Dental care has become increasingly expensive in this country, and even with insurance many people are stuck paying large fees on top of that.
Just like humans, bad doggie breath can be the sign of something more serious.
There's a lot going on during the day that contributes to bad breath. But there are a few things you can do to help yourself.
The best oral health products take the simple approach. They don't use synthetic chemicals, they don't include dyes or detergents, they avoid allergens and they contain no alcohol.
Compared to many of the other "bad breaths" I've discussed, stomach breath is probably the least common. This is because gastrointestinal issues that could lead to bad breath are usually pervasive enough for someone to seek treatment.
I'm convinced that many people simply think bad breath is "mouth only" and can be cured with a quick brush or a breath mint. That's not the case -- there are many "types" of bad breath.
In short, I get to be somebody else for a while, a dental nerd in a cardigan with perfectly groomed children and I really enjoy playing that role for an hour or two. On dental mornings I become my own character foil.
Tonsil breath is where bad breath/halitosis originates in the tonsils, and not in other areas like the lungs or stomach.
In most cases, bad breath from the lungs has one of two causes: either some kind of disease or infection, or something you ate or drank that then enters the bloodstream and releases odors when said blood reaches the lungs.
If you stepped into the 1800s (or sped into them at 88 mph, if you prefer), what would you do when you found that you had bad breath?
Last time I visited the dentist, we were having one of those awkward, mouth-full-of-toothpaste conversations.
I see people who have little money to afford what they really need in terms of dental treatment. I see teeth getting pulled instead of getting a needed crown (which is almost always a mistake). And I hear this question more than any: "Just WHY is going to the dentist so expensive?"
Every time the price of gold rises, I wince a little. The reason is twofold: First, I'm annoyed at myself for not buying it back when it was a few hundred an ounce. But the other reason I wince is because the price of dental crowns is going to rise, and that makes exactly nobody happy.
Let's talk about one of the dentist's most popular tools -- his or her trusty drill -- and answer some the most common questions about them. What is a dentist's drill? How does it work? Why isn't it quieter? And what about alternatives (like lasers)?
Some people think cosmetic dentistry is something that only movie stars get to enhance their smile. Truthfully, that's far from the reality -- while I have done plenty of stars' and athletes' teeth, many of my patients are everyday people who are simply looking to have a better smile.
For this post, I would like to discuss osteoporosis drug Fosamax (aka alendronate) and dentistry, because there is a definitive risk factor involved.
