Halitosis is the general term used to describe bad breath, regardless of the origin of the abnormal smell (oral or other). Today's society is very demanding with image and it requires that your look is as pleasant as possible, not just in friendship relations but also in social and work relationships. Bad breath or halitosis might ruin social communication of any kind. We speak about oral halitosis if the abnormal smell substances come from oral sources, and this is the most frequent in healthy individuals (approximately 90% of the cases). Abnormal smell can also emanate from non-oral sources, such as   respiratory tract or digestive tract.

What is the reason of oral Halitosis?

Most of the halitosis have their origin in local oral factors, because of the emission of Volatile Sulphur Compounds (VSC), responsible of bad breath. Other factors include the saliva flow, the impact of food debris between teeth and the diet. Saliva, in healthy condition, has a pleasant smell; however, alkaline changes in its pH and reduction in oxygen concentration produce its decaying and the emission of volatile sulphur compounds responsible for the bad breath. 

The same happens during sleeping time, when the salivary flow is minimal. This favours the stagnation and the start up of the putrefaction mechanisms.

It is important to follow a proper daily oral hygiene:

• Brush your teeth with manual or electric tooth brush in the morning, right after every meal and before going to bed.
• Use the most appropriate tooth paste and the mouth wash to complete your hygiene.
• . Don't forget to clean the interproximal spaces with dental floss or ribbon (closed spaces) or interproximal brushes (open spaces) .

Bad breath is a common problema, but the lack of information and the psychological barrier around this disorder make it difficult for the patient to look for solutions actively. Do not stay inactive. Not looking for a solution might be even more embarrassing as you can bother others and this can negatively affect your interpersonal relations. Taking good care of your body includes caring about your mouth too.

  Dr. Claudio A. Sorrentino

  www.dentalpalermo.com.ar

Brushing the teeth

Brushing is indeed the most important aspect of oral hygiene. One should religiously follow the golden rule of brushing the teeth twice a day. Though, the surprising fact is that not much people are aware of the proper brushing technique. 

So what exactly is the right way of brushing, learn it here:

Proper brushing takes just two minutes to finish the task but most of the people do not provide even that much of time to their brushing. So if you want to develop a habit of brushing at least two minutes a day, it is best to start off using a stopwatch to keep track of time. Just use short, gentle strokes with special attention to the gum line. Make sure you thoroughly clean each of the section in the denture to have a shiny white smile.

Take a look at the right brushing technique here:

 

As per most of the dental experts, soft-bristled brushes are the 'best' at removing the debris and plaque from the teeth. In fact, small headed brushes are also a good option as they can easily reach the deep inside areas of denture and mouth. Now-a-days, powered toothbrushes are also available in the market that perform a great job of cleaning the teeth specially for those who are unable to brush properly due to some physical issues.

A befitting toothpaste as per your dental requirements is an essential. Today there is a wide variety of toothpastes available in the market to serve varied dental requirements. For example, one can easily find specialized toothpastes for cavities, gingivitis, tartar, stained teeth and sensitivity. Though, we would suggest to consult your dentist first, before opting for any of such toothpastes.

A toothbrush needs to be replaced when it starts showing to wear. Though, in case you are not able to judge when to replace the brush, simply change it every three month. Be sure you change the brush after you have had cold as the bristles tend to attract germs that can lead to further reinfection.

-First brush the outer surfaces of the upper teeth, then move down to the lower teeth.
-Next, brush the inner surfaces of the upper teeth, then move down to lower teeth.
-Brush clean the chewing surfaces.
-Make sure you brush your tongue nicely to have a fresher breath

  Dr. Claudio A. Sorrentino

  www.dentalpalermo.com.ar

Denture adhesion and cleaning

Removable dentures are meant to replace absent teeth and to support bone structures that degenerate over time once natural teeth are lost or damaged. This implies that through the use of oral appliances that can and should be removable (making them easier to clean), people can chew better, look better and talk more normally, greatly improving their quality of life.

Every person has different needs and different oral characteristics, meaning that every denture is unique. Being that these appliances are worn for long periods of time, patients must be taught how to clean and take care of them daily, to avoid major consequences.

Denture placement is a decision that is made exclusively by the specialist and the patient. If the decision is for the patient to wear a complete denture, it should adapt perfectly to the tissues for perfect occlusion; otherwise, chewing could make the denture move and detach from the gums, which is a primary problem that arises with this type of prostheses.

Adaptation and getting used to

 
Removable dentures are not mere mechanical instruments, but rather, they transmit force to the teeth, gums and bone, which is why they require a special adaptation period, which may be longer or shorter depending on the person and the denture. In the end, the patient is likely to forget s/he is wearing dentures at all, but patience is needed, and during this adaptation period, frequent visits to the dentist are required in order for the proper adjustments or corrections to be made.

Recommendations:

Cleaning and taking care of your denture

• Brush your denture after every meal. When using Fittydent you do not need to remove dentures from your mouth to brush them.
• Dentures must be taken out to be cleaned, at least once per day to avoid calculus build-up and to prevent stains from forming. Then, thoroughly rinse with water. It is very important to clean the metal parts, particularly those that are in direct contact with the denture. In order to do so, soak dentures in the cleansing solution to obtain a deeper cleaning effect (internal or concave side of the clasps).
• It is advisable to take out dentures while sleeping, so that tissues can take a break for some hours every day from the pressure that they might receive.

  Dr. Claudio A. Sorrentino

  www.dentalpalermo.com.ar