Posts Tagged ‘Bacteria’
Bad breath, brushing teeth and tongue
Secrets of a fresh breath.
Few are those who have not suffered at one time or another, from bad breath. Some rules of hygiene can help reduce these annoyances.
Bad breath, otherwise known as halitosis, is not a mysterious phenomenon. We know precisely its immediate cause: it is due to the presence of sulfur compounds including hydrogen sulfide and methyl mercantile, which give the breath a smell of rotten eggs. A device even exists to quantify the presence of these compounds, altimeter which there is little evidence, however, useful in practice.
First charge: bacteria.
Nine times out of ten, causing bad breath is mouth. It is believed that bacteria accumulate in the furrows dug by the papillae on the posterior part of the language. It is these bacteria that produce extremely volatile sulfur compounds that escape into the exhaled air. The presence of these bacteria also explains the stench morning. Saliva is less abundant during the night, they tend to accumulate. The mere fact of getting up, drinking or taking his breakfast is usually enough to eliminate the smell and they are responsible. Read the rest of this entry »
Posted in Dental Care, Halitosis | 
Tags: Bacteria, Bad breath, Dentist, Fresh breath, Gums, Hygiene, Mouth, Mouthwash, Rules of hygiene, Treatment | 
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Problems with dry mouth
Dry mouth, or xerostomia, is a state where there is a lack of saliva in the mouth. It is a condition that has multiple causes, and it is sometimes possible to treat it, or at least make the situation more comfortable. Saliva is important to keep the mouth moist and clean teeth. It neutralizes the acids produced by plaque and gets rid of dead cells that accumulate on the gums, cheeks and tongue. Saliva also prevents infection by reducing the number of bacteria and fungi in the mouth. And nutrition, saliva helps digest food by making them soft.
There are some problems that may arise from xerostomia:
1. The risk of gum disease increases when the mouth is dry;
2. The risk for cavities also increases because the saliva limit the growth of bacteria that is part of a clean food debris and plaque;
3. Saliva enhances the ability to drip and swallowing food and in addition, the enzymes in saliva help digest food; xerostomia compromises so food because it reduces the ability to appreciate and digest food ;
4. Have a dry mouth can also make it difficult to wear dentures (dentures and partials) because contact with the gums is painful when they are dry.