Oral Health Care Tips

Bad Breath (Halitosis)

If you don't brush and floss daily, particles of food remain in the mouth, collecting bacteria, which can cause bad breath. Maintaining good oral hygiene, eliminating gum disease, and scheduling regular professional cleanings are essential to reducing babreath.

Object Caught Between Your Teeth?

Some people have a nervous habit of chewing on a pencil or some other object to relieve tension. But, it's hard on your teeth and could be dangerous. Or maybe you've accidentally bitten down on a foreign object in your food.
Whatever the reason, you suddently find an object caught between your teeth. What do you do now? How do you handle it?

The first thing is not to panic. Try to remove the object with floss. Guide the floss carefully to avoid cutting your gums. If its really stuck and just won't come out, don't try to remove it with an instrument that's sharp or pointed. You could mahe situation worse.

Instead, see your dentist as soon as you can. The dentist is trained and experienced to handle emergencies such as this.

ADA Stresses Good Oral Health During Pregnancy

May 1, 2008. Research suggests there may be an association between maternal gum disease and pre-term birth and low birth weight babies. A recent study says that pregnant women with gum disease may be more likely to develop gestational diabetes.

In addition to regular dental visits, eating a well-balanced diet, maintaining daily oral hygiene by brushing teeth twice a day with fluoride toothpaste and cleaning between teeth at least once a day with floss or an interdental cleaner.

Pregnancy often causes food cravings, and constant snacking on sugary food and beverages can lead to a buildup of dental plaque. The rising hormone levels that accompany pregnancy can irritate gums already battling plaque buildup.

Good oral health habits are not only valuable during pregnancy, but after pregnancy as well because cavity-causing bacteria can be passed from mother to child through contact such as sharing utensils or kissing.

For more information, visit: http:// www.ada.org/public/topics/pregnancy_faq.asp and ttp://www.ada.org/prof/resources/ topics/oralsystemic.asp#pregnancy
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