Dentist Alan Clark said good oral hygiene has the power to transform your daily routine, increase your health and boost your confidence, but it's important to do it right.
A common misconception is to rinse your mouth with water after brushing your teeth. According to the clinical director and lead dentist at Paste Dental, Clark, it's time to kick the habit.
"It may sound counterintuitive, but rinsing right after brushing removes the fluoride-rich toothpaste left on your teeth," he said. "Fluoride is like a superhero for tooth enamel, protecting it from the forces of decay."
And Dr. Clark offered some additional advice when it comes to your brushing routine.
Our lives are a whirlwind of activity, and sometimes, even brushing our teeth feels like a race.
But your teeth deserve some quality time, too, said Dr. Clark. The magic number here is two minutes, two minutes of intense brushing.
He advised, "Use gentle, circular motions on the teeth, to reach every nook and cranny. Think of it as a creative expression of self-love, and your smile as a masterpiece."
Your upper and lower teeth are like a dynamic duo for your mouth, Dr. Clark said. They play different roles, and deserve some good care.
He continued, "Brush your upper teeth gently. And for your lower teeth, brush upwards with the same gentleness."
Hertfordshire : From diabetes to Parkinson's, body odors may reveal a general health problem
Body odors, from breath to sweat, can be a good indicator of what's going on with our overall health, according to one expert.
Dr. Sohail Hussain, a GP and trusted private healthcare provider in Hertfordshire (England), says that while bad breath can be due to poor oral hygiene, it can sometimes be an indication of another condition.
"Sometimes the breath is described as having an acetone-type odor (like nail polish or a rotten pear smell). This can be a sign of a serious underlying health condition - specifically diabetes."
Dr. Hussain added, "If your breath smells like ammonia, consider getting checked for kidney problems, because ammonia is normally excreted in the urine. The smell of rotten eggs and garlic means that the liver is not working well."
But sometimes, bad breath is caused by a buildup of bacteria caused by trapped food particles.
This type of bad breath can be easily treated by brushing your teeth daily and flossing your teeth.
As for sweaty armpits, Dr. Hussain said it is the "accumulation of bacteria" that leads to bad body odor.
And some people are more prone to sweating than others, which increases the risk of developing a fungal infection.
"Sometimes when stressed or during certain stages of our lives, such as puberty or menopause, there may be a more noticeable change in body odor," Dr. Hussain noted.
Body odor can also be affected by what we eat, so if you ate pizza with onions and garlic the evening before, your armpits may also smell the same the next day.
"As with bad breath, if your sweat smells like acetone, consider diabetes," Dr. Hussain added. "Kidney or liver disease may cause changes in the smell of sweat."
Sometimes, the smell of sweat may be caused by certain medications prescribed by a doctor that are excreted in body fluids (including sweat).
People with sinus infections or young children may also notice a foul odor.
Dr. Hussain said, "Tonsil infections, especially tonsil stones, can cause bad breath in the nose. One interesting phenomenon is phantosmia. It is the perception of bad breath in the nose when, in fact, there is none at all. This has been described as an early symptom of Parkinson's disease." ".
"Most of the time, all of these symptoms are minor and have easily explainable causes. However, the bottom line is that any persistent symptoms should require further medical attention," explained Dr. Hussain.
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