Flossing Your Teeth

While it is important to brush your teeth at least twice a day, brushing alone is not enough to clean the surfaces between the teeth. The only way to thoroughly clean these areas is by flossing at least once a day, before you go to bed. However, it is recommended to floss after every meal if possible.

First cut a piece of dental floss, about 2 feet long. Then wrap both ends around your middle fingers. Gently glide the floss in between all your teeth, making sure you are not cutting your gums. As you floss, “hug” each side of the tooth and move the floss up and down and back and forth. Then repeat this on the opposite side of the adjacent tooth.

Bad Breath

There are a few different causes of bad breath. Ranging from stomach problems to diets and teeth problems, most of the causes can be found in the mouth. They are:

1. Tongue (when bacteria grows in between the papilla)
2. Teeth cavities (especially when food particles get stuck in them)
3. Gum diseases
4. Extraction sites during healing
5. Dentures when not cleaned properly
6. Alcohol and tobacco

If you or someone you know is concerned about bad breath, the first step is a dental check up. Your dentist will be able to confirm or rule out the source of bad breath.

When the cause is found, treatment will be determined and explained by your dentist. If the source of the bad breath is your mouth, there is little chance that mouth washes or mints can treat the problem. They usually mask the problem for a short period of time, and can sometimes exacerbate the situation (mouthwashes that contain alcohol cause dry mouth and usually make the bad breath worse).

These are a few other, non-dental reasons that cause bad breath:

1. Sore throat
2. Tonsillitis
3. Some food
4. Infection of air passages

Following a good oral hygiene routine and receiving regular dental check ups are the best ways to prevent bad breath.