Today, we're answering your questions about dental hygiene.
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| | | | You asked, we're answering: Many of you have reached out over the last few months looking for bad breath remedies. Today, we're finally brushing up on oral hygiene stats, tips, and helpful products you can use to get your mouth looking brighter and smelling better. | | In today's dental health newsletter, we're discussing: | | | | | | | | Be well,
Morgan Mandriota
Newsletter Editor, Healthline | | | | |
| |  | | Written by Morgan Mandriota
February 6, 2023 • 5 min read | | | | | | | |
| |  | | | Beat bad breath with these helpful tips | Did you know that 50% of adults will have bad breath (aka halitosis) at some point in their lifetime? If you're one of the many Wellness Wire readers who asked us to cover this topic, try not to feel ashamed of your smelly breath –– it happens, and you're not alone.
Before we get to potential fixes, let's chat about possible causes. Halitosis can come from: - poor dental hygiene habits
- strong foods and drinks (e.g., garlic, onions, coffee)
- dry mouth
- sinus, mouth, throat, and gut health conditions
Whatever the reason for the stink, there's a fix for it. You can beat bad breath by: - flossing every day to clean whatever's sitting (or rotting) between your teeth
- brushing your teeth and cleaning your dentures every day
- drinking lots of water to flush away food particles and keep your mouth hydrated
- limiting how often you smoke or drink alcohol to reduce dryness
- visit the dentist to check for oral infections and diseases
- see a doctor about related health issues (e.g., kidney disease, diabetes, sleep apnea)
Oral hygiene products like alcohol-free mouthwashes and tongue scrapers (both of which we recommend below!) can help, too, but keep in mind they'll only mask the issue if there's an underlying problem. If quick fixes don't work, consult a doctor or dental professional to get to the root of your malodorous mouth once and for all.
tl;dr: Bad breath affects more than half of adults, according to the American Dental Association (ADA). You can try techniques like upping your oral hygiene game, hydrating with more water, and limiting how often you drink and smoke. But it's still important to see a doctor or dentist to address the root cause. To learn more about halitosis symptoms and treatments, click here. | | | | | | |
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| |  | | | Brush your teeth like a champ | At a recent dentist visit, I learned that I've been brushing my teeth "wrong" my entire life. I hate to break it to you, but you might be, too. Don't worry, it's not (entirely) our fault. The dental hygienist kindly reminded me that few of us are taught to brush our teeth the "right" way, so rest assured we've been doing our best.
However, this may explain why everyone's dental health is going down the drain. According to the World Health Organization's 2022 oral health report, oral diseases affect about 3.5 billion people across the globe. Could better brushing help lower these numbers? I'm no dental professional so I don't know for sure, but I assume it can't hurt!
Grab your toothbrushes, and gather 'round for a valuable lesson on brushing basics. Here's the ADA's step-by-step guide on how to brush your teeth: | | 1. | Hold your toothbrush at a 45-degree angle to your gums to remove plaque. | | 2. | Brush with short strokes about the width of one tooth. | | 3. | While applying gentle pressure, move your toothbrush back and forth along the outside surfaces of your teeth. | | 4. | Use a back-and-forth motion to brush along the chewing surfaces of your teeth. | | 5. | Hold your toothbrush vertically and brush up and down along the insides of your teeth to properly brush their inner surfaces. | | 6. | Brush your tongue using a few back-to-front strokes to remove bad breath-causing bacteria. | | 7. | Rinse your toothbrush after you use it. | | | The way you store your toothbrush matters, too. Air drying in an upright position away from other people's brushes is best. Add this to the list of things I never knew about dental discipline. For other little-known toothbrushing tips, check out our list of 5 FAQs! | | | | | | |
| | | | | | Is toothpaste *really* an effective pimple treatment?
| (Find the answer at the end of this email)
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| | | | | | What we're reading next |
| 🫐 10 proven health benefits of blueberries. Bloobs are a top antioxidant food and carry plenty of other perks, like reducing DNA damage, lowering blood sugar, and more. | | 🪀 9 best fidget toys for anxiety and focus in 2023. There's little scientific evidence supporting them, but as a certified anxious and distracted person, I highly recommend fidget toys. | | 🥬 13 low fat foods that are good for your health. This list of leafy greens, fruits, fish, veggies, and other ingredients is delicious and nutritious. | | 🧠 What is "dopamine fasting"? Yes, this is another wellness fad that may or may not help your mental health. Learn more about the pros and cons of dopamine detoxes here. | | | | | | |
| | | | | | Is toothpaste *really* an effective pimple treatment? | | No! | It's a persistent myth, and one that I'm guilty of doing. (Spoiler alert: It never helped.) The hype around this faulty facial remedy likely boils down to two myths: Certain ingredients, like baking soda and hydrogen peroxide, will dry and shrink zits, and menthol's tingly feeling could work to relieve pain and inflammation.
The truth is that dabbing toothpaste on your pimples can do more harm than good. First off, it's formulated for your teeth –– not your face –– so its alkaline pH can irritate and dry out your naturally acidic, sensitive skin. Plus, super dry skin may even lead to *more* acne. If you're looking for pimple treatments that are actually effective, check out our acne explainer here.
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| | | | Thanks for reading! We hope this information will help you along your journey to a healthier, brighter, better smelling mouth. Ginger will be back in your inbox with more health stories you need on Wednesday.
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| | | | | | | Until next time, |  | Take care of yourself, and we'll see
you again soon! | | |  | | |  | | This edition was powered by | | your request for better breath. | | | | | | | View in browser
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