Give Bad Breath The Boot

5 Easy, Effective Ways to Combat a Bad Breath Problem

Bad breath. People who suffer from it are normally either unaware of the fact or truly embarrassed about it. They often wonder just what they should be doing about it, as strong chewing gums and breath sprays only seem to go so far. The good news is though that most cases of halitosis - that's the scientific name for bad breath - can be addressed pretty easily. 

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What Causes Bad Breath? 

There are a number of reasons why a person may suffer from bad breath. The most common include: 

• Poor dental hygiene
• Persistent dry mouth 
• Tooth decay
• Gum disease 
• Smoking 
• The consumption of pungent foods (garlic etc.) 
• Some medical conditions, including diabetes and acid reflux 

In the case of the last item on that list it may be that the person has the best oral hygiene in the world but their health prevents them from having really fresh breath. In these cases a combination of a GP and a dentist's advice and care is called for to address a halitosis, problem. For many people though the issue can be solved with a change of habits and a little more awareness of the fact that the problem exists. 

Here are usually very effective ways to combat bad breath: 

1. Improve Your Dental Hygiene. 
   Not only do people need to stick to the oft given advice that they brush at least twice a day with a good toothpaste they also need to address two other causes of bad breath due to poor dental hygiene; bacteria and food remnants stuck in the teeth.
   
   It's not that hard to get food stuck in your teeth, but if it's allowed to remain there it will usually begin to rot (sounds horrible but it's true) and smell. Flossing on a daily basis (at least) will help remove stray food particles and bacteria can be addressed with an anti-bacterial mouthwash. Brushing your tongue, as strange as that may sound, will help as well.
    
2. Stay Hydrated. 
   Dry mouth is another 'leading cause' of bad breath that can be fairly easily addressed. Many people don't realise that they are not drinking enough during the day but it's an easy fix. Get into the habit of sipping from a bottle of water throughout the day and try to consume the equivalent of two litres of water a day. 
    
3. Brush After You Eat Stinky Foods. 
   We could just say stop eating 'stinky' foods to avoid bad breath but, to be fair, there are a lot of great - and even great for you - foods that fall into that category. 
   
   A better idea then is to make sure you brush after consuming pungent foods, even when you are away from home. A travel toothbrush and paste isn't hard to fit into a handbag or pocket and these days you can even buy pre-pasted travel brushes relatively inexpensively that are even more convenient. 
    
4. Gum Can Be Your Friend. 
   Chewing gum can be a good way to remove stubborn food particles, keep dry mouth at bay and freshen breath, so yes, the adverts are right, it is always a good idea to keep a pack in your pocket. 
    
5. Don't Smoke. 
   We know, that's easier said than done. If you do still smoke these days despite all of the outside pressure to quit - and there's a lot - chances are you've been struggling to do so. In this case there's no shame in asking your GP or dentist to suggest ways to help, and they'll usually be quite happy to do so. 
    
6. Schedule Regular Checkups With Your Dentist. 
   Some underlying causes of bad breath, like tooth decay and gum disease - really need to be treated by a dentist. By making sure you stick to a regular check up schedule your dentist ill be able to spot - and treat - such problems and then help you tailor your dental hygiene plan to help prevent them from reoccurring. 
    

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The Emergency Dentist Says:

Bad breath is no laughing matter, it can really impact your life, especially your social life. In many cases though it's a problem that can be- with the help of your dentist - solved pretty easily. 

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Top 5 Summer Sports for Sydney Kids

Get Stuck In To These

It's an age old question and one that still needs to be answered even in the era of endless video games; what's the best way to keep the kids occupied in the summer, especially during the long school holiday? We have some answers for you.

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The Benefits of Organised Sports for Sydney Kids
While you could, technically, let them stay up in their room fighting electronic soldiers/aliens/super-villains all day or watch TV until their eyes take on a squarish shape. However, it is the summer, this is Sydney and the best place for them to be, at least some of the time, is outside and soaking up all of that great-for-them Vitamin D and the best thing for them to be doing is staying active.

Sydney in the summer offers all kinds of outdoor fun for kids and some of the best of it comes in the form of organised sports. According to the experts even little kids can benefit from the physical, mental and confidence boosts that taking part in them can offer, as well as the fun of course.

But just what sport should your kids give a try this summer if they have no plans yet? Here's a look at our personal Top 5 Summer Sports for Kids.

Nippers/Swimming
There’s a lot of water surrounding us here in Sydney and the beach and ocean are a big part of most of our lives in the summer. This means that water safety has to be too. And when it comes to the littlest water babies, Nippers is not only a great way for them to develop the basic skills they need to be safe in the water but also to learn how much fun it can be.

Nippers classes offer children aged 5-13 the chance to learn to swim, how to stay safe in the water, how to help someone else in danger and even how to body board and dolphin dive. Add to that the fact that they’ll also be getting one of the best all-round forms of exercise there is so it’s a win-win for everyone.

Cricket
Summer and cricket in Australia go together like nothing else. But why just let your kids settle for watching on telly and dreaming about becoming the next Steve Smith or Meg Lanning when they can go out there and give it a try themselves? And even if they don’t quite make it to The Sydney Cricket Ground one day the coordination and team building skills, and general cricket know how, it will give them will be invaluable in life.

Tennis
Every summer in January the eyes of the world’s tennis fans turn to Oz as the Australian Open gets the Grand Slam season under way. So what better time than the summer to introduce kids of all ages to the joys of the game? It’s another great hand eye coordination builder, great exercise and a fantastic confidence booster. And if you happen to find you’ve got the next Sam Stosur or Lleyton Hewitt on your hands us Aussie tennis fans aren’t going to complain are we?

Sailing
Your kids don’t have to be in the water to have fun on it. And as home to one of the most iconic harbours on the planet, sailing is certainly in Sydney’s blood. While it’s not perhaps the kids summer sport that spring to mind first, there are some great programs out there, especially those run by Yachting Australia, that teach young kids the basics of what really is a very exciting sport.

Cycling
Finally, here’s a sport the whole family can enjoy together this summer, no matter what their age or general fitness level. All you really need to enjoy a spot of summer cycling with the kids are some good bikes, great helmets and a nice stretch of open road. If your kids want to try something a little more challenging though there’s always the option of finding them classes and clubs to join in with mountain biking, BMX and maybe even motocross activities.

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The #EmergencyDentist Says:

Sydney in Summertime is always an adventure. If you find yourself needing after hours emergency dental care we're always here! 

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