hot beverages like coffee.
When Is It Safe to Drink Coffee?
Assuming your healing and recovery process is going swimmingly, you'll want to wait at least 5 days to reintroduce coffee back into your diet, says the University of Utah. But slowly and in small amounts. Within 2 weeks, your swelling should be minimal, and your cup of joe intake can return to its normal consumption level. Contact your dentist if you have any questions or if anything feels off.
How to Promote Healing
Diet is one key element in your healing. There are many other things you should do to make your recovery as smooth as possible. You should:
Be smart and stay away from anything that could prevent healing
Avoid tobacco, alcohol, and vigorous rinsing
Don't use a straw for 24 hours
Gently rinse with warm salt water after 24 hours
Apply a cold cloth or an ice bag for swelling
Brush and floss regularly but avoid the extraction area
Take any medications (if prescribed) as directed
So now you know if you should drink coffee after tooth extraction. And you know when you should drink coffee after tooth extraction. The key is allowing and helping your mouth to heal so you can drink coffee again. It just requires a little patience — and then you can return to your regular caramel latte, 3-pump, skim milk, lite water, no foam, extra hot drinking habits.
Is it hard to go through your day without a couple of sodas or glasses of orange juice? If so, you need to be concerned about how these acidic beverages are affecting your mouth.
Consuming a lot of acid can lead to acid erosion of the enamel, and when this erosion occurs at the gum line, your entire mouth may be at risk of damage.
Signs that You’re Consuming Too Much Acid
Acid comes in a variety of forms – carbonated drinks, wine, juices, citrus fruits, and sugar, to name a few. When you consume too many acidic foods, you could begin to start noticing signs of erosion. Some of the earliest signs include:
Discoloration. During the early phases of erosion, your teeth will yellow. This occurs when the enamel layer thins out, exposing the underlying dentin.
Sensitivity. Once that enamel starts to wear away, you could feel pain when you eat hot or cold items. Sensitivity will increase as more enamel wears away, and excess acid can also leave the gums feeling inflamed and sore.
Later signs may include pain, cracks, and decay.
How the Gums Are Affected
As acid erosion wears away at your teeth, decay is often the result. This leads to problems with the gums, including gingivitis and possibly more advanced forms of gum disease. Symptoms of gum disease may include:
Swollen or red gums.
Gums that are tender and bleed easily.
Painful or difficulty chewing.
Bad breath that won’t go away.
Receding gums and teeth that appear to elongate.
Loose teeth and teeth that fall out.
Fortunately, there are ways to keep your mouth safe. Be sure to brush twice daily, floss regularly, and rinse your mouth out with water after you consume acidic foods or drinks. Also, visit your dentist regularly for your periodic cleanings. We’ll help to minimize the damage of acid.
When everything seems to be going well in your mouth, you probably don’t pay much attention to your saliva: if everything is normal, your saliva is helping to break down food, rinsing food off your teeth, protecting your mouth from infection, and aiding the chewing and digestion process. But if your saliva suddenly feels sticky, you might be wondering: why is my saliva so thick? Sticky saliva can make it difficult to swallow, speak, and keep your mouth clean. Here's an overview of thick saliva causes and what you can do at home to get your mouth back to normal.
What Cause Sticky Saliva?
What does it mean when your saliva is thick and sticky? If your saliva is feeling sticky, viscous, or thick, it might be due to one of these four conditions.
Stuffy Nose
A stuffy nose due to allergies or a cold can cause thick saliva. After going to bed with a stuffy nose, you may wake up the next day with a dry, sticky mouth that feels covered in mucus. Nasal congestion often forces you to breathe with your mouth open, which can dry your mouth and make your saliva thicker and stickier than usual.
Cancer Therapy
People undergoing radiation therapy to the head or neck may develop dry mouth and thicker saliva. As the American Cancer Society (ACS) notes, this type of treatment can irritate the saliva glands, causing them to produce less saliva or produce thicker, stickier saliva.
Dehydration
Sticky, thick saliva can also be a sign of dehydration. When you're dehydrated, your body isn't taking in enough fluids to replace those lost. A person can become dehydrated for a few reasons. If you're sick to the point of vomiting, cannot keep food or fluids down, or are experiencing severe diarrhea, you can become dehydrated. Additional causes of dehydration include excessive sweating, which can occur if you exercise on a hot day and don't drink enough fluids, as well as excessive urination, which can happen if you're taking certain medications.
Dry Mouth
Dry mouth is due to not having enough saliva to keep the mouth wet. Sometimes, that can cause a dry or sticky feeling in the mouth, causing the saliva to become thick or stringy. Dry mouth can come from many different conditions, including medications, diseases, and tobacco and alcohol use.
Is Sticky or Thick Saliva a Problem?
Having sticky saliva can be uncomfortable. Your mouth may feel full of mucus, or you may find it difficult to swallow. Along with discomfort, thicker saliva can contribute to other problems in your mouth. When saliva is thin and free-flowing, it's able to do its job of washing bacteria from your teeth, which reduces your risk of gum disease or other infections. But a dry mouth full of thick saliva can put you at a higher risk of tooth decay and other oral diseases—so it's crucial to talk to your doctor about what remedies can address your symptoms.
Home Remedies for Sticky Saliva
If you're dealing with sticky or thick saliva, what remedies are there? First, it's a good idea to speak to your doctor or dental professional to determine the cause, especially if it's an ongoing problem and you're unsure why it's occurring.
In combination with speaking to a medical professional, there are a few things you can try at home to thin your saliva.
Taking small bites, chewing your food well, and sipping liquids with meals to moisten the foods and assist with swallowing.
Frequently drinking cold water.
Suck on ice chips and hard candies, and chew sugarless gum.
Use a cool-mist humidifier to moisten room air.
Avoid alcohol, tobacco, hot, spicy, or acidic foods, chewy candies, tough meats, pretzels and chips, and hard raw fruits or vegetables.
Macmillan Cancer Support recommends leaning over a steaming bowl of hot water with a towel over your head to loosen thick saliva.
The University of Wisconsin Hospitals and Clinics Authority also recommends trying very sour or very sweet foods and beverages such as lemonade or cranberry juice to thin out thick saliva.
If your thick saliva persists despite these at-home remedies, your doctor or dental professional can recommend the next steps to help you feel more comfortable. If your saliva is feeling thicker than normal—don’t worry! There are treatments readily available so that you can get back to having a healthy, moisturized mouth and a confident smile.
Discolored teeth are problematic in terms of smile quality. However, teeth stains can also cause related health problems or at least contribute to such problems. So do not assume your discolored teeth are a problem insofar as they reduce the quality of your smile. Discolored teeth have the potential to impact your health as well.
Health Problems Tied to Discolored Teeth
Inadequate oral hygiene or the failure to visit with the dentist every six months will cause the teeth to yellow in hue. Plaque and tartar will accumulate, causing tooth decay, gum disease and more oral health issues. Discolored teeth often contain cavities. Cavities are tiny holes in teeth that damage their structure. Discolored teeth can also cause gingivitis, which involves bleeding and inflammation of the gums. Periodontitis occurs when bacteria along the teeth generate harmful toxins that damage the gums.
Discolored teeth and halitosis go hand-in-hand. Halitosis, also known as bad breath, occurs when bacteria is permitted to grow within the mouth. This bacteria has the potential to cause everything from teeth staining to dry mouth, sinus infections, bronchitis, liver or kidney issues, acid reflux and other conditions. Poor oral hygiene that causes discolored teeth can also lead to the formation of abscesses. Abscesses that form along the teeth, spur considerable pain and difficulty, especially when chewing.
Discolored Teeth are a Sign of Myriad Health Problems
Aside from the oral health issues noted above, discolored teeth can also indicate a number of additional health problems. In some cases, discolored teeth are a lead-in to another health condition, disease or malady. As an example, discolored teeth are often a sign of celiac disease. This is a disease in which the immune system interacts with gluten.
People who have diabetes, typically have a weak immune system. A weak immune system makes a person that much more susceptible to gum disease. If gum disease does not receive proper treatment, it will cause periodontal disease. Periodontitis makes it challenging to control blood sugar.
The failure to control blood sugar makes it that much more likely for an individual to develop type-2 diabetes. Once the gums weaken, it is easier for bacteria to move into the bloodstream and impact the immune system, causing higher blood sugar levels and other problems.
When your tongue is inflamed and swollen, you might have anemia, which can affect your speech, swallowing, and eating.
If you notice that your tongue is inflamed and swollen, it could be an indication of anemia. This condition can cause problems with speech, swallowing, and eating. It also causes pain.
Anemic tongues can also lose their papillae, which are tiny ridges that house taste buds. If you’re unsure whether you have an anemic tongue, you should visit your dentist.
What is Anemic Tongue?
Anemia tongue (also referred to as glossitis) is one of the symptoms of an iron deficiency. It is characterized by swollen and sore tongue. This condition is caused by a lack of B12, thiamine, riboflavin, B6, B9, and iron.
These nutrients are needed for healthy growth and development, and deficiencies of these essential nutrients may result in anemia tongue.
Understanding Anemia tongue
Fissured tongue
Fissured tongue is a condition that can be caused by anemia and vitamin deficiencies. These nutritional deficiencies, combined with malnutrition, can cause the condition.
Diet may also contribute to the onset of fissured tongue. Fissures in the mouth can be shallow or deep, single or multiple, according to the American Academy of Oral Medicine.
A medical professional can diagnose this condition, and suggest a course of treatment. During routine checkups, dentists can also check the tongue for signs of oral infection.
If any of these symptoms are present, you should see a medical professional immediately. Fissured tongue may occur in one or more of four patterns.
There is a central longitudinal pattern, which is characterized by a single vertical fissure running down the middle of the tongue; a lateral longitudinal pattern, in which fissures extend laterally from the central longitudinal fissure; and a diffuse pattern, in which fissures are evenly distributed over the surface of the tongue.
Larger fissures may be interconnected and resemble several lobules.
Iron Deficiency
Iron deficiency is a condition in which your hemoglobin concentration falls below the normal range. It can lead to a variety of symptoms.
In infants and young children, a deficiency in iron may be due to an irregular or absent intestinal flora, an unfortified formula, or surgery to remove part of the small intestine.
If your tongue becomes pale or swollen, it could be a sign of anemia. If you think you may have anemia, consult a dentist immediately.
Anemia can cause several other symptoms, including a sore tongue, an abnormally smooth tongue, and dry mouth. Luckily, anemia is treatable with diets high in iron, which can help you prevent the symptoms.
Zinc deficiency
A person who has anemia tongue or a zinc deficiency should be evaluated by a doctor. Blood tests can be helpful in ruling out other nutritional deficiency conditions.
A zinc-rich diet can help to treat the condition. Foods that contain zinc include oysters, nuts, beans, and red meat. Dietary supplements may also be necessary in some cases.
In the body, zinc is involved in many processes, including immune functions and cell production. It also plays an important role in growth and reproduction. A zinc deficiency can affect all of these processes, which can result in various physical ailments.
A woman who has a low zinc level during pregnancy may have difficulties conceiving and carrying a child to term. Men who are deficient in zinc may also have problems with reproduction.
Vitamin B12 deficiency
A person with low levels of vitamin B12 in the blood can develop an anemia tongue, a condition that affects the tongue and causes a range of symptoms.
Some of these symptoms include mouth ulcers, which can develop on the tongue or gums. These ulcers usually heal on their own. If they do not heal, you can take over-the-counter pain relievers to alleviate the pain.
A doctor can confirm a vitamin B12 deficiency by analyzing your blood samples. Additional tests may be done to determine the exact cause of your anemia, as well as the appropriate treatment.
Some people with anemia may also develop other symptoms such as numbness in the feet or legs, and can also experience vision problems. Those who suffer from a vitamin B12 deficiency may also suffer from a higher risk of stomach cancer.
What Are the Symptoms of Anemia?
There are various signs and symptoms of anemia, which vary according to the person. These symptoms may include extreme fatigue, pale skin, cold hands and feet, headaches, dizziness, chest pain, rapid heartbeat, and brittle nails.
If you experience any of these symptoms, you should immediately consult a healthcare provider.
Causes of Anemia in Elderly Females
While the specific causes of anemia are difficult to pinpoint, the best way to treat elderly females with anemia is to identify its cause.
Some of the most common causes include a poor diet and certain medications, as well as diseases that affect absorption in the gut.
Another common cause of anemia is hemolytic anemia, which is characterized by the destruction of red blood cells. Johns Hopkins Medicine describes hemolytic anemia as the rapid destruction of red blood cells.
Often, hemolytic anemia is caused by problems with the immune system. It can also result from cancer and certain medications.
Anemia may also be caused by the following factors in aging adults:
Medications that affect the cells in the bone marrow that make red blood cells.
An iron deficiency.
A lack of vitamins necessary for the production of red blood cells.
Low levels of erythropoietin.
Chronic inflammation.
Bone marrow disorders.
What Does Feeling Anemic Feel Like?
When you are anemic, your body does not produce enough red blood cells. This can lead to various symptoms, including a headache. This is usually caused by lack of oxygen reaching the brain.
Also, your heart will pump faster than normal because it is not receiving the correct amount of blood. Additionally, your heart will also beat irregularly and may even have a murmur.
There is also a chance that you will see blood in your urine or stool. Blood in urine will appear red or pale pink, while bloody stool may appear bright red or black and tarry. Make sure you visit your healthcare provider right away if you notice any signs of anemia.
Though you can’t see it happening, your teeth are always on the move. Even after you’ve had braces or other dental work, your teeth will continue to shift ever so slightly throughout your life.
This movement is due to several factors, including:
the changing shape of your jaw as you get older
pressures from eating and talking
your teeth moving back to their natural positions after orthodontic work
other possible health issues, such as gum disease or teeth grinding
There are some steps you can take to help keep your teeth in a healthy alignment. Read on to learn why teeth shift and what you can do to minimize their movement.
Why teeth shift after orthodontic procedures
If you’ve had braces or other orthodontic procedures to correct tooth alignment, your teeth have been moved from their natural positions.
Once your braces are removed or you stop wearing alignment trays such as Invisalign, your teeth may start to shift back to their old positions. This is natural. The movement may be more pronounced in some people, while others may experience very little movement.
People who have a fixed or lingual retainer, which is a retainer permanently bonded to your teeth after orthodontic treatment, are also at risk of some tooth movement.
However, research published in the American Journal of Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics suggests that most of the time, tooth shifting happens if one of the retainer’s bonds breaks or if the retainer wasn’t bonded properly.
Another reason teeth might move after braces is related to the health of your gums and jawbone. If bone loss has occurred as a result of gum disease or another health problem, it’s harder for your teeth to stay anchored in place once your braces come off.
Why teeth shift after tooth removal
If you’ve had a tooth extracted, the surrounding teeth may start to shift to try to fill the space.
Wisdom tooth removal may not cause any major problems. Many people get along fine for the rest of their lives after having their wisdom teeth or other rear molars pulled.
The greater risk is in losing a canine tooth or incisor. The teeth on either side may shift toward each other in the new space left by the extraction.
The best way to avoid this problem is to replace missing teeth with dental implants or a bridge that spans the space of the missing tooth or teeth.
Other reasons teeth shift over time
Your teeth are under a variety of stresses 24 hours a day. Simply talking and pushing your tongue against your teeth to make certain sounds can put pressure on your teeth.
Smiling, sneezing, and coughing cause the muscles of your face and mouth to move, adding more pressure to your teeth.
Those minor stressors may cause very minor changes to tooth alignment, but those changes may be enough to consider braces in adulthood.
Other, more substantial, factors may cause tooth movement over time. These include:
Jawbone growth
As you get older, your jawbone grows forward and becomes narrower. At first this can cause your lower teeth to become more crowded. Over time, the change in your bottom teeth can affect your bite, causing a shift in your upper teeth.
The changes may be so slight that nothing needs to be done. But some people may need tooth extraction and bridgework or implants to correct their bite.
Gum disease
Gum disease, or periodontitis, weakens the gums that help keep teeth in place. Loose or shifting teeth are one of many serious complications of gum disease, according to the American Dental Association.
Teeth grinding
Grinding your teeth may not only wear down your teeth but also cause them to shift over time. This condition, called bruxism, is very common.
In a 2016 surveyTrusted Source of more than 6,000 people, 8.6 percent reported grinding their teeth during sleep. And a 2013 review published in the Journal of Oral and Facial Pain and Headache reported that 22 to 31 percent of adults experience bruxism while awake.
CPAP
Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) therapy involves wearing a mask over your nose (though some CPAP masks cover the mouth too) in order to receive a steady flow of air into your lungs.
CPAP was designed for people who have obstructive sleep apnea. This condition causes the tissue in the back of your throat to relax during sleep, restricting the flow of oxygen into your airways.
A 2018 studyTrusted Source published in the Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine acknowledged that CPAP therapy can cause some tooth movement. The researchers suggest that people using CPAP pay attention to any changes in their bite and work with an orthodontist to prevent or correct any major shifting.
Is there anything you can do to stop or minimize the shifting?
Whether or not you’ve had orthodontic work or a tooth extraction, you can take concrete steps starting today to at least reduce the amount of tooth shifting that goes on in the years ahead.
Removable retainer
Chances are, once you’ve had your braces removed, your orthodontist will fit you for a retainer. You may be advised to wear it at night only or for as many hours a day and night as you can.
One of the most important steps you can take to keep your recently straightened teeth in alignment is to follow your orthodontist’s recommendations.
Permanent retainers
Fixed, or lingual, retainers are generally quite effective in maintaining tooth alignment and should be considered as a treatment once your braces come off.
If you get a fixed retainer, be sure to have it checked regularly by your orthodontist. A problem with a bond to just one tooth could lead to larger problems requiring more orthodontic treatment.
Address teeth grinding
You may not be aware that you grind your teeth, but a good dentist can probably spot the signs by noting the wear patterns on certain teeth.
If you grind your teeth, talk with your dentist about treatment options. Mouth guards worn at night are effective.
Good dental hygiene
As with anything related to dental health, the simplest but most important strategy is to maintain good dental hygiene throughout the year. That means:
brushing at least twice a day
flossing every day
getting regular dental checkups
avoiding behaviors that can harm your dental health, such as smoking
If gum disease is a concern, good dental hygiene may require more frequent dentist appointments and procedures such as teeth scaling and root planing.
Key takeaways
Teeth shift after dental procedures and throughout your life, leading to imperceptible changes or significant movement that may require the attention of a dentist or orthodontist.
Wearing a retainer consistently after having your braces removed is often one way to minimize shifting. The other important step is to maintain good dental hygiene.
If possible, try to visit a dentist regularly so any changes in your bite or smile can be addressed earlier rather than later.
Having poor oral health doesn’t mean just cavities and gum disease. Statistics show that an unhealthy mouth can substantially increase the risk of suffering major health problems, including heart disease, respiratory infections, Alzheimer’s disease and diabetic complications. In fact, seven of the 10 leading causes of death listed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have been linked to bacteria or inflammation in the oral cavity. Periodontal disease has also been associated with premature labor and a low birth-weight baby.
Clearly, these are all good reasons to exercise consistent oral care, yet many people do not for a variety of reasons. It’s not just teeth and gums; your whole body can be at risk if you let your dental health go. But too often adults, and especially parents, have put themselves last, including in regard to their own dental care, which they might see as cosmetic and not an immediate necessity.
As they age and neglect their teeth and gums more, their oral health worsens and it can definitely correlate with overall health issues. We’ve got to get more people learning how to take care of their teeth as they would their bodies. Here's how to get to the root of the self-oral care problem:
Prioritize your oral care. That starts with recognizing behaviors that undermine self-care, or in effect, people putting themselves last. Parents just get caught up in their daily family life. When it isn’t family, it’s work. Self-care takes a back seat to everything else. Sometimes, this self-neglect stems from negative behavior patterns that began in childhood due to how they were raised. Perhaps a parent abandoned them, they were deprived emotionally, or they felt like a failure. Understanding and correcting those behaviors can help make dental care an important part of one’s improved self-image.
Regular brushing and flossing. People with good oral hygiene spend less on health care overall. While brushing and flossing well should be obvious, people would be amazed at how much better their teeth and gums would be if they simply adhered to a daily oral-hygiene regimen. Proper brushing and flossing can turn back the clock on gum disease. Oral hygiene has a direct impact on the mouth’s microbiome, which is the balance of organisms that keep decay at bay. Without good oral hygiene, the mouth is at risk for developing periodontal disease – the leading cause of tooth loss in adults.
Commit to a healthier diet. Excess sugar is one of the primary culprits of plaque, a sticky deposit on the teeth in which bacteria proliferate. Bad bacteria in the mouth feed off sugar and are the primary drivers of oral problems. Without eating healthier foods and having good levels of vitamins and minerals in the body, good bacteria turn to harmful, which leads to tooth decay.
Stick with the program. Dental treatment alone offers no guarantees for the long term. The patient is the key person in the whole process. Successful outcomes rely on the patient to be a member of the care team. That means being open to being educated and following through with the dentist, and also it means what they’re doing outside the dentist office is just as important.
Your teeth are meant to be with you for life. And how you take care of them, and your gums, could go a long way toward dictating how long, and with what kind of quality, you live.
Noticing that your teeth are chipping or fracturing easily isn’t really something you find pleasant!!
You will immediately be flooded with a large number of questions.
Some examples are:
Why are my teeth getting so brittle? Can brittle teeth be saved? If yes, then how to protect brittle teeth? And so on…
Here, finding the source of your fragile teeth and taking treatment accordingly is critical. In the meantime, you can at least begin to properly care for your teeth and retain your gorgeous smile.
How? Let’s find out!
What Causes Brittle Teeth?
Did you know that your tooth’s enamel is significantly tougher than your bones? Still, it can degrade due to a variety of habits and conditions, weakening the tooth and causing brittleness.
Some of the factors that cause teeth brittleness are mentioned below.
The aging process: As people become older, the dentin, the layer beneath the enamel, becomes more fragile, weakening the entire tooth.
Genetics: A hereditary predisposition to weaker dentin and tooth enamel can lead to discolored, weak teeth that are more susceptible to fracture and damage.
Eating diets high in sugary and acidic foods, as well as a lack of key vitamins and minerals, can lead to weak and brittle teeth.
Brushing your teeth too forcefully might weaken your teeth by removing the enamel.
Poor oral care: Neglecting to care for your teeth can lead to decay, which can lead to tooth pulp damage and brittle teeth if not treated.
Medical conditions: for example, osteoporosis, eating disorders, and GERD (gastroesophageal reflux disease) can all lead to weak, brittle teeth.
Medications: Medications that restrict the body’s capacity to absorb calcium, as well as those that interfere with saliva production, can cause fragile, brittle teeth.
Periodontitis: Dr. Zargham Ayub, a qualified Cosmetic Dentist with four years of expertise in the field, says inflammation and infection of the gums can weaken and lead to tooth loss by attacking the bone and tissues that support the teeth.
Teeth Grinding: Grinding or clenching your teeth repeatedly can wear down your tooth enamel, leaving you with weak, brittle teeth.
Dehydration: Brittle teeth can also result if your body does not create enough healthy saliva to help clean out your mouth and neutralize acids owing to dehydration.
How to Strengthen/Protect Brittle Teeth?
Unfortunately, there isn’t much you can do once your enamel has been weakened. Because your teeth lack regenerating cells, although your bones do.
Now you must be thinking, ‘How to protect brittle teeth?’ Well, you can avoid further erosion. For that, keep your teeth healthy and robust in the first place.
How?
Here are a few techniques that can help you strengthen your teeth, protect your enamel, and avoid tooth decay and cavities in the future.
1- Eat Minerals Rich Foods
Teeth are porous, and as time passes, they absorb or lose essential minerals. Ensure that your teeth are receiving the minerals they require. To protect teeth’ brittleness, you’ll need to eat a diet rich in minerals to keep them healthy and robust, such as:
Eggs
Leafy dark greens
Mushrooms
Cheese
2- Reduce Refined Sugar Consumption
Sugar is the primary food source for the bacteria that cause tooth decay in your mouth. Reducing the number of harmful germs in your mouth by eliminating sugar from your diet is a simple and effective strategy to protect your dental health.
3- Avoid Snacking on Carbs
Snacking on carbs throughout the day provides a steady supply of food for the bacteria in your mouth. Keeping these bacteria well-fed will cause them to create more acid, damaging your tooth enamel. Therefore, avoid snacking to protect and strengthen your enamel.
If you must snack during the day, make sure to consume something low in carbohydrates or rinse your mouth with water afterward.
4- Practice Oil Pulling
Swishing a high-quality edible oil, such as coconut oil, in your mouth for around 20 minutes is known as oil pulling. This procedure will keep your teeth clean and remove any plaque build-up.
When bacteria remain on your teeth, explained by experts from the best hospitals near you, the acid created corrodes the surface enamel, exposing the sensitive dentin layer beneath. As a result, sensitivity and eventually pain occurs.
Maintaining a regular oil-pulling routine might help to keep your teeth strong. Because it removes bacteria from your mouth and prevents it from adhering to your teeth.
5- Avoid Over Brushing
Brushing too quickly and hard might wear down your enamel. Brush your gums with the right brushing techniques. They, in short, involve brushing at a 45-degree angle with a soft bristle brush. Then move your brush back and forth with light strokes roughly the length of a tooth.
IMPORTANT NOTE: Wait up to an hour before brushing your teeth, after consuming sweets or citrus fruits. Because acidic foods soften enamel, making it more vulnerable to harm.
6- Brush Your Tongue
Brushing your tongue is another fantastic approach to keep it clean and prevent bacteria in your mouth. You’ll also have fresher breath and the impression that your entire mouth is cleaner.
7- Visit Your Dentist Regularly
Seeing your dentist every six months will also help you maintain the healthiest teeth and gums possible. Your dentist will be able to notice any areas that need to be improved as well as any oral problems early on.
In addition, your dentist can assist you in removing plaque and tartar. These are items that teeth brushing won’t be able to eliminate on its own. As far as teeth brittleness is concerned, the dentist can suggest several treatments.
Bad breath, technically referred to as halitosis, is an awkward issue to broach. But don’t worry. Often, it’s simple oral hygiene as the culprit. But even with proper brushing, flossing, and rinsing, sometimes your bad breath stems from a different origin.
What Causes Bad Breath From Lungs
It’s not uncommon for respiratory conditions to create bad breath from your lungs. Identifying those conditions is crucial to help and treat your bad breath. Those respiratory conditions break into two categories.
Infections: Conditions like bronchitis, sinusitis, or pneumonia are common short-term infections that can lead to foul breath. When children have bad breath, it’s a good sign, they may be developing one of these short-term infections. Fortunately, recovering from these respiratory conditions also means your bad breath has subsided as well.
Chronic Conditions: Some long-term or chronic conditions are often the guilty parties. Three diseases frequently yield bad breath.
Cystic fibrosis patients can experience bad breath as a symptom. Thick mucus in the lungs causes infections, and post-nasal drip leads to difficulty breathing and a foul odor.
Asthma sufferers experience bad breath as many breathe with their mouth, causing dry mouth. Bacteria that cause bad breath love dry mouth, so any condition that causes dry mouth means you are also susceptible to bad breath. Plus, medicated inhalers for asthma can also cause dry mouth leading to bad breath.
Lung cancer has a distinct bad breath odor of its own, consisting of a particular combination of gases exhaled that identify the cancer. The National Center for Biotechnology offers additional information on this phenomenon.
How to Treat Bad Breath From Lungs
Sinus infections, allergies, or post-nasal drips can cause the mucus in your mouth to resemble the smell of mothballs. Fortunately, there are some solutions:
Rinse your sinuses with warm water to clear out the mucus from the area
Take allergy medication prescribed by your physician
Take an antibiotic prescribed by your physician
There are some good treatment solutions for chronic conditions as well.
Cystic fibrosis: Try nasal irrigation, antibiotics, or nasal steroids — as recommended by your physician
Asthma: Stay hydrated to avoid dry mouth
Lung cancer: See your oncologist for specific recommendations
When to Address Concerns with Your Dentist
Don’t stress; be straightforward with your dentist when discussing your bad breath. They’re experienced, professional, and can provide a level of comfort for you on the topic. They’ll also tell you if oral hygiene is responsible or if further medical advice is needed to help turn your bad breath into a good experience.
If you have a family history of gum disease, then you are more likely to have problems with your gums. According to the American Dental Association, genetics is a risk factor for developing gum disease. This disease usually starts out as gingivitis, which is characterized by swollen, tender gums that may bleed during brushing. If left untreated, it can develop into periodontitis and eventually lead to tooth loss. Unlike other controllable risk factors such as smoking or poor oral hygiene, your genetic makeup is out of your control. What can you do for your teeth and gums to help prevent this disease, even if it runs in your family?
Daily Care at Home
There is a lot that you can do to prevent gum disease. Good oral care habits are key to fighting plaque, the sticky substance that builds up on the surface of teeth and irritates the gums. Brush in the morning and at night to cut down on harmful bacteria and plaque. Spend a full two minutes toothbrushing, focusing on the gumline, those hard-to-reach back teeth, and your tongue.
Daily flossing is also essential to help remove substances that can get stuck in between teeth. Eat a balanced diet to make sure your teeth and gums are getting the nutrients that they need to thrive.
What Your Dentist Can Do
See your dentist every six months for regular checkups and professional cleanings. Your dentist can look for signs of gingivitis as well as periodontitis. Let him know if you have a family history of gum disease.
Knowing whether or not gum disease runs in your family will give you more control over your oral health. Not only is it the leading cause of tooth loss, but it also may be connected with other serious health issues, such as cardiovascular disease.
Ask your family members about their experiences with gum health. Have they ever been diagnosed with periodontal disease or noticed signs of gingivitis? Take excellent care of your teeth and always be aware of your own oral health.
