Dental Hygiene- Is Your Mouth Getting Proper Care?

I am finally back after a few very busy weeks! Terribly sorry for the delay.

Today I realized that with drainage caused by my inevitable seasonal allergies I had very unpleasant smelling breath. I am in the habit of brushing my teeth in the morning and at night, as well as using mouthwash. Since this wasn't working I decided to look up some ways to help prevent halitosis(bad breath) which is caused by a build up of germs and bacteria.

This is what I found:

• Gargle with warm(as warm as you can handle, the warmer the better) salt water
• Hydrogen Peroxide rinse does wonders for killing germ. Just dilute the hydrogen peroxide you get from the store to a half and half ratio and swish around your mouth. The same as with mouth wash-don't swallow.
• Unwanted germs and bacteria live on your toothbrush, so its important to clean it by more than just rinsing with water. You can clean it BEFORE you use it by dunking it in a Dixie cup of your handy dandy hydrogen peroxide, then rinse with water.

A few everyday tips for a clean mouth:

• Brush your teeth thoroughly TWICE a day
• Make flossing part of your DAILY routine as bacteria and food particles get stuck between your teeth even if you cant feel it.
• Don't forget to brush your Tongue
• Replace your toothbrush every 3-4 MONTHS

For more information, you can check out the American Dental Association for their suggestions on toothpaste and other products.

Brush your teeth, and floss for a beautiful smile. If your breath needs to be spiced up, try some mouthwash or gargling with salt water to keep unwanted bacteria at bay.

Smiles,

Eliza