Benefits Of Flossing
You might be interested in the variety of at-home tooth-bleaching products that are available if you think your pearly whites have become off-white. But remember that no teeth whitening product replaces twice-daily tooth brushing and daily flossing as a consistent dental care routine.
The majority of stains that we see in our office are NOT on the teeth themselves, but rather on the tartar from sugars and acids that adhere to the tooth surface. Regular use of dental floss removes plaque and tartar, helping to prevent "stained teeth."
Think of a carpet before and after you vacuum. You may not really see the dust and dirt, but once you vacuum and the dust and dirt is removed, the carpet looks brighter. The same principle applies to flossing. So while you’re thinking about using a teeth whitening product, try re-committing to daily flossing and twice-daily tooth brushing, which can improve the appearance of stained teeth in some cases. Many whitening toothpastes have extra chemicals or polishing ingredients to improve their stain-removing properties.  However, you should avoid these toothpastes if you have any gum recession.
If you have tooth-colored fillings or tooth-bonding material on your front teeth, bleaching agents won’t affect the color of these materials. Instead, ask your dentist about replacing your current stained bonding with either new bonding or porcelain veneers.

Congratulations to Dr. Greg Strobel who was named by Chicago Consumers' Checkbook as a "Top-Rated Dentist" in Chicago.  Dr. Greg received 100% ratings in numerous categories including "Maintainging a pleasant, clean office and pleasant staff", "Keeping down time in waiting room", and "Overall care and service."

We have had several patients in recently who complained of bad breath.  We hear all kinds of different descriptions of the taste, "metallic taste", "ammonia", "stale garlic", you name it!  We try our best to help determine what is causing the problem.  I thought I would send out a quick note on common causes. 

What causes bad breath?

Types of Food: In most cases, it is caused by bacteria that forms on your teeth and tongue and releases a sulfur compound that gives your breath an unpleasant odor. Once the food is absorbed into the bloodstream, it is transferred to the lungs, where it is exhaled. Brushing, flossing and mouthwash only mask the odor.

Types of Medications: Specifically, those that include central nervous system agents, anti-Parkinson drugs, antihistamines/decongestants, anti-psychotics, anti-cholinergics, narcotics, anti-hypertensives, and anti-depressants.

Periodontal (gum) disease often causes persistent bad breath or a bad taste in the mouth, and persistent bad breath may mean a sign that you have gum disease.

Dry mouth (xerostomia) may also cause bad breath due to decreased salivary flow. Saliva cleans your mouth and removes particles that may cause odor.

Tobacco products cause bad breath, stain teeth, reduce your ability to taste foods and irritate your gum tissues.

In rare cases, bad breath may also be a sign that you have a serious health problem, such as a respiratory tract infection, chronic sinusitis, postnasal drip, chronic bronchitis, diabetes, gastrointestinal disturbance, liver or kidney ailment.

Here are characteristic bad breath odors associated with some of these illnesses:

• Diabetes - acetone, fruity
• Liver failure - sweetish, musty
• Acute rheumatic fever - acid, sweet
• Lung abscess - foul, putrefactive
• Blood dyscrasias - resembling decomposed blood
• Liver cirrhosis - resembling decayed blood
• Uremia - ammonia or urine
• Hand-Schuller-Christian disease - fetid breath and unpleasant taste
• Scurvy - foul breath from stomach inflammation
• Wegner`s granulomatosis - Necrotic, putrefactive
• Kidney failure - ammonia or urine
• Diphtheria, dysentery, measles, pneumonia, scarlet fever, tuberculosis - extremely foul, fetid odor
• Syphilis - fetid

Caring for bad breath

Daily brushing and flossing, and regular professional cleanings, will normally take care of unpleasant breath. And don't forget your often overlooked tongue as a culprit for bad breath. Bacterial plaque and food debris also can accumulate on the back of the tongue. The tongue's surface is extremely rough and bacteria can accumulate easily in the cracks and crevices - be sure to scrape your tongue!

Eliminating periodontal disease and maintaining good oral health helps to reduce bad breath. If you have constant bad breath, make a list of the foods you eat and any medications you take. Some medications may contribute to bad breath.

If your mouth is healthy and the odor is not oral in nature, you may be referred to your family physician or to a specialist to determine the cause of the odor and possible treatment.

Welcome to the Blog of Strobel Dentistry!

Whether you are an existing patient or searching for a dentist in the Chicago area, we're excited you are here. With the dental industry advancing, we recognize the importance of keeping our patients and visitors up to date with all of the new and exciting things taking place in our practice.

As we move forward with our blog, we hope to promote dental awareness as a vital part of your healthy lifestyle. Here you will find a variety of articles and topics including dental news, advancements in dental technology and treatment, practical dental health advice and updates from Dr. Strobel and his staff.

We hope you find our blog to be helpful, engaging and informational to ensure your best dental health.

As always, feel free to contact us with any dental questions or concerns.

--The Strobel Dentistry Team