1. Provide a good diet throughout childhood

2. Brush children’s teeth until they’re mature enough to do a thorough job by themselves (usually by 6 or 7 years old)

3. Supervise twice-daily brushing and flossing thereafter

4. Never put babies or toddlers to bed accompanied by a bottle of milk (which contains the natural sugar lactose), juice, or other sweet drink

5. Never dip pacifiers in honey or syrup

Regular dental exams not only help decrease your risk of oral diseases, such as cavities and gum (periodontal) disease, but may also help to diagnose other, sometimes life-threatening, medical conditions. Your dentist is an important part of your healthcare team. Dentists are able to assess your overall oral health and may recognize symptoms of serious diseases, including diabetes and cancer, which often manifest as signs and symptoms inside your mouth. There are many diseases with oral manifestations that, in many cases, may first present in the mouth

Diabetes

More than 25 million people in the United States suffer from diabetes. Diabetes is associated with high levels of blood sugar and is known to lower resistance to infection and increase the chance of the following:

• Gum disease, including gums that

bleed easily or are tender and swollen

• Tooth decay

• Taste impairment

• Inflammatory skin disease

• Persistent bad breath

• Changes in teeth position

Additionally, patients with diabetes

(especially those with dentures) are more

likely to experience oral fungal infections,

including thrush and oral candidacies.

Oral Cancer

During your regularly scheduled dental check up, your dentist will also search for signs of oral cancer. Oral indicators of cancer include:

• Sores that bleed easily or do not heal

• Crusted, rough areas of skin • Lumps or thick hard spots

• Red, brown, or white patches

• Changes in the lymph nodes or other

tissues around the mouth and neck

• Tenderness or pain, numbness inside

the mouth

• Changes in the way the teeth fit together

While dentists check all patients for

these signs and symptoms, patients with

a history of smoking, using smokeless

tobacco, or drinking heavily are at an

increased risk for developing oral cancer.

Eating Disorders

Eating disorders, including anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa, physically damage both your oral and overall health. These disorders, which include patterns of insufficient or excessive food intake, can rob the body of much needed vitamins and minerals. These vitamin and mineral deficiencies can present themselves orally. Without proper nutrition, the gums can lose their healthy pink color and become increasingly soft and tender, bleeding easily. Additionally, disorders that involve excessive vomiting, such as bulimia, can cause discoloration and erosion of the teeth through constant contact withstomach acid. Those with eating disorders may also experience:

• Swollen salivary glands

• Dry mouth

• Thin, sensitive teeth

• Loss of tooth enamel

Alcohol Use Disorders

Alcohol use disorders affect more than 17 million adults in the United States alone. In addition to causing irreparable social and medical problems, alcohol use disorders can severely impact your oral health. Dentists treating patients with alcohol abuse problems may observe the following signs and symptoms:

• Tooth decay

• Tooth erosion

• Moderate to severe gingivitis (gum

disease)

• Gum irregularities

• Poor dental hygiene

Be proactive about your oral health

Diseases that negatively impact your general health can also damage your teeth, gums, and mouth. Regularly scheduled dental exams allow dentists to detect or monitor these diseases. Patients should inform their dentists about all medical conditions they have or medicines they are taking, which may affect their oral health. Remember, maintaining a healthy body includes taking care of your oral health.

*AGD 2012

Whether you call it bad breath or halitosis, it’s an unpleasant condition that’s cause for embarrassment. Some people with bad breath aren’t even aware there’s a problem. If you’re concerned about bad breath, see your dentist. He or she can help identify the cause and, if it’s due to an oral condition, develop a treatment plan to help eliminate it.

What you eat affects the air you exhale. Certain foods, such as garlic and onions, contribute to objectionable breath odor. Once the food is absorbed into the bloodstream, it is transferred to the lungs, where it is expelled. Brushing, flossing and mouthwash will only mask the odor temporarily. Odors continue until the body eliminates the food. Dieters may develop unpleasant breath from infrequent eating.

If you don't brush and floss daily, particles of food remain in the mouth, collecting bacteria, which can cause bad breath. Food that collects between the teeth, on the tongue and around the gums can rot, leaving an unpleasant odor.

Bad breath can also be caused by dry mouth (xerostomia), which occurs when the flow of saliva decreases. Saliva is necessary to cleanse the mouth and remove particles that may cause odor. Dry mouth may be caused by various medications, salivary gland problems or continuously breathing through the mouth. If you suffer from dry mouth, your dentist may prescribe anartificial saliva, or suggest using sugarless candy and increasing your fluid intake.

Tobacco products cause bad breath. If you use tobacco, ask your dentist for tips on kicking the habit.

Bad breath may be the sign of a medical disorder, such as a local infection in the respiratory tract, chronic sinusitis, postnasal drip, chronic bronchitis, diabetes, gastrointestinal disturbance, liver or kidney ailment. If your dentist determines that your mouth is healthy, you may be referred to your family doctor or a specialist to determine the cause of bad breath.

Maintaining good oral health is essential to reducing bad breath. Schedule regular dental visits for a professional cleaning and checkup. If you think you have constant bad breath, keep a log of the foods you eat and make a list of medications you take. Some medications may play a role in creating mouth odors. Let your dentist know if you've had any surgery or illness since your last appointment.

Brush twice a day with fluoride toothpaste to remove food debris and plaque. Brush your tongue, too. Once a day, use floss or an interdental cleaner to clean between teeth.

Mouthwashes are generally cosmetic and do not have a long-lasting effect on bad breath. If you must constantly use a breath freshener to hide unpleasant mouth odor, see your dentist. If you need extra help in controlling plaque, your dentist may recommend using a special antimicrobial mouth rinse. A fluoride mouth rinse, used along with brushing and flossing, can help prevent tooth decay. 

What you eat affects the air you exhale. Certain foods, such as garlic and onions, contribute to objectionable breath odor. Once the food is absorbed into the bloodstream, it is transferred to the lungs, where it is expelled. Brushing, flossing and mouthwash will only mask the odor temporarily. Odors continue until the body eliminates the food. Dieters may develop unpleasant breath from infrequent eating.

If you don't brush and floss daily, particles of food remain in the mouth, collecting bacteria, which can cause bad breath. Food that collects between the teeth, on the tongue and around the gums can rot, leaving an unpleasant odor. Dentures that are not cleaned properly can also harbor odor-causing bacteria and food particles.

One of the warning signs of periodontal (gum) disease is persistent bad breath or a bad taste in the mouth. Periodontal disease is caused by plaque, the sticky, colorless film of bacteria that constantly forms on teeth. The bacteria create toxins that irritate the gums. In the advanced stage of the disease, the gums, bone and other structures that support the teeth become damaged. With regular dental checkups, your dentist can detect and treat periodontal disease early. 

Regular checkups will allow your dentist to detect any problems such as periodontal (gum) disease, a dry mouth or other disorders that may be the cause. Maintaining good oral hygiene, eliminating periodontal (gum) disease and scheduling regular professional cleanings are essential to reducing bad breath.

Regardless of what may be the cause, good oral hygiene is essential. Brush twice a day and clean between your teeth daily with floss or interdental cleaners. Brush your tongue, too. If you wear dentures, be sure to remove them at night and clean them thoroughly before replacing them the next morning. If you don't already have a dentist, see Manage Your Oral Health: You & Your Dentist.