Have you been offered breath mints without you soliciting for one? In most some cases, it’s done out of generosity and in other situations it’s due to the smell that came out when you opened your mouth. Check it out! Find a private place and try to smell you breathe. Did it smell right?
Have you noticed your friends turn to look elsewhere when you speak with them? It’s sometimes due to stench that comes out of your mouth. The technical term for bad breath is HALITOSIS. This problem can lead to low self-esteem. It is the type of thing that friends and sometimes family don’t and can’t even tell you about for the fear of offending you. Don’t be a victim of bad breath, and speak with confidence.
Many factors can cause bad breath, including underlying medical conditions, foods we eat, oral-hygiene habits, dry mouth and tobacco use. Your dentist can help determine the cause. There are some basic steps that can help you control bad breath;
- See your dentist regularly for an exam and a professional cleaning.
- Keep up with your daily oral hygiene. Floss daily and brush twice daily. (Don’t forget to brush your tongue, too.) You may want to add a mouthwash to help flush away debris and to freshen breath.
- If you smoke, stop.
Source: American Dental Association
New Year’s resolutions are so easy to make — and break. Why is it so hard to make them last? Scientists, funded by the National Institutes of Health, are learning more about how we can make healthy changes and sustain them.
“Change is always possible,” says Dr. Linda Nebeling, an expert in behavioral change and nutrition at NIH. “One challenge with New Year’s resolutions is that people often set unrealistic goals. Any resolution to change needs to include small goals that are definable and accompanied by a solid plan on how you’ll get to that goal.” A resolution to quit smoking, or lose 30 pounds, may seem overwhelming. Instead, take it a step at a time.
Talk with your doctor or pharmacist about a quit plan and smoking-cessation aids. Try losing five pounds a month for six months. Baby steps, taken consistently, will get you to your goal. Think about why you want to make the change. Is it important to you, or is it mostly influenced by others, such as your doctor, your spouse or a friend? Research suggests that if it’s something you really want for yourself, if it’s meaningful to you, you’re more likely to stick to it.
HAPPY NEW YEAR Y’ALL
Source: National Institutes of Health
