Several months ago, I ran into a friend I had not seen in over ten years. We chatted for several minutes before we both had to hurry off. Now, every time I think of him, all I can remember was his bad breath.

We’ve all encountered this. Yet, working in an office near someone who has bad breath can seem like daily punishment. And, worse yet, that ‘someone’ may be YOU!

I recently read the results of a consumer survey by the American Association of Periodontists and found it NOT surprising that:
• 32% of Americans say bad breath is the least attractive trait of their co-workers.

That represents nearly a third of all Americans in the job market! Yet, the survey also revealed that:

• 73% of Americans would rather go grocery shopping than floss.

When I consider how little time each day that the act of flossing actually requires, I’m shocked. For some reason, adults dread daily flossing more than the chore of the cart, crowds, and lines of a grocery store! Daily flossing helps to keep bacterial growth that contributes to bad breath to minimum levels. It is well worth the time spent. If you struggle with the technique, ask for instructions at your next visit.

A healthy smile always make a positive impression! Be the one in your office who has a ‘close up’ smile others love as much as you!

If you were building a home, you wouldn’t want to make the investment only to find it was built over an old, cracked sewer. The same applies to having a periodontal exam and necessary treatment prior to restorative work (crowns, bridges, fillings, partials, etc.).

For example, say you need a new bridge. Placing it in a mouth that is compromised by gum disease is a recipe for failure. This is because the bone and tissue damage of gum disease can cause the crowned teeth supporting the bridge to fail.

Some people aren’t aware they have gum disease in its initial stages since there are no obvious symptoms. Like many diseases, such as cancer, heart disease or diabetes, symptoms are not apparent in early stages and people are unaware they exist. When symptoms do emerge, however, it is because the disease is well underway and the body’s immune system can no longer combat its development.

This is also the case with periodontal disease. As the amount of oral bacteria become greater than your defenses can handle, it destroys healthy bone and tissue. You likely won’t notice there is a problem until symptoms become obvious. Early symptoms include persistent bad breath, sore gums that bleed when you brush, gums that recede and expose tender tooth roots, and gum tissue that is red in color rather than a healthy pink.

Don’t risk a lost investment when it comes to dental repairs. A healthy foundation will protect your smile’s investment for many years!

The Journal of Dental Research recently published results from a National Health & Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES), indicating that one out of two American adults over age 30 have periodontitis. The findings highlight the extent, severity and prevalence of periodontal disease in our population.

The findings reveal that over 47% of adults have periodontal disease, which jumps to 70% in adults over age 65. Men have a higher incidence than women (56% vs. 38%), with smokers at 64%.

What makes this survey unique is that the data collected was the first to use full-mouth periodontal examinations. Since 2003, the American Academy of Periodontology (AAP) has been working closely with Centers For Disease Control (CDC) for an accurate accounting of periodontal disease in the U.S. The NHANES study was the first to use full-mouth periodontal examinations, rather than partial mouth protocols.

Partial mouth exams involve two randomly selected sections at two sites per tooth. Because periodontal disease is not distributed evenly in the mouth, prior surveys likely underestimated its prevalence. The full-mouth periodontal exam measured six sites per tooth for all teeth.

These findings support the need for greater awareness among our nation’s adults. Because of the relationship between periodontal disease and diseases such as cardiovascular disease and diabetes, periodontal disease should be acknowledged as a major public health concern.

People who floss their teeth on a regular basis seem to perform the task effortlessly, most without looking in a mirror or feeling they’ve cut circulation to fingers! With the right technique and a few practice rounds, you can become a Floss Pro!

First, use about 18 inches of floss. Nylon floss is inexpensive but can shred between teeth with tight contact points. If this occurs, try the single filament floss (although higher-priced), which slides easily between teeth and is shred-resistant.

Use a mirror with good lighting so you can see the inside of your mouth. Now, wind the floss around the middle fingers of each hand with a couple of inches hanging loose to work with. Stretch the floss between your thumbs and index fingers and slide it in-between your teeth, curving the floss around the base of each tooth and beneath the gum line. Avoid popping floss between the teeth as this can cut tender gum tissue. Remove the floss using the same back-and-forth motion, moving it up and away from the teeth.

About every 3-4 teeth, loosen the floss from fingers and retighten to use clean sections. This also keeps your fingers from becoming uncomfortable.

Do this every night for one week. After seven nights, this should be easy enough to do in about half the time it took the first night. You may also find you no longer need the mirror!

What’s most important, however, is the tremendous advantage you’re having on your oral health! Flossing is a preventive health measure you’ll be glad you mastered!