Hi Everyone,
I have wanted to share this story with you in case there is room in your life to help another person.
Over the last couple of years, we have been seeing a patient from the Smile Again program through MDDS. I will call her Sarah. Sarah came to us with a history of addiction, having been in an abusive relationship and was living in a recovery facility in Denver. We were not even able to call her directly on the phone and did not know her real name, which made scheduling appointments a relay phone game.
She was quiet, friendly and wanted to have a beautiful smile. Her struggles took their toll on her teeth and her overall health. She is a charmer and we all fell in love with her immediately. She loved to come to our office where we enjoyed pampering patients with "little extras" like hot chocolate and neck warmers. She showed up to her appointments, as promised, and as the improvements to her smile began, her transformation began to take place. The patient who was once sort of quiet and shy began to share with us the history of her struggle, the fact that she has children and even a grandchild and how much it meant to her to really get her life on track. Our relationship with Sarah over the last two years has taught us that taking a leap of faith and believing in someone can make all the difference in the world. And I believe she has enriched our lives as much or more than we have enriched hers.
Today, Sarah attends college to become a psychologist in order to help others who have faced similar struggles. And though her program has ended, she is still our patient and our friend.
We are Grateful,
Kristine
Transitory Bad Breath is usually caused by food that you eat such as garlic or onions.
Chronic Bad Breath is the long lasting type that makes people wince.
Bad breath is caused by bacteria building up in the mouth. The crevices in your tongue harbor a lot of bacteria and if not brushed or scraped properly, can become the source of very bad mouth odor.
If you have gingivitis or periodontal disease, you will harbor a lot more bacteria than usual. Bacteria constantly reproduces in your mouth and keeping it at bay requires diligence, the right tools and regular dental visits. Some people are more at risk for bad breath than others. Certain medicines can dry out your mouth. Since saliva keeps bacteria under control, in a dry mouth, bacteria reproduces much more quickly.
Smoking and alcohol can give you bad breath. Ironically, many commercial mouth rinses contain large amounts of alcohol, which dries out your mouth and causes bad breath! Make sure you read the label and use mouth wash that contains no alcohol.
How can you fix bad breath?
Practice Regular dental hygiene Brush your teeth twice a day, preferably three times a day, and floss, too! And don’t forget to scrape that tongue. That’s where most of the bacteria that cause bad breath live.
Drink plenty of water Throw back at least eight glasses of water a day. You can’t make saliva if you are not well hydrated. Cut down on coffee, which not only gives you “coffee breath” but stains your teeth as well.
Change your diet Some foods are tougher for your body to break down than others. Beans, onions and garlic produce gases that cause bad breath. Eat more fresh fruits and veggies. Carrots and apples naturally help to clean out your teeth and your breath.
Change your mouthwash Select an alcohol free mouthwash and use it regularly.