Dear Patient - Are You Missing A Critical Step In Your Daily Routine?

Recent research has shown that most Americans are not doing a simple activity that will keep their smiles looking beautiful, reduce cavities, prevent tooth loss and as many dentists and physicians now believe – significantly reduce the chance of heart disease and strokes.

Even though most of our patients swear they do this activity, according to The American Dental Association, more than 90% of Americans don’t. That simple activity? You guessed it – it’s flossing your teeth. And a quick and strenuous attempt to floss right before your dental visit doesn’t fool us! But please read on, because there is hope for everyone!!

Flossing is the best way to clean bacteria and debris from the spaces in between your teeth and underneath your gums. Left in place, that harmful film can cause cavities and gum disease, eating away at the bone that actually holds your teeth in place and causing your teeth to loosen and eventually be lost. Scarier yet – recent research has linked gum disease to heart disease and strokes. So don’t throw in the towel (or floss!) yet.

Any activity requires practice. You couldn’t drive without lessons and a few thousand miles on the road. You couldn’t type the first time you sat down at a keyboard. And though flossing is much easier than either of those activities, many people try it a few times and then frustratingly proclaim “I can’t floss!” Well with a little patience and practice you can! And some of the better flosses on the market (such as “Glide”) make it much easier than it was in the past.

At Fairlington Dental we really want you to keep your teeth the rest of your life and be as healthy as you possibly can. That definitely involves flossing every single day – and we know you can do it! Feel free to give us a call at 703-671-1001 and we will arrange for one of our fantastic hygienists to give you a flossing lesson or just ask during one of your regular cleaning appointments. There is nothing to be embarrassed about, and your beautiful smile can last a lifetime!

For additional information, visit our website at http://www.fairlingtondental.com/

Your Best Friends Won’t Tell You (or Ewwww…..That Smell!!)

A common question we get in our dental office is –

“What causes bad breath?”

Many times the complaint is not from the offender but from a long suffering spouse or family member. There are many causes of bad breath (which we call “halitosis”) – some serious and some not. And while many people have decided to just hold their nose and live with it, the good news is diagnosing and treating bad breath is something that can easily be done.

Here is a list, in no particular order, of the reasons people may be slowly backing up during conversations:

• Foods Containing Pungent Oils

Yes – garlic and onions are very healthy, but they also contain oils which may cause an unhealthy reaction to those around you. These odors come from the lungs, last up to 72 hours and can be tough to cover up. Mints, gum and rinses are your best bet – or make sure everyone around you has had the same yummy food as well!

• Routine Illnesses

Colds, sore throats, coughs and sinus infections all cause yucky smelling mucus (or snot, depending on your age), to get trapped in our mouths, throats and noses, which causes foul breath until the illness is taken care of. Of course, if you have one of these highly contagious problems you shouldn’t be that close to someone anyway! If a sinus infection, sore throat, cough or cold doesn’t clear up in a few days to a week, you should probably see your physician to make sure things aren’t of a serious nature.

• Dry Mouth

A dry mouth lets dead cells accumulate on your gums, tongue and cheeks. And while morning breath is a perfectly normal phenomenon due to lowered salivary activity at night – it shouldn’t last all day. Those who snore, mouth-breath, take certain medications, or even have lasted into middle age are prone to a dry mouth.

• Smoking

Smoking dries out your mouth (see above) and also, tobacco just plain stinks. If lung cancer and heart disease aren’t reason enough to give up the ciggies, maybe a constant foul mouth will help you make that life-saving decision.

• Chronic Diseases or Conditions

Many serious diseases such as lung infections, kidney failure, diabetes, cancer, GERD, anorexia, bulimia and others can cause very specific types of halitosis. The good news is that these are on the rare side, but if anything along these lines is suspected, a referral to the appropriate practitioner is in order.

• Poor Dental Hygiene and Gum Disease

Ahhh… this is our favorite! Not because we like people to have poor dental hygiene and gum disease, but because these are very common causes of bad breath and we can usually treat them quite easily. But please don’t wait too long! Gum disease, which usually starts with poor brushing and flossing habits as well as a lack of routine dental visits, can do much more than make your mouth stinky.

In just a short period of time, gum disease can advance and eat away at the gums and bone which hold your teeth in place. The result? Loose, unstable teeth which will eventually be lost if not treated. Catching gum disease early is great as treatment is typically conservative. Wait too long and it gets much more difficult and extensive.

Bad breath is not normal! Seeing your dentist and dental hygienist on a routine basis is your best bet for making sure your teeth and gums stay healthy, your smile stays bright, and your breath doesn’t cause others to run in the opposite direction.

If you have any questions about this or any other topic concerning you or someone you care about, please feel free to visit our website @ http://www.fairlingtondental.com/ or simply give us a call at 703-671-1001. Dr. Michael Rogers and his fantastic team are here to help you!