Even Celebrities Like Jennifer Lawrence Aren't Immune From Bad Breath!

Exchanging passionate kisses with big-screen star Jennifer Lawrence might sound like a dream come true. But according to Liam Hemsworth, her Hunger Games co-star, it could also be a nightmare… because J.Law’s breath wasn’t always fresh. “Anytime I had to kiss Jennifer was pretty uncomfortable,” Hemsworth said on The Tonight Show.

Lawrence said the problem resulted from her inadvertently consuming tuna or garlic before the lip-locking scenes; fortunately, the two stars were able to share a laugh about it later. But for many people, bad breath is no joke. It can lead to embarrassment and social difficulties — and it occasionally signifies a more serious problem. So what causes bad breath, and what can you do about it?

In 9 out of 10 cases, bad breath originates in the mouth. (In rare situations, it results from a medical issue in another part of the body, such as liver disease or a lung infection.) The foul odors associated with bad breath can be temporarily masked with mouthwash or breath mints — but in order to really control it, we need to find out exactly what’s causing the problem, and address its source.

As Lawrence and Hemsworth found out, some foods and beverages can indeed cause a malodorous mouth. Onions, garlic, alcohol and coffee are deservedly blamed for this. Tobacco products are also big contributors to bad breath — which is one more reason to quit. But fasting isn’t the answer either: stop eating for long enough and another set of foul-smelling substances will be released. Your best bet is to stay well hydrated and snack on crisp, fresh foods like celery, apples or parsley.

And speaking of hydration (or the lack of it): Mouth dryness and reduced salivary flow during the nighttime hours is what causes “morning breath.” Certain health issues and some medications can also cause “dry mouth,” or xerostomia. Drinking plenty of water can encourage the production of healthy saliva — but if that’s not enough, tell us about it: We may recommend switching medications (if possible), chewing xylitol gum or using a saliva substitute.

Finally, maintaining excellent oral hygiene is a great way to avoid bad breath. The goal of oral hygiene is to control the harmful bacteria that live in your mouth. These microorganisms can cause gum disease, tooth decay, and bad breath — so keeping them in check is good for your overall oral health. Remember to brush twice and floss once daily, stay away from sugary foods and beverages, and visit the dental office regularly for checkups and professional cleanings.

So did J.Law apologize for the malodorous makeout session? Not exactly. “[For] Bradley Cooper, Christian Bale, yeah, I’ll brush my teeth,” she laughed.

Hemsworth jokingly agreed: “If I was kissing Christian Bale I probably would have brushed my teeth too. With you, it’s like, ‘Eh. Whatever.’”

If you would like more information about bad breath and oral hygiene, please contact us or schedule an appointment for a consultation. You can learn more by reading the Dear Doctor magazine article “Bad Breath: More than Just Embarrassing.”

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Dr. Civin Now Uses Velscope for Oral Cancer Detection

Our patients come first.

And that has never been truer than it is right now.

Dr. Civin cares about your health – so much so that we have obtained a state of the art VELscope in order to detect oral cancer.

You might be wondering: just what is a VELscope, and how does it work?

For the past few years, you have undoubtedly noticed the doctor checking you for oral cancer. It’s always a quick procedure. You open wide, he looks inside, and he might ask you to turn your head, open wider, or even stick out your tongue. But now there’s a better way.

The VELscope is a non-invasive oral cancer screening device. It looks a lot like a standard household flashlight, even when sitting in its charging cradle. However, instead of emitting regular full-spectrum light, it emits a safe, visible blue light. This excites your oral tissue and causes it to fluoresce. Then the device filters out reflected light. This allows Dr. Civin to see tissue fluorescence. To him, it appears green. And that tells him that there could potentially be a problem.

The device makes it easy for the doctor to spot cancerous and pre-cancerous lesions. In particular, it helps him to see spots which might otherwise have been missed.

You’ll be given eye protection, and the doctor will ask you to open wide. And then just lie back as Dr. Civin has the device emit a beam into your opened mouth. He will look into the other end and into an eyepiece and he will determine if he sees anything of concern. And then, of course, you’ll be told if there are any findings, and you will be informed as to what your treatment options are. Often, surgical excision is the preferred treatment.

Both Dentistry Today, and even the World Health Organization, has given awards to the VELscope. It is a world-wide recognized innovative oral cancer detection system.

The VELscope does not, however, replace a comprehensive oral examination. Rather, it enhances and supplements such an examination.

And you may also be wondering: is all this early detection worth it? Does it really matter?

It most certainly does. When it is discovered early, the five-year survival rate for oral cancers is just about 83%! However, when discovery is delayed, the five-year survival rate for oral cancers drops to one-half, and maybe even less than that.

Oral cancers can occur in anyone, but known risk factors are not just smoking or using chewing tobacco. The Human Papilloma Virus (HPV16) is now considered to be a risk factor. And so are a compromised immune system and frequent or excessive alcohol use. Furthermore, as always, a history of cancer is a risk factor unto itself. At no time in history, until now, has there been such a call for early oral cancer screenings.

So book an appointment at Mark L. Civin DDS and get your cancer screening soon.  Because the life you save may very well turn out to be a loved one’s. Or even your own.

 

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What happens in a dental exam?

It might be a long time since you’ve been to see a dentist for a dental exam. You don’t know what to expect and you feel uncomfortable about having someone poke around your mouth. So, what happens in this procedure?

Let’s take a short look.

·         You’ll need to provide some medical and personal information. Arrive about 15 minutes before your appointment to get the paperwork done.

·         Meeting your dentist – This is the person who’s going to be exploring the inside of your mouth, so get comfortable with them. Tell them anything on your mind, ask them questions, build a rapport with them to make yourself comfortable.

·         The dental exam starts with the dentist taking a look into your mouth. The dentist will use a small mirror and light to check front and back.

·         Your teeth and gums will be checked. If you haven’t had a Dental Eexam in a few years, this may be uncomfortable. Especially if you have a gum disease or problem tooth!

·         The dentist will check each tooth individually. This is called dental charting. One tooth will be looked at, then notes taken. Moving from one side to the other, from the bottom to top (Or top to bottom!), your teeth will be researched and analysed.

·         One of the uncomfortable parts of the dental exam is having your teeth poked with the dental probe. It can be hard to sit through, and if you don’t brush and floss your teeth you may end up with bleeding gums. You can request the dentist don’t do this, but it’s recommended you get some courage and sit through it. If the dentist misses anything, if can cause you more pain in the future.

·         You may need an x-ray for the dentist to see if there are any other problems. Some dentists have their own x-ray machines; others will require you to go somewhere else.

·         It’s likely that you’ll have your teeth cleaned. Not with a toothbrush, though. This can get really uncomfortable if you haven’t been to the dentist in a long time.

Further Treatment

After visiting the dentist, you might find you need to come back for a procedure in the future. You may have recommendations made to help you brush your teeth better. Perhaps you miss a section of your gums. The dentist will be able to tell your dental hygiene habits more than you’d know yourself.

Dr.Mark L.Civin. DDS provide Cosmetic Dentistry Palm Beach Gardens

If you would like more information on orthodontic treatment for adults, please contact us or schedule an appointment for a consultation.