Your Local Alexandria Dentist Can Prevent Bad Breath

If you struggle with bad breath a trip to the dentist can help.  This is a common issue that many people deal with.  Unfortunately when bad breath becomes excessive it can ruin a conversation, cause people to become embarrassed, and present an overall impression of bad health.  That impression may not be so far from the truth.  Bad breath can be a sign of an infection, oral or otherwise. 

Statistically 80 percent of bad breath comes from something inside of the mouth. The other 20 percent is likely caused by a respiratory infection.  If you are not feeling well and have constant bad breath you should call your physician to see if you need to be taking medication.  A lingering sinus infection is one of the health issues that can lead to bad breath and it can easily be treated with a course of antibiotics. 

If you are otherwise in good health, your bad breath is caused by an oral health or hygiene issue.  This is something your dentist can directly help you with.  At Old Town Dentistry we recommend that patients have their teeth cleaned at least twice a year.  This allows our dental hygienist to remove lingering bacteria and plaque from on and in between teeth as well as along the gum line.  Bacteria and plaque can create a foul smelling odor, especially when trapped in between teeth.  This is partly why flossing is so important removing bacteria and plaque which will greatly reduce bad breath.  

After your teeth cleaning our dentist will inspect your teeth and gums to determine if there are any infections or tooth decay – both can create bad breath.  These are two major oral health issues that may naturally produce a bad smell because they are a sign of something being infected inside of your mouth.  Just like an infection in the rest of your body can create an odor, this can as well. Treating it will help you to feel better along with reducing these symptoms. 

In addition to regular visits to the dentist there are several things you can do to improve your breath at home including:

• Drinking more water.   Saliva is the body’s natural way of washing away bacteria and food particles.  While it doesn’t work 100 percent of the time, it does make a major impact.  So much so that people with little saliva are diagnosed with a condition called dry mouth.  This creates bad breath and puts people at risk for cavities.  You can prevent it by drinking plenty of water. 
• Brushing after meals.  Carry a soft toothbrush with you and use it after eating.  This will remove bacteria, food particles, and any lingering smells created after eating. Even a quick brush will work wonders and make sure to brush your tongue since smells can become trapped there. 
• Flossing every day.  If you want good breath, flossing every day is not negotiable.  To find out if you are flossing enough, use this simple test.  Wash your hands and floss your teeth.  If your fingers stink afterwards it has probably been too long since you flossed.

Implementing a good oral hygiene routine at home and visiting the dentist twice a year will help you decrease your bad breath.  To learn more schedule an appointment with Old Town Dentistry today.

Teeth Whitening for Your Special Day

Old Town Dentistry provides teeth whitening for your special day or big event.  If you are getting married, going on the trip of a lifetime, graduating, or celebrating a major event, do so with a smile you can be proud of.  Many people are embarrassed about their smile and a common complaint is yellow or stained teeth.  Over time it is easy for teeth to become stained, especially for smokers, coffee, tea, and wine drinkers.  Brushing alone cannot remove stains or restore teeth to their original appearance.  Fortunately, we offer a solution that does. 

There are several ways to whiten your teeth.  Using special toothpaste or buying over the counter strips, are a readily available option.  The challenge with these methods is that they do not make a large difference.  They can typically only whiten teeth by up to two shades and are best as a maintenance step in between professional treatments. 

If you are looking for dramatic results you will need professional teeth whitening.  Old Town Dentistry provides a variety of cosmetic dentistry solutions and this is one of the most popular.  Patients who want to transform their smile should start with this simple procedure because it makes such a large impact in a short amount of time.  We even provide a way for people to whiten their teeth at their own convenience. We can take a mold of a patient’s mouth and create custom whitening trays in our office.  These trays fit perfectly and surround your upper and bottom teeth.  When you are at home, simply insert the professional grade whitening gel into the trays and secure them into place.  They should be worn for a couple of hours for ten days. Afterwards, you will have stunning white teeth. 

At Old Town Dentistry, we understand that our patients are busy. With appointments to run to, meetings to keep, family life, and more, it can be difficult to head to the dentist to whiten your teeth.  By offering an at-home solution we provide a way for our patients to love their smile regardless of where in the world they find themselves.  Simply pack your teeth whitening trays and go. 

For most people a simple teeth whitening treatment will produce the results that they need to feel confident enough to smile for pictures.  This will make your special day more memorable since your teeth will be beautiful in person and in photos.  If after whitening your teeth you still aren’t satisfied with your smile, schedule an appointment to discuss cosmetic procedures. There are several ways that we can create a stunning smile.  For example, dental veneers can be placed on top of your existing teeth to cover dark stains, close gaps, make teeth even, and even straighten them.  Teeth that are severely crooked or need to be replaced may benefit from dental implants.  Implants are a permanent solution for replacing teeth that look perfectly natural and beautiful.  Those who want to straighten all of their teeth should try Invisalign.  These are only a few of the dental procedures we perform on a daily basis.  To learn more or to purchase your custom teeth whitening trays, schedule an appointment with Old Town Dentistry today.