Why is morning breath so bad? What causes it? And why the morning? And how come nobody ever has &ldquo;afternoon breath&rdquo;? Let&rsquo;s answer those questions here today.&nbsp;

To start, &ldquo;morning breath&rdquo; is really just plain old bad breath, called halitosis. Halitosis is a common problem that has a variety of causes,&nbsp;from diet to lifestyle to oral health issues to chronic&nbsp;<a href="https://www.sharecare.com/health/ear-nose-throat-health/article/ways-treat-sinus-infection">medical conditions</a>&nbsp;in certain people.&nbsp;While not everyone has an issue with chronic halitosis, almost all of us have some type of morning breath. That&rsquo;s what makes it so interesting.&nbsp;

I can hear you now: &ldquo;OK, Dr. Connelly, morning breath is just plain old halitosis. But why the morning?&rdquo;&nbsp;

To answer that question, we have to first go to one of the common causes of halitosis&mdash;dry mouth. When your mouth is dry, bacteria have a field day. Your saliva washes away and controls bacteria, so when it&rsquo;s not there,&nbsp;bacteria thrive. And what do those bacteria do when left to themselves? Well, imagine schoolchildren without the teacher or principal&mdash;they&rsquo;ll cause all kinds of mischief. They munch on compounds, proteins, amino acids and leftover foodstuffs in your mouth and teeth, and produce volatile sulfur compounds (VSCs) which, well, stink.&nbsp;

To get a bit more specific for&nbsp;you&nbsp;chemistry people, the VSCs responsible are believed to be hydrogen sulfide, methyl mercaptan and dimethyl sulfide. These VSCs are generally produced through the bacterial metabolism of sulfur amino acids like cysteine and methionine.&nbsp;

OK, chemistry class is over&mdash;the bottom line is, bacteria crunch and munch away in a dry mouth, and the result is bad breath. So that brings us back to what causes morning breath. Since saliva production is markedly reduced while we sleep, those previously mentioned bacteria thrive and do their thing, resulting in morning breath.&nbsp;

Yes, it really is that simple&mdash;morning breath generally comes from dry mouth, which causes bad breath.&nbsp;

Now to the question I often get asked: How can I prevent morning breath? Well, there&rsquo;s really&nbsp;no&nbsp;outright, foolproof prevention. Your body doesn&rsquo;t produce saliva when you sleep, and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.sharecare.com/health/sleep-health/slideshow/what-happens-body-enough-sleep">you need to sleep</a>, so the breeding ground will always be there. That said, there are a few things you can do to get rid of morning breath.&nbsp;

<ul>
	<li>Brush and floss right before you go to sleep. This will clean out your mouth and get rid of any food particles. This gives those pesky bacteria less &ldquo;food&rdquo; to munch on.&nbsp;</li>
	<li>Hydrate before going to sleep.&nbsp;Drink some water. No, it&rsquo;s not saliva, but it&rsquo;ll help a little. If you get up during the night, again, drink some water. It can&rsquo;t hurt.&nbsp;</li>
	<li><a href="https://www.sharecare.com/health/alcohol-and-health/article/how-much-wine-is-too-much-wine">Limit alcohol intake</a>.&nbsp;Alcohol is drying.&nbsp;</li>
	<li>Don&rsquo;t smoke. I know most people don&rsquo;t nowadays, but it&rsquo;s still worth mentioning.&nbsp;</li>
</ul>

And for goodness sakes, no onions on the 2 a.m. home fries!&nbsp;

I realize some of these are pretty obvious, but they will all help&nbsp;to prevent that&nbsp;dreaded morning breath.&nbsp;

Medically reviewed in September 2019. Updated in March 2021.&nbsp;

Why Is Morning Breath So Bad?

A walk by the shelves of toothpaste at your local drugstore shows that having whiter, healthier teeth is a 21st-century obsession. And ironically, even though these days you can choose from thousands of products to polish, cleanse, and protect your teeth -- most of you are not all that great at avoiding decay and <a href="https://www.sharecare.com/health/periodontal-diseases/what-is-periodontal-disease" target="_blank">periodontal disease</a>. Here are five statistics and tips you can use to improve your <a href="https://www.sharecare.com/health/dental-oral-health-teeth" target="_blank">dental care</a>.

Stat #1: The average American uses a toothbrush for 9 months before tossing it. 
Dentists recommend replacing your toothbrush every two months. But 91% of you wait far longer. &nbsp;

Tooth tip: Spring for a new brush as soon as bristles start wearing out. New bristles remove at least three times more plaque than older toothbrushes with weak bristles that fail to sweep away plaque at the gumline. And if you use an electric toothbrush, opt for a solid-headed one; new research shows that hollow-headed brushes have up to 3,000 times more bacteria residue than solid ones.

Stat #2: 85% of men and 65% of women don&rsquo;t floss daily. Don&rsquo;t only use dental floss for quick touch-ups before a date, a job interview or your next dental appointment. Daily flossing helps break up colonies of below-the-gumline bacteria before they can cause periodontal disease, which is a gum infection that can lead to tooth and bone loss and is associated with heart disease and type 2 diabetes.

Tooth tip: Can&rsquo;t get the hang of winding floss around your fingers and wiggling it down between your teeth? Try one of the floss-holding tools available in drugstores.

Stat #3: Risk of heart disease increases by 70% if you don&rsquo;t brush twice a day and floss once. &nbsp;Gum disease boosts levels of body-wide inflammation, which raises your risk for heart disease and <a href="https://www.sharecare.com/health/type-2-diabetes/health-guide/diabetes-smart-tips-guide/diabetes-dental-health-teeth-and-gums" target="_blank">diabetes</a>. It&rsquo;s also associated with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), pneumonia, chronic kidney disease, rheumatoid arthritis, thinking and memory problems, obesity, cancer and even depression.&nbsp;

Tooth Tip: If you&rsquo;re unsure about the best brushing style (back and forth, around in circles, up and down&hellip;), you&rsquo;re not alone. A recent survey found that official advice about the best way to brush is all over the map. We say, just make sure you brush for two minutes each time, and reach all your teeth from all sides -- front, back and chewing surfaces.&nbsp;

Stat #4:&nbsp;36% of Americans didn&rsquo;t see a dentist last year. We know more than 100 million Americans have no dental insurance. But did you know that keeping up with dentist visits could save you money by helping you avoid serious gum disease that may need extensive treatment and can contribute to a wide range of other health problems? &nbsp;Regular visits to the dentist reduce risk for heart attack, stroke, chest pain and congestive heart failure.

Tooth tip: Dental schools often offer low-cost care; your local or county health department may have information about other affordable options, too.

Stat #5: It only takes soda, sports drinks or even juice 30 seconds to damage tooth enamel.&nbsp; In a recent Australian study, dental experts found that high-acid drinks etch the surface of teeth almost immediately.

Tooth tip: For stronger teeth, sip water or herbal tea instead of soda or sports drinks. Instead of juice, munch on whole fruit. You can also ease gum inflammation with a healthy diet, regular exercise and a daily DHA omega-3 supplement.&nbsp; Try taking 2,000mg a day for three months. Plus, if approved by your doctor, take a daily 81-162mg aspirin with &frac12; glass of warm water before and after.

Medically reviewed in August 2019.

Dental Dos and Don'ts

Your mouth is full of germs. Many belong there, but some, like plaque, can be harmful. This sticky bacteria forms on your teeth shortly after you eat, producing acids that can cause decay and toxins that can lead to gum disease, which you definitely want to avoid. A recent study found that men with advanced gum disease had four times greater risk for heart troubles and stroke than men with healthy teeth and gums.

The good news is that you can take steps to stop plaque and other oral invaders. Start with these three.

1. Take two 
How long does it take you to brush your teeth? Try timing yourself. For most people, it takes about half a minute, which just isn&#39;t long enough. In fact, how much time you spend cleaning your teeth is just as important as how often you do it. Dentists generally recommend brushing for 3 to 4 minutes, but 2 minutes will do the trick. Break it into four 30-second sections: top fronts; top backs; bottom fronts; and bottom backs. Hint: Electric toothbrushes can help extend brushing sessions because they run for a set amount of time.

2. Get stuck in a rut 
Brushing your teeth every day is automatic for most people. Flossing should be, too. When you do floss, it&#39;s best to stick with a regular pattern, always starting and ending at the same point. That way, you&#39;ll know you&#39;ve hit all your teeth. Gently guide the floss between your teeth, moving it up and down against each tooth, removing any plaque and debris. Hint: If you&#39;re all thumbs and have trouble manipulating floss, consider using a floss holder.

<ul>
	<li>Find out how flossing can help you avoid cardiovascular trouble down the road. <a href="https://www.sharecare.com/health/heart-disease/article/healthy-teeth-healthy-heart">Read Healthy Teeth, Healthy Heart</a>.</li>
</ul>

3. Obey your thirst 
Your body&#39;s best defense against cavities is saliva. It dilutes a variety of substances that could harm your teeth, so keep the salivary juices flowing by drinking plenty of water. Try adding a little lemon juice for extra protection. And skip the soda and sugary beverages. These are doubly destructive for your teeth because the acidity destroys the protective enamel -- even sugar-free sodas -- and the sugar promotes decay. Hint: Chewing gum also helps stimulate salivation. Opting for brands that contain the artificial sweetener xylitol will curb bacteria growth even more.

Medically reviewed in July 2019.

3 Steps to Healthier Teeth and Gums

A trip to the dentist isn&rsquo;t complete without being scolded for not flossing every day. And even though you know you should, it doesn&rsquo;t always make it into your nighttime routine, or many others, for that matter. According to the American Dental Association, only four out of 10 Americans floss daily, and 20% don&rsquo;t floss at all.

We talked with orthodontist and <a href="https://www.sharecare.com/static/advisory-board" style="line-height: 1.6em;">Sharecare Advisory Board</a> member <a href="https://www.sharecare.com/doctor/dr-dante-gonzales" style="line-height: 1.6em;">Dante Gonzales, DMD</a>, to learn why it&rsquo;s important to floss, what happens if you don&rsquo;t and how to make it a part of your daily routine.

Why floss? 
Flossing removes food trapped between the teeth so it doesn&rsquo;t turn into plaque, something that brushing can&rsquo;t do alone. Plaque releases harmful acids that attack your tooth enamel.

&ldquo;When we don&rsquo;t floss, the plaque stays between the teeth and in the crevices around the teeth and continues to grow and release those acids that can cause tooth decay, cavities and gum disease,&rdquo; says Dr. Gonzales.

In addition, flossing keeps the gums from becoming inflamed, which in turn, prevents gingivitis, an early form of <a href="https://www.sharecare.com/health/periodontal-diseases/gum-disease-causes" style="line-height: 1.6em;">gum disease</a>.

How to floss 
The biggest mistake people make when it comes to flossing is not flossing enough, says Gonzales. Flossing may seem like a pain, but it takes less than five minutes a day to do.

You can floss before or after you brush your teeth, but be sure you&rsquo;re flossing correctly. &ldquo;Wrap the floss around the tooth and drag the floss deep into the crevices around your teeth,&rdquo; says Gonzales. Don&rsquo;t forget to go from one side of your mouth to another, so you don&rsquo;t miss areas.

If it&rsquo;s painful, that means you&rsquo;re not doing it consistently. The more you floss, the less painful and uncomfortable it will become.

What type of floss is right? 
If you&rsquo;re overwhelmed by all the options, don&rsquo;t be -- any type of dental floss is fine. &ldquo;The best floss is the floss that you like to use,&rdquo; says Gonzales. &ldquo;There are basically two types of floss -- waxed and non-waxed. Studies show that there is no difference in the ability to remove plaque and prevent decay and gingivitis in the two.&rdquo;

If you&rsquo;re not a fan of traditional dental floss, other types of flossing devices are available and approved by the American Dental Association, such as water flossers and between the teeth wood plaque removers.

&ldquo;Flossing is still more effective than water flossing, although everything helps,&rdquo; says Gonzales.

If you have braces or permanent retainers, you may need to use <a href="https://www.sharecare.com/health/healthy-oral-hygiene/alternatives-to-flossing" style="line-height: 1.6em;">floss threaders</a> to get underneath the contraption. Your dentist or orthodontist can show you how to use them. &nbsp; &nbsp;

Set aside the time 
The best time to floss is before bed, says Gonzales. &ldquo;It&rsquo;s always best to go to bed with the cleanest teeth possible,&rdquo; he says. &ldquo;When you sleep, your saliva glands aren&rsquo;t as active, which leaves your mouth drier. The drier your mouth, the higher the bacterial levels, and the higher the bacterial levels, the higher the acid levels.&rdquo;

Here are some tips that may help you remember to floss daily: &nbsp;&nbsp;

<ul>
	<li>Set your floss by your toothbrush</li>
	<li>Set a reminder in your phone</li>
	<li>Place a sticky note on your mirror</li>
</ul>

Follow the <a href="https://www.sharecare.com/group/worst-case-scenario">Worst Case Scenario</a> series for answers to more health questions!

Medically reviewed in August 2019.

Worst Case Scenario … I Didn’t Floss

If you&#39;re always looking for an excuse to cancel your dentist appointment for fear of another <a href="https://www.sharecare.com/health/dental-oral-health-teeth/article/tooth-problems-dental-filling-options">dental filling</a>, radiation from dental x-rays might be another good excuse. Although dental x-rays are generally safe, nobody needs extra radiation. You and your dentist can reduce your (and your kids&#39;) radiation exposure several ways. At your next dental checkup, ask these three questions:

<ol>
	<li>Do you use high-speed film? You want your dentist to use faster E- or F-speed film for conventional dental x-rays. Older, slower D-speed film delivers about 50% more radiation, though it&#39;s still widely used. (Digital imaging is even better, but it&#39;s not common yet.) Always ask for a lead apron with a thyroid shield or collar. The thyroid gland is extremely sensitive to radiation, especially in kids.</li>
	<li>When do you take 3-D scans? While a 3-D scan -- called a dental cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) -- shows terrific cross-sectional images of your teeth and jaw, the radiation dose can be four to 67 times higher than conventional x-rays. Two major dental groups recommend CBCT only when regular x-rays won&#39;t provide enough information, such as before an implant. Experts disagree about using it for planning orthodontia, so discuss it with your dentist.</li>
	<li>Is this x-ray &quot;just routine&quot;? It shouldn&#39;t be. You need x-rays mainly when tooth cavity risk is high, a tooth aches, after a mouth injury, or when certain procedures are necessary. To reduce your radiation exposure, encourage the sharing of x-rays between your dentist and a specialist. Better yet, make them available online in an electronic medical record so any authorized doctor can access it.</li>
</ol>

Medically reviewed in June 2019.

Are Dental X-Rays a Health Risk?

Dental emergencies can happen anytime and anywhere. Here&rsquo;s how to handle four of the most common mishaps you may confront.&nbsp;

Emergency: Chipped or cracked tooth&nbsp; 
Start by rinsing out your mouth with warm water. Use a cold compress to reduce any swelling in the mouth. You can take over-the-counter pain medication, such as&nbsp;<a href="https://www.sharecare.com/health/drug-safety/article/how-much-ibuprofen-too-much">ibuprofen</a>&nbsp;or acetaminophen, if your personal health conditions allow it.&nbsp;

What to do about a chipped tooth:&nbsp;If the tooth is chipped, find the piece that has chipped off, if possible. Put it in a plastic bag with a few drops of water or wrap it in wet gauze to keep it moist. See a dentist immediately to repair the tooth. If it is a small chip, it may not be possible to find the piece or reattach it.&nbsp;

What to do about a cracked tooth: If the tooth is cracked,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.sharecare.com/health/managing-your-health-care/article/choosing-a-dentist">visit a dentist</a>&nbsp;as soon as possible. Avoid chewing on anything hard or sticky. If it feels painful to eat food, breathe through your mouth or drink cold fluid, try biting on clean, moistened gauze. However, do not use a topical oral pain medication or put aspirin on the affected area.&nbsp;

Emergency: Painful toothache&nbsp; 
Rinse your mouth with warm water. Use floss to gently try to remove debris that may be stuck between your teeth. Never poke your toothache with anything sharp or place aspirin directly on the painful area. If the pain continues or gets worse, or you have a fever, call your dentist right away&mdash;this could be a sign of a serious infection.&nbsp;

Emergency: Total tooth knock-out&nbsp; 
Losing a tooth can be a traumatic experience, for either an adult or&nbsp;<a href="https://www.sharecare.com/health/dental-oral-health-teeth/article/childrens-dental-care-timeline">child</a>. Here&#39;s what to do if a permanent tooth is knocked out: The first step is to call a dentist for an immediate appointment. It&rsquo;s necessary to act as quickly as possible, often within 30 minutes, if you want to save the tooth.&nbsp;

Never touch the root of the tooth&mdash;only handle it by the crown, the top part of the tooth you can usually see. If the tooth is dirty, gently wash with water only. Do not dry or wrap the tooth. Instead, you can try to reposition the tooth back into its socket. Hold the tooth at the crown and gently place it back into the socket. If this is not an option, try keeping the tooth between your cheek and gums. If it takes longer than anticipated to see a dentist, keep the tooth moist by placing it in milk.&nbsp;

If a child&rsquo;s baby tooth is knocked out, just keep the tooth moist in milk. See a dentist as soon as possible to determine if the tooth can be replaced.&nbsp;

Emergency: Damaged braces&nbsp; 
For a loose or broken braces bracket, use orthodontic wax to hold it in place. If the bracket has fallen off completely, do not throw it away. Keep it and notify your orthodontist of the issue so you can set up an appointment as soon as possible.&nbsp;

If a wire from braces is dislodged or poking your mouth, use orthodontic wax to prevent discomfort and hold in place until you can see the orthodontist. If necessary, you may have to carefully move the wire with tweezers or clip with sterile nail clippers, as close as possible to your teeth, before covering the rough edge with wax.&nbsp;

If you try this method, don&rsquo;t touch any teeth or gums with the nail clippers. Securely hold the wire being clipped with your other hand to prevent accidentally swallowing it. Tie 12 inches of floss to the nail clippers for easy retrieval if they&rsquo;re accidentally dropped into your mouth.&nbsp;

When you shouldn&rsquo;t wait for treatment&nbsp; 
It&rsquo;s important to remember that delaying treatment of a dental emergency can cause serious complications, so you may need to find a dentist with emergency hours close to your location.&nbsp;

For dental emergencies, it&rsquo;s usually better to find a dentist to treat you quickly. While most emergency rooms or urgent care centers can provide temporary pain relief, they are often not equipped to treat dental issues. Plus, a trip to the ER or urgent care could be costly and time-consuming.&nbsp;

If you have any doubts on whether or not the situation is a true emergency&mdash;or if you experience any of the following symptoms&mdash;call 911 or get to the nearest ER:&nbsp;

<ul>
	<li>Trouble breathing, even if due to swelling&nbsp;</li>
	<li>Heavy bleeding&nbsp;</li>
	<li>Severe pain&nbsp;</li>
	<li>High fever that medicine doesn&rsquo;t reduce&nbsp;</li>
	<li>Trauma to the face, such as cuts inside or around the mouth or a possible broken jaw&nbsp;</li>
</ul>

Before you depart&nbsp; 
If you&rsquo;re leaving for an extended vacation or traveling outside of the country, it&rsquo;s a good idea to see your dentist for any lingering issues before leaving. This is especially important if there is a language barrier at your destination or if you will be in a remote area. Be proactive to prevent some of these problems before they happen.&nbsp;

Medically reviewed in July 2019. Updated in March 2021.&nbsp;

How to Deal with 4 Common Types of Dental Emergencies

If the cooler fall air has you reaching for your lip balm, flip it over and look at the label.

You might want to ditch it if you see this in the ingredient list: phenols. Why? These compounds actually strip the top layer off your lips, according to RealAge skin expert Dr. Amy Wechsler.

Peel Appeal? 
Phenols are included in some lip balms (Blistex, for one) to help remove very dry, chapped skin off the surface of lips. But if you&#39;re just trying to keep lips moist, the phenols can backfire by removing your lips&#39; natural protective layer. That may also explain why some people get addicted to them, Wechsler writes in her new book, The Mind-Beauty Connection -- the stripping effect can leave lips feeling raw, so you reach for more balm.

Careful Lip Care 
To break this vicious lip-balm cycle, Wechsler recommends opting for a good moisturizing lip balm instead. One of her personal favorites is pure, simple Vaseline petroleum jelly. (Use it at night, since it offers no sun protection.) If you need to slough a bit of dry skin from your lips, just brush them very gently with a soft, wet toothbrush.

Medically reviewed in August 2019.

Chapped Lips? Avoid This . . .

Last night, the tacos smothered in onions were great. But this morning, your breath could fell a sumo wrestler.

What to do? When your breath has turned toxic because of smelly foods -- usually garlic, onions, or curry, but fish and cheese can do a number, too -- you need an air freshener for your mouth. And you need it often: every 30 to 60 minutes until the odorous offender has cleared out of your bloodstream, which can sometimes take up to 24 hours. Because brushing constantly is impossible, try countering breath-busting foods with what&#39;s likely to be handiest: other foods.

1. <a href="https://www.sharecare.com/health/health-value-of-foods/the-health-benefit-eating-lemons">Lemons</a>. Suck on a lemon wedge, or nibble on the rind&mdash;easy to do in restaurants, where there&#39;s often a citrus garnish; if not, you can order sparkling water with lemon. For other times, lemon-flavored hard candies work just as well, and they&#39;re totally portable.

2. Parsley and other green garnishes. When your favorite garlic-laden pasta dish or onion-topped burger arrives with a few sprigs of parsley on the side, consider it a hint, not just a colorful trim. Chewing on the sprigs releases parsley&#39;s pleasant, breath-freshening oils. Garnishes of fresh basil and rosemary work, too.

3. <a href="https://www.sharecare.com/health/cooking-and-health/what-ways-which-serve-apples">Apples</a> and other crisp, fresh foods (firm pears, carrots, jicama). They&#39;re high in fiber, and all that chewing bumps up saliva production&mdash;the combo acts like a scrubbing rinse for your mouth. Sweet.

4. Crunchy spices. For a more exotic solution, pick up some anise, cardamom, coriander, and fennel seeds, available in the spice aisle of most grocery stores. Mix equal parts in a small covered bowl, and keep it on the dining room table next to the salt and pepper. Chewing on a few seeds will release enough oil to sweeten after-dinner curry or coffee breath. And your mouth will taste amazing.

5. Mint sprigs or cinnamon sticks. Either of these deliciously potent flavors will squelch the sulfurous scent of onion and garlic. Plus, an essential oil in cinnamon kills a nasty type of oral bacteria, discouraging it from setting up house in your mouth. Cinnamon or mint gum is just as effective. If you pick a gum sweetened with xylitol, it will freshen breath and help reduce cavities -- smart, if you&#39;re a gum lover. Bonus: Regular oral care can make your RealAge as much as 6.4 years younger.

6. Berries and yogurt. If you can&#39;t get through most days without indulging in foods that are less than breath-friendly, eat for prevention, which is even better than a cure. Consuming half a cup of plain, sugar-free yogurt twice a day can lower mouth levels of hydrogen sulfide (yes, that rotten egg smell). Berries (and melons, oranges, and other fruits high in vitamin C) also deter stinky mouth bacteria. Start and end each day with a cup of fruit topped with a big dollop of yogurt and you might never have to worry about bad breath again.

Medically reviewed in July 2019.

6 Foods That Fix Bad Breath

Eat your way to a healthy smile with these smart diet tips.

Best and Worst Foods for Your Teeth

They keep your teeth clean, your breath fresh and your mouth healthy, but some everyday oral hygiene products can be harmful when misused. While their benefits outweigh their risks, it&rsquo;s important to take extra caution with these items, especially if there are children in your household. Here are three products that might be in your medicine cabinet&mdash;and what you need to know about them to prevent accidental poisoning.

Toothpaste 
Most toothpaste contains fluoride, a mineral that helps strengthen teeth and stave off cavities. Swallowed unintentionally in small amounts&mdash;such as by a preschooler learning to brush their teeth&mdash;fluoride is typically fairly benign. But when ingested in larger amounts, it can trigger an upset stomach, vomiting and diarrhea. Very rarely, it may lead to more serious problems.

If you see your child intentionally eating toothpaste or catch them with a half-empty tube, dial <a href="https://www.poison.org/" target="_blank">Poison Control</a> right away at 1-800-222-1222. They&rsquo;ll assess the situation and provide further instructions. They may also recommend giving your child a calcium-rich snack to counter the effects of the fluoride, like milk, yogurt or a cheese stick.

To prevent future accidents, store toothpaste where children can&rsquo;t see or reach it, like on a high closet shelf or in a drawer with a safety latch. Reinforce proper brushing skills using the recommended amount of toothpaste and show kids how to rinse and spit without swallowing.

Mouthwash 
In addition to brushing and flossing, rinsing with mouthwash can help some people maintain healthy teeth and gums. However, as many nonprescription dental mouthwashes contain ethanol&mdash;better known as alcohol&mdash;they can pose a threat to children. Kids should not ingest <a href="https://www.sharecare.com/health/alcohol-and-health/article/what-happens-body-drink">alcohol</a>, and drinking too much may cause alcohol poisoning.&nbsp;

Unless your dentist advises otherwise, the American Dental Association recommends that children under the age of 6 not use mouthwash, since swallowing it is a significant health risk. Kids between the ages of 6 and 12 may opt for a product without alcohol, though they should be supervised by a grownup to ensure proper use. Adults should take care to follow label directions and stash all mouthwash where kids can&rsquo;t get to it.

If you suspect your child may have been drinking mouthwash, look for signs of intoxication, like staggering, babbling or appearing sleepy. Vomiting, a slowed heart rate and passing out are also indications of a serious problem. Call Poison Control immediately and seek medical attention if you see any of these symptoms.

Denture adhesive creams 
Though health problems related to denture creams are exceedingly rare, some older adhesive brands contain zinc, which can be toxic if consumed in very large quantities. If you or a loved one experience nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite, cramps, diarrhea, a headache or neurological issues&mdash;like tingling or numbness in your hands and feet&mdash;after using or possibly ingesting denture cream, call your healthcare provider. They can assess whether your symptoms are related to excess zinc or, more likely, to a separate medical issue.

To avoid the possibility of a problem:

<ul>
	<li>Make sure your dentures are properly fitted; adhesive creams aren&rsquo;t typically necessary if they are.</li>
	<li>If you do use a cream, take care to follow directions closely and limit yourself to the recommended amount. If the adhesive drips off the denture and into your mouth, it&rsquo;s probably too much.</li>
	<li>Pace yourself. It should take seven or eight weeks to go through a 2.4-ounce tube of adhesive.</li>
	<li>Replace your older, out-of-date products with newer, zinc-free options.&nbsp;</li>
</ul>

Finally, always store tubes of cream away from children.

Read Before You Brush—These Dental Products May Pose a Poisoning Risk

Do you want a dazzling, movie-star smile but you&#39;re not sure how to go about getting it? Are you curious to know how over-the-counter&nbsp;(OTC)&nbsp;teeth-whitening products stack up against what&#39;s available at your dentist? Our dental experts explain the&nbsp;many teeth-whitening&nbsp;options to help you decide what&#39;s best.&nbsp;

Keep in mind, teeth whitening is for adults and older teens. If you&#39;re&nbsp;<a href="https://www.sharecare.com/health/dental-oral-health-teeth/article/childrens-dental-care-timeline">younger than 15 years old</a>, your tooth enamel probably hasn&#39;t fully matured yet and the dentin is also thinner, which means the pulp (deep insides) of your teeth can be more susceptible to the bleaching peroxide. Most dentists recommend that you wait until you&#39;re a little older before thinking about teeth whitening.&nbsp;

Professional teeth-whitening&nbsp;potions&nbsp; 
In-office treatments. Chair-side whitening procedures will usually give you the most impressive results. During the treatment, a cosmetic dentist paints a hydrogen peroxide solution onto your teeth and may shine a bright light on them to accelerate the whitening process. In about an hour, you can walk out with dramatically whiter teeth. But in-office whitening is also the most expensive option, costing anywhere from about $700 to $1,000, according to Jerry Gordon, DDS, a dentist in private practice in Bensalem, Pennsylvania.&nbsp;

Take-home kits. Dentists can prescribe custom-fit trays that you use with whitening gel at home. These systems usually deliver similar results as the in-office treatments but at a more&nbsp;affordable cost, says Dr. Gordon. &quot;The main drawbacks are that the hydrogen peroxide whitening solution can be irritating to the gums and it can take a couple days before you start to see results.&quot;&nbsp;

OTC teeth-whitening options 
Whitening strips. This low-cost option involves plastic strips that you lay over the surface of your teeth for about 30 minutes a day for 2 to 3 weeks. &quot;They&#39;re best for people who have fairly straight teeth,&quot; says Gordon. &quot;If your teeth are out of alignment, they won&#39;t work as well.&quot;&nbsp;

Whitening toothpastes. Although whitening toothpastes are good at gradually removing surface stains, such as&nbsp;<a href="https://www.sharecare.com/health/dental-oral-health-teeth/slideshow/surprising-ways-you-discolor-your-teeth">discoloration</a>&nbsp;from dark sodas, coffee and wine, they don&#39;t work as well for deeper stains, such as yellowing that is common as we age, says Jonathan B, Levine, DMD, an associate professor at the NYU School of Dentistry. &quot;Even though there&#39;s some peroxide in the toothpaste, there&#39;s not enough contact time for it do any real whitening,&quot; he explains.&nbsp;

At-home devices.&nbsp;This new technology usually involves a mouthpiece with a built-in light and heat source that help accelerate the whitening process. &quot;These devices deliver professional whitening results at home in a shorter amount of time, so there&#39;s less chance of damaging the gums and other soft tissues,&quot; says Dr. Levine.&nbsp;

Boil-and-bite trays.&nbsp;The oldest and most unsafe OTC teeth-whitening products are the tray and gel systems, according to Levine. &quot;You boil the tray, and then you bite into it, and gel gets all over the place, including your soft tissues,&quot; he says. &quot;These kinds of products usually take weeks and weeks of use before you see results, and by this time, it&#39;s likely to have caused soft tissue damage.&quot;&nbsp;

Some helpful hints&nbsp; 
See your dentist before you begin. Even if you decide to try an OTC teeth-whitening product, it&#39;s a good idea to have a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.sharecare.com/health/managing-your-health-care/article/choosing-a-dentist">dental exam</a>&nbsp;before you start using it, says Gordon. &quot;You want to make sure that the discoloration isn&#39;t due to a more serious problem, such as cavities or an infection,&quot; he explains.&nbsp;

Drink cautiously. When it comes to stain-causing beverages, the worst offenders are coffee, tea, red wine and purple grape juice. One tip is to drink these beverages through a straw. If the thought of sticking a straw in your Merlot gives you pause, try this: After taking a sip of wine, immediately drink plain water, which will help rinse away the staining liquid before it has a chance to settle on your teeth.&nbsp;

Don&#39;t overdo it. &quot;Some patients tend to get carried away and overuse whitening products, and that can lead to weakening of the enamel as well as gum irritation,&quot; says Gordon.&nbsp;

Medically reviewed in January 2019. Updated in March 2021.&nbsp;

Teeth Whitening Tips and Secrets

Modern dental care is all about prevention and comfort.

8 Reasons You Shouldn’t Avoid the Dentist

Snapping and popping gum remain image busters -- just ask Britney Spears watchers. But here&#39;s a good excuse for discreet chewing: less blood at the dentist&#39;s office.

If your gums bleed a lot during cleaning -- a sign of subpar dental health -- your dentist may urge you to floss more. But <a href="https://www.sharecare.com/health/dental-oral-health-teeth/article/eat-drink-and-chew-your-way-to-a-great-smile">chew gum</a> more? It could help. In a study, gum chewers experienced less gingivitis-like bleeding than nonchewers, but only if their gum of choice was enriched with vitamin C. Better yet, they didn&#39;t have to chew for a long time to get the benefit.

Dentists have been concerned that too much direct contact between tooth enamel and vitamin C leads to a breakdown in tooth structure, but there was no problem with erosion in this study. And gum chewers didn&#39;t need to chew long -- only for about 15 minutes -- to release nearly all of the vitamin C in their sample gum. But they did chew daily -- about five times each day, in fact -- to achieve the benefits.

Sound like a lot of chewing? Consider this: The benefits didn&#39;t stop at just healthier gums. Chewers also had less plaque and tartar on their teeth.

Tooth and gum trouble begins when tartar forms on the tooth near or under the gum line, causing gum inflammation and possibly periodontal disease. Daily brushing and flossing and regular professional cleaning will remove the troublesome substance. And although gum chewing isn&#39;t a substitute for good oral care, vitamin C-enriched gum did appear to help minimize tartar and plaque in this study, particularly in people whose mouths tended to produce lots of the stuff.

Chewing sugarless gum helps you in other ways, too. It sweeps away the sugar and nasty by-products of bacteria lurking in your mouth. Go for vitamin-C enriched sugarless gum and your pearly whites may be in even better shape. Look for gum that contains vitamin C at health food and supplement stores.

Does Your Gum Have Vitamin C?

I&rsquo;m trying to teach my toddler how to brush her teeth. She only has seven teeth, and the &ldquo;brushing&rdquo; isn&rsquo;t the most productive (if I turn away, she tries to brush the floor &hellip; yes, we throw away a lot of toothbrushes). However, it&rsquo;s important to not only clean those baby teeth, but to get her started on <a href="https://www.sharecare.com/health/healthy-oral-hygiene/how-remove-plaque-from-teeth">healthy dental habits</a> for life.

We all have bacteria in our mouths (gross-sounding but true), and they feed off of sugars from certain foods and drinks we consume. When that happens, especially if you don&rsquo;t clean the sugars off of your teeth, the bacteria form a clear, sticky coating called <a href="https://www.sharecare.com/health/dental-oral-health-teeth/what-is-dental-plaque">plaque</a>. While plaque creation itself is a normal process, <a href="https://www.sharecare.com/health/healthy-oral-hygiene/what-are-the-complications-of-plaque-tartar">if it isn&rsquo;t removed</a> while it&rsquo;s still sticky/soft it becomes harder, making it more difficult to remove. Plaque and tartar (hardened plaque) release acids that can harm tooth enamel and provide a place for bacteria to hide &ndash; all of which over time <a href="https://www.sharecare.com/health/cavities/plaque-cause-tooth-decay">leads to cavities</a>.

You may brush and floss but not realize that in spite of that, some other eating habits are still damaging your teeth: &nbsp;

1. The stickier the food, the longer it can cause damage. According to Praneetha Kumar, DMD, dentist at Powers Ferry Family Dentistry in Atlanta, the length of time teeth are exposed to sugars is an important factor for damage. That&rsquo;s why sticky sweets (which will potentially adhere to the tooth or get stuck in small crevices and therefore leave the tooth exposed longer) are major culprits.

2. Crunchy/flaky foods can get trapped. When your dentist tells you to &ldquo;stick to crunchy foods&rdquo; for dental health, she&rsquo;s referring to veggies like carrots, not chips and crackers. These starchy foods can break into small pieces that &ndash;-like the sticky candies -- get trapped between teeth and can harbor bacteria, leading to plaque and tooth decay.

3. Sugary drinks. Sugary drinks would include citrus fruit drinks. They may be good for the body, but not so much for the teeth. Acid exposure of all kinds can harm the tooth enamel, leading to decay. Unsweetened citrus fruits are a fantastic way to get vitamins, minerals and fiber. You don&rsquo;t want to avoid them entirely, but be sure to drink water afterwards to rinse out the acid. Think you should brush right away? It&rsquo;s counterintuitive, but Dr. Kumar states that after drinking acidic beverages, &ldquo;brushing immediately with harsh, abrasive toothpaste or bristle brushes can cause more damage because enamel is porous right after drinking. It&rsquo;s best to neutralize the acid first with water or sugar-free gum.&rdquo;

Medically reviewed in September 2019.

Top Foods That Cause Plaque—and Cavities

If you dread going to the dentist, you&rsquo;re not alone. More than half of all people in the United States don&rsquo;t see a dentist for regular dental care, and the main reason is fear, or even a phobia, of dentists. Ironically, the more you avoid the dentist office, the more problems you&rsquo;re likely to develop and the more extensive&mdash;and expensive&mdash;any dental work will be. The good news: With recent advances in dental technology and pain medication, the dread is unnecessary. &ldquo;Almost all dental treatment today can be done with minimal or no pain,&rdquo; says Jeffrey Gordon, DDS, a dentist in Bensalem, Pennsylvania, whose practice focuses on helping patients overcome their fear of the dentist.

Here, four ways to calm your anxieties and get the dental services you need:

<ul>
	<li>Find the right dentist. <a href="https://www.sharecare.com/health/healthy-teeth-and-mouth/how-should-i-choose-dentist">Ask a friend or family member for recommendations</a>, search the Internet and pay close attention to dentist reviews, or ask your family doctor if he or she knows of a good local dentist. A skilled and compassionate dentist will take the time to understand what you are afraid of and why. Make an appointment for a consultation only. Don&rsquo;t be embarrassed if it&rsquo;s been a long time between visits, and be open about any prior experiences that may have triggered your anxiety. The best dentist is one who takes your concerns seriously.</li>
	<li>Discuss pain control. Knowing what lies ahead will help you feel more relaxed. Find out what pain reduction methods the dentist uses and understand how they work. For instance, there are potent new topical anesthetics that make teeth-cleaning a breeze; air abrasion therapy, a drill-free, pain-free, anesthetic-free way of gently &ldquo;sandblasting&rdquo; decayed areas on teeth, and a new buffering system that makes injections barely noticeable, says Dr. Gordon. <a href="https://www.sharecare.com/health/nitrous-oxide/side-effects-of-nitrous-oxide">Nitrous </a><a href="https://www.sharecare.com/health/nitrous-oxide/side-effects-of-nitrous-oxide">oxide,</a><a href="https://www.sharecare.com/health/nitrous-oxide/side-effects-of-nitrous-oxide"> also called laughing gas</a>, is still an effective way to induce relaxation.</li>
	<li>Get time on your side. Choose an hour for your dental visit when you&#39;re less likely to be rushed or stressed&mdash;perhaps a Saturday, or an early morning appointment. Ask your dentist about &ldquo;Structured Time&rdquo;&mdash;breaking up a procedure into manageable chunks. For example, you and your dentist may decide that you will count to 10, then he or she will stop at some agreed-on signal (raising your right hand, for example). This gives you a built-in break and gives you a sense of control&mdash;a key component of feeling relaxed.</li>
	<li>Distract yourself. Our senses can be powerful triggers for our emotions. Just the sound of the drill can be enough to get your heart pounding. Bring ear buds and a portable music player so you can drown out the drill with your favorite songs. Some offices have TVs or play DVDs to distract you. Another trick is visualization: picture yourself someplace relaxing, such as on a beach. Feel the sand in your toes, the warm sun on your face &hellip; and be transported. Concentrate on taking deep belly breaths (it works for childbirth!). Repeat a comforting mantra or affirmation (&ldquo;I am calm&rdquo;), and you will, indeed, feel more so.</li>
</ul>

Medically reviewed in June 2018.

4 Ways to Cope With Dental Fears

For your child&rsquo;s oral and overall health, good dental care is essential at every age. Establishing a cleaning routine early makes it easier for kids to maintain strong teeth as they grow. Find out how parents and caregivers can foster oral hygiene from birth through adolescence&mdash;plus, what dental developments you can expect in the years to come.

0 to 4 months 
Before your baby&rsquo;s first teeth come in, gently wipe their gums with a soft cloth or rubber finger toothbrush after each feeding, for two to three seconds each time. Don&rsquo;t get in the habit of putting them to sleep with a bottle of milk or juice. Avoid coating a pacifier with sugar or honey, as well, as these sugary substances can feed bacteria, causing cavities or even tooth loss later in life.

4 to 6 months 
After your child&rsquo;s first teeth appear, continue to wipe their gums while also cleaning teeth surfaces. From here on out, the oral health routine should occur at least twice a day, especially after eating and before sleep.&nbsp;

While newborns don&rsquo;t need water, the American Academy of Pediatrics suggests you can introduce it to older babies when they start on solid foods, typically around 6 months of age. At this point, it&rsquo;s a good idea to research the fluoridation of your tap water, since fluoride promotes good dental health. Start by inquiring with your town or city or by asking your dentist. If there&rsquo;s not a sufficient amount, your dentist may prescribe a fluoride supplement.

Avoid giving your baby juice before they&rsquo;re 6 months old, as it may contribute to tooth decay. Between 6 and 12 months, limit juice to 4 ounces per day, diluted 50-50 with water. Serve it only with meals.&nbsp;

Book your child&rsquo;s first dental appointment before they turn 1 year old, or when their first tooth comes in. Ask your dentist about the recommended exam schedule; many suggest making an appointment every six months.&nbsp;

1 year 
Needless to say, parents should continue to help with brushing at this stage. Once your baby&rsquo;s mouth begins filling with teeth, graduate to a child&rsquo;s soft toothbrush. Brush twice daily for about two minutes, preferably in the morning after breakfast and shortly before they turn in for the night. Until spitting is possible, use fluoride-free toothpaste or a grain-sized amount of regular&nbsp;<a href="https://www.sharecare.com/health/dental-oral-health-teeth/article/dental-product-safety" style="color:#0563c1; text-decoration:underline">fluoride toothpaste</a>.&nbsp;

If your child is using a sippy cup at this point, don&rsquo;t let them keep it in their mouths for extended periods, especially if it&rsquo;s filled with milk or juice. If this isn&rsquo;t quite possible, fill the cup with water. Between 12 and 15 months of age, your child should begin drinking from a regular cup; this can keep liquid from pooling around their developing teeth.&nbsp;

As before, maintain limits on juice. Between 1 and 6 years old, it&rsquo;s recommended that children drink no more than 4 to 6 ounces daily, if at all.

Remember that the longer that teeth are directly exposed to sugary foods or drinks, the greater the risk of cavities&mdash;and that goes for any stage in a child&rsquo;s development.

2 to 3 years 
Help your child brush while teaching them how to spit out the fluoride-free toothpaste. Switch to a pea-sized amount of fluoride toothpaste when spitting becomes consistent and when recommended by a dentist. Once the edges of your child&rsquo;s teeth start to touch, floss for them at least once a day. Show them how as you&rsquo;re doing it.

All 20 primary (aka baby) teeth should be in by age 3; if not, consult with a dentist. At this age, it&rsquo;s also smart to talk to a dentist if your child is still using a pacifier or sucking their thumb.&nbsp;

3 to 6 years 
Adult help is still necessary at this stage. Let your child first brush independently while you supervise, then assist with any missed areas of the mouth. Continue to help with flossing, as well. Ask your dentist about dental sealants and when to take a first round of dental X-rays. The American Dental Association typically recommends X-rays when the first permanent tooth comes in, though certain situations may call for earlier imaging.

To get your child in the habit of caring for their teeth, make oral health fun. For example, try testing their skills with disclosing tablets, which use harmless, colorful dyes to expose leftover plaque.

6 to 10 years 
While your child may be perfectly able to brush and floss independently, adult supervision is still important to ensure that the job gets done and that they consistently use proper technique. Keep the Tooth Fairy on speed-dial at this stage, too, as your child will likely lose most of their baby teeth.&nbsp;

A note about braces: Even if your child&rsquo;s teeth appear to be straight, it&rsquo;s not a bad idea to consult an orthodontist around age 7. This specialist can evaluate structural issues with the teeth and, if necessary, recommend braces, a retainer, or other strategies.

10+ years 
Ideally, your child should have a sound understanding of home dental care by now, but it&rsquo;s common to have room to improve. At age 12 or 13, check with your dentist to confirm that all permanent teeth are in place, with the exception of the wisdom teeth. Your dentist should continue to monitor for wisdom teeth through the later teenage or early adulthood years, as they may need to be pulled or surgically removed from beneath the gum line.&nbsp;

Sources:

Touger-Decker R, van Loveren C. Sugars and dental caries. Am J Clin Nutr. 2003;78(4):881S-892S. 
HealthyChildren.org. American Academy of Pediatrics. How to Prevent Tooth Decay in Your Baby. Last updated September 8, 2015. 
Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Take Care of Your Child&#39;s Teeth. Last updated September 30, 2021. 
FamilyDoctor.org. American Academy of Family Physicians. Dental Hygiene: How to Care for Your Baby&rsquo;s Teeth. Last updated November 12, 2019. 
HealthyChildren.org. American Academy of Pediatrics. Starting Solid Foods. Last updated March 17, 2021. 
HealthyChildren.org. American Academy of Pediatrics. Where We Stand: Fluoride Supplements. Last updated June 29, 2015. 
American Dental Association. Dental Radiographic Examinations: Recommendations For Patient Selection And Limiting Radiation Exposure. Revised 2012. 
American Association of Orthodontists. The Right Time for an Orthodontic Check-Up: No Later than Age 7. 2013.

Dental Care for Kids: A Tooth Timeline

From changing colors to curious bumps, your tongue gives important health clues.

Oral Health