No More Halitosis!

9 Reasons Your Breath May Smell

You’re on your way to an important meeting and you realize – your breath is horrible, and you have no time to do anything about it. You have no breath mints, no gum … and no chance of keeping the smell to yourself.

Bad breath can make a really bad impression, but once you understand what’s behind it, you can easily control your halitosis.

The Main Culprits Behind Halitosis:

1. Food. Yes, what you eat can cause your breath to smell. Of course, when you think of food and bad breath, you’re most likely to think of the common breath killers, like onions and garlic. These particular vegetables actually metabolize in a way that not only causes their smell to linger in your mouth, their odor is also secreted through your sweat. But onions and garlic aren’t the only causes of bad breath. Many other vegetables cause bad breath, as do dairy products, which create much more mucus in the mouth and throat. Snacking on a little cheese during happy hour may not be the best idea. Even chocolate can cause halitosis.

2. The breakdown of food in your mouth. As you eat, tiny particles of food become lodged between your teeth and below your gums. These bits of food cause a foul smell as they break down.

3. Beverages. As earlier discussed, dairy causes excess mucus, so dairy drinks can easily cause bad breath that doesn’t quickly dissipate. Sugary drinks cause the bacteria known to cause bad breath to flood the mouth. Bad-breath causing bacteria love to snack on sugar.

4. Dry Mouth. Some people have chronic dry mouth for no known reason. Others suffer from dry mouth as a side-effect of medications they take. Still others may suffer dry mouth from consuming alcohol, or consistently using alcohol-based mouth rinses.

5. Poor oral health. Teeth and gums that are not healthy can emit foul odors. For instance, those with periodontal disease often have strong-smelling breath, and cavities can also cause breath to smell.

6. Health issues. Many health problems can cause bad breath. Those with diabetes may have fruity smelling breath, or breath that smells like markers, if their diabetes is not under control. Those with kidney problems may have fishy smelling breath. And those with acid reflux often have halitosis as well.

7. Illnesses involving the sinus or throat. Whether it’s post-nasal drip caused by the common cold or by nasal allergies, those with upper respiratory illnesses often have bad breath. In fact, doctors can often recognize sinus infections or strep throat based solely on the patient’s breath.

8. Use of tobacco. Smokers and those who chew tobacco have distinctive-smelling bad breath. The more one smokes or chews, the worse the breath can smell.

9. Poor oral care. Some people are prone to skipping the step of brushing their teeth twice daily, and the American Dental Association estimates that up to 80% of individuals don’t floss daily. Brushing teeth properly helps remove unhealthy bacteria from the teeth and gums, which significantly reduces the incidence of bad breath. But even if you brush twice daily like clockwork but skip flossing, you could be leaving your mouth wide open to the effects of halitosis. Flossing teeth significantly helps remove both food and bacteria lodged between teeth in places a toothbrush cannot. It also releases bacteria from below the gum line, not only reducing the likelihood of bad breath, but also significantly reducing the risk of periodontal disease.

Curbing Bad Breath At the Source

Sometimes it’s overwhelming to think of all the ways we can create halitosis. Thankfully, there is one simple way to help reduce halitosis – even morning breath! By altering the bacterial composition of your mouth, you can help crowd out bad-breath causing bacteria. A simple probiotic mint, filled with the beneficial bacteria known to reduce the colonies of harmful, bad-breath causing bacteria, can help control halitosis, regardless of its cause.

Remember, first impressions are lasting impressions. Leave your halitosis fears behind.

Understanding Oral Care Probiotics

What ARE Probiotics

Probiotics are a hot topic in the media today. Want to be more “regular”? Try this yogurt with probiotics. Want to boost your immune health? Try a supplement or another yogurt with probiotics known to support the immune system. In fact, yogurt has long been the delivery system for the beneficial bacteria known as probiotics. So, if you’re the average American who spends time on the Internet or watching TV, it’s likely you’ve heard about probiotics

What Exactly ARE Probiotics?

Probiotics are beneficial bacteria.

There are billions of bacteria in the human body. Actually, it’s thought that there are more bacteria in the human body than the cells that comprise the human body. Most of these beneficial bacteria are basically inert, causing no harm and offering no benefit.

Some of the bacteria in our bodies is harmful. These are what cause your head-cold, your stomach illness and many lesser known health issues.

When  harmful bacteria launch wage war, the beneficial bacteria in the body are right there waiting to fight back. If the beneficial bacteria in your body aren’t prepared to fight off the bad bacteria, you may end up with an infection and a prescription for antibiotics.

The use of probiotics -  be they food additives, supplements or any of the array of products which now include beneficial bacteria – help maintain a healthy balance between beneficial and harmful bacteria in the body.

Probiotics Benefit Mouth, Too

Research has shown that not only are probiotics beneficial for digestive health, they can also affect your oral health. By blending three beneficial bacteria commonly found in very health mouths, researchers at Oragenics, Inc. have created oral care probiotics for the entire family, focusing on maintaining a healthy balance of bacteria in the mouth. EvoraPro is a professional-strength oral-care probiotic meant for use after a professional dental cleaning or scaling. EvoraPlus is an oral care mint, which, when used twice daily, can help support gum and tooth health, freshen breath and naturally and gently whiten teeth. EvoraPlus is blended specifically to address the oral care needs of the those over the age of 10. EvoraKids oral care probiotics are blended to address the oral care needs of children ages 3-10. And even your pets can have fresher breath and whiter, cleaner teeth with Teddy’s Pride oral care probiotics for cats and dogs.

Choosing the Best Toothpaste

Why Whitening Toothpastes May Not Make You Smile

If you think your smile might be less-than-white, you’re probably tempted to try out a whitening toothpaste.

It’s much easier to stain a smile than it is to whiten it. All you have to do is drink staining beverages, like coffee, tea, cola or red wine, or eat staining foods, like blueberries, beets, spinach or chocolate, and your smile can easily start to yellow.

Did you know that the inside of our teeth – called the dentin – is actually yellow? Is it any wonder then that as we age, the outer layer of our teeth – called the enamel – starts to yellow as well?

And it’s only natural that as our smiles start to get a little less than the really white-white we prefer, we want to reach for what seems like the easiest-to-use whitening product – whitening toothpaste. But what if that toothpaste is actually making your smile more yellow in the long run? It could be.

Whitening toothpastes often contain baking soda, an abrasive that is often used to help remove stains on hard surfaces, from your teeth to your kitchen sink. While these toothpastes may make your teeth whiter at first, ongoing use of whitening toothpastes, however, can roughen the surface of your teeth, attracting more stains.

How About Truly Whitening Your Smile?

What if there was something just as simple to use as toothpaste that could whiten your teeth so gently that it could be used every day? Actually, there is. Probiotic mints are great if you are looking for tooth whitening that is simple, quick, effective and safe. EvoraPlus® contains a patented blend of probiotics that releases a gentle, low-dose of natural hydrogen peroxide that whitens teeth while supporting gum and tooth health and freshening breath.

What’s even better is that EvoraPlus probiotic mints are 100% natural and made in the USA. They are safe and effective!

EvoraPlus oral care probiotics are now available online, as well as at many mass market retailers, including Walgreens, CVS, Rite Aid, Hannaford, Sweetbay and many more. Simply visit Evoraplus.com to see a full listing of the retailers carrying this innovative mint.

If you’re looking for a naturally whiter smile, on-going tooth and gum health and truly fresher breath, try EvoraPlus!

Affordable Dental Care

Website Shows Facilities That Provide Low-Cost Dental Care

With the economy in a serious slump, many families have found themselves cutting back on spending the past couple of years. Car and home sales have slumped, holiday sales have led stores to cut back on inventory and staff and still many continue to look for ways to cut spending.

Families have cut back on all the extras – gifts, travel, vacations, dining out and then some.

No Expense Spared

One expense that families absolutely should not skimp on, however, is regularly scheduled dental care. In fact, keeping teeth clean and maintained is actually more cost effective than skipping a regular cleaning and potentially risking having a serious problem, like a cavity or early stages of periodontal disease (or gingivitis) going undetected while treatment is easier and more cost effective.

And the reasons for keeping those twice-per-year appointments with the dentist don’t end there. With the many diseases that are now being connected to good oral health, including heart disease, kidney failure, diabetes and more, the importance of regular dental maintenance is becoming even more clear.

Making Dentistry More Affordable

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has created a database to help consumers find dental clinics whose fees are based on a sliding-scale structure. To find a dentist near you whose charges are based on how much money you make, visit http://findahealthcenter.hrsa.gov/.

A Little Extra Support

Adding an oral care probiotic like EvoraPlus to your regular brushing and flossing schedule can go a long way toward supporting your tooth and gum health. By creating a basecamp of beneficial bacteria on your teeth and below your gum line, oral care probiotics crowd out harmful bacteria normally found throughout the mouth. EvoraPlus offers the added benefits of freshening breath and gradually, safely and 100% naturally whitening teeth.

Paying a little extra attention to the health of your teeth and gums can actually save you money in the long run.

When Whitening Teeth Goes Too Far

Dentists Call Tooth-Whitening Obsession “Bleachorexia”

With literally dozens of over-the-counter tooth-whitening products available, not to mention the availability of professional whitening at the dentist’s office, tooth whitening is all the rage. Even teenagers are seeking that perfectly white smile like they see on TV on their favorite actors and music idols.

According to the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry, tooth whitening is the most requested cosmetic dental service. The dental industry reports hundreds of millions of dollars in revenue each year just from tooth whitening procedures, and each year consumers spend hundreds of millions of dollars on whitening strips, brightening toothpastes and beaching gels. The numbers are staggering.

Is There Such a Thing as Over-Whitening Teeth?

Over-whitening teeth has become so common that it has its own name – bleachorexia.

Dentists say more and more patients arrive in their offices each month with unrealistic expectations for their teeth, wanting pearly whites that are several shades lighter than what’s natural. Whitening is really only meant to remove stains from teeth, not to make teeth gleaming white, like what we see on the movie screens.

What’s the Problem with Over-Whitening?

The bleaching agent in most whitening products is a harsh, chemical hydrogen peroxide, which can pit and etch the tooth enamel. With their roughened surfaces,  peroxide-damaged teeth are far more prone to staining.
With significant overuse, many over-the-counter whitening products can even thin the enamel of the teeth, making them look translucent at the edges.

Luckily, there is a way to gently and safely whiten teeth using a continuous low dose of natural hydrogen peroxide.

Naturally White, Healthy Teeth

Probiotics for Whiter, Brighter Smiles

It’s only natural to want your smile to look as white and healthy as possible. But our lifestyles say otherwise, as so many delicious, antioxidant-rich treats – like berries, teas and coffee – stain the enamel of our teeth.

In fact, anything that will stain a white t-shirt will stain the surfaces of your teeth, so the list is nearly endless, encompassing everything from blueberries to mustard to chocolate and everything in between.

The trick to staying healthy AND maintaining a gorgeous white smile is not to stop eating your favorite foods just because they stain your teeth, but to simply add an oral care probiotic to your daily brushing and flossing routine.

That’s right – by popping a delicious mint into your mouth after brushing, you not only support the colonies of good bacteria in your mouth, you can also get a whiter, brighter smile.

How Do Probiotics Make Teeth Whiter?

The special ProBiora3 blend of probiotics used in EvoraPlus colonizes the surfaces of your teeth with beneficial bacteria. As these bacteria go about their daily business of eating sugars and crowding out other bacteria, they also create a low, continuous dose of natural hydrogen peroxide. Unlike the harsh chemical hydrogen peroxides used in other teeth-whitening products, this low dose of natural hydrogen peroxide creates a gradual whitening with the full benefits of long contact times, delivering 24 hour per day coverage of balancing and brightening.

The low-dose hydrogen peroxide produced by these bacteria created a continuous natural teeth whitening benefit that did not plateau over the duration of laboratory studies. With daily use, the colonization of the beneficial bacteria provides a constant and expanding population for gradual and continual whitening effects.

Slow, Gentle Whitening Better, Safer

Harsh, Chemical Hydrogen Peroxide Damages Tooth Enamel

If you’ve ever used common over-the-counter tooth whiteners, you’ve probably realized that the active ingredient in many of these products is a harsh, chemical hydrogen peroxide.

Natural hydrogen peroxide itself is a wonderful, safe, convenient substance. Hydrogen peroxide can be used to effectively clean wounds, remove stains from clothing and as a general, gentle disinfectant, among other things.

That same natural, gentle hydrogen peroxide is generally not found in over-the-counter tooth whitening products, though. Chemically, Carbamide Peroxide – the primary active ingredient in tooth whiteners, which is also known as Urea Hydrogen Peroxide and Perhydrol-Urea) is CO(NH2)2.H2O2 – breaks down into Hydrogen Peroxide [H202] and Urea [CO(NH2)2] in an aqueous solution.

Carbamide peroxide breaks down, allowing oxygen to enter the enamel and dentin, thereby bleaching the teeth to a lighter color. Being a “more, faster” type of society, many shoppers peruse store shelves looking for the product with the highest peroxide solution, hoping for fast results.

Carbomide peroxide is caustic to human tissue, and can burn your gums, causing bleeding and white spots on the gums. It can also cause increased tooth sensitivity. And, worse yet, use of carbomide peroxide can decrease the amount of enamel on your teeth, leaving them prone to a host of problems, according to the Journal of the American Dental Association.

“Studies have reported loss of calcium and some alterations in enamel microhardness after exposure to 10 percent carbamide peroxide,” a recent study concluded.

On the other hand, natural, continuous low doses of hydrogen peroxide have proven to be gentle enough for daily use for continual and gradual whitening effects.

EvoraPlus Probiotic Mints Deliver a Naturally Healthy White Smile

Beautiful, White Smiles for Summer Brides

Summer, the most popular season to exchange wedding vows, is just around the corner, and with it are thousands of brides attending to the last-minute details of the big day. There are final fittings for the bride’s dress and for her bridesmaids, reviewing the playlist for the reception musicians, and RSVP cards to count.

There is also one major beauty concern of many brides, and that’s a smile filled with gleaming white teeth. A big question in teeth whitening, though, is how to get that bright, white, healthy smile in a way that won’t cause tooth and gum sensitivity, and doesn’t cost a fortune.

Whitening strips and gels are not only known for causing sensitivity, they are messy and sometimes difficult to use. They are an expensive hassle.

And going to the dentist for a laser whitening treatment is time consuming and costly.

One simple, cost-effective way to whiten teeth naturally is by using EvoraPlus oral care probiotic mints.
A natural by-product of the powerful ProBiora3 probiotics featured in EvoraPlus is a low-dose of hydrogen peroxide. As this good bacteria is replenished daily, it creates a gradual whitening with the full benefits of long contact times, delivering 24 hour per day coverage of balancing and brightening.

The ProBiora3 probiotics in EvoraPlus bind to the surface of the teeth, crowding out harmful bacteria by competing for the same nutrients and surface spaces. In laboratory studies, the low-dose hydrogen peroxide produced by these bacteria created a continuous natural teeth whitening benefit that did not plateau over the duration of the study. With daily use, the colonization of the beneficial bacteria provides a constant and expanding population for gradual and continual whitening effects.

APPROVED!

Teddy’s Pride Receives Animal Wellness Magazine Seal of Approval

Products pour into the Animal Wellness Magazine offices every day, the makers of each hoping to receive the prestigious Animal Wellness Seal of Approval. Only a small handful of products are chosen for each bimonthly edition of the magazine.

We are pleased to announce that Teddy’s Pride Oral Care has been chosen by the editorial board of Animal Wellness to be featured as a product that has received the Animal Wellness Seal of Approval. In order to be chosen to receive the seal, the editorial department has to decide that the product is genuinely healthy and something their readers should know about.

Look for Teddy’s Pride in the June/July edition of the magazine, on newsstands now. You can also see it featured on their website early in June.

Teddy’s Pride is the very first oral care probiotic that freshens cats’ and dogs’ breath within days and can whiten pets’ teeth safely and naturally using beneficial bacteria found naturally in very healthy mouths. Teddy’s Pride is simply sprinkled on pets’ food once daily. The tasteless, odorless probiotic is designed for even the most finicky eaters!

Imagine my excitement when I learned that People Style Watch ran an article listing its top picks for Whitening Your Smile on the Go and they listed EvoraPlus Oral Care Probiotics as its top recommendation for on the go whiteners in its October 2009 edition.

Oct 2009 Issue People Style Watch - EvoraPlus Featured

The first thing I did when I heard the news was run to my computer to try to find the article online. We searched and searched, and, as it turns out, People doesn’t post its Style Watch articles online.

Probiotic Mints for Tooth Whitening?

Not only did the awesome feature include our Oral Care Probiotic mints as a good solution for on-the-go whitening, it also mentioned one of the other cool benefits of EvoraPlus – that our probiotics blend is beneficial for tooth and gum health.

In addition to its tooth and gum health benefits and safe, gentle and natural tooth whitening qualities, EvoraPlus also gets to the root of bad breath by crowding out the harmful bacteria responsible for bad breath.

Easy to use on-the-go

What the People Style Watch article pointed out is one of my favorite features of EvoraPlus Oral Care probiotics – that twice daily use is as easy as popping a simple mint. No messing with messy whitening strips or trays, and no worrying what the harsh chemical hydrogen peroxide in these products does to otherwise healthy teeth, like causing pits, cracks and roughening the tooth surface.

All of those negative side effects caused by other whitens can actually lead to increased staining and the need for more frequent use of harsh whitening products, which are generally not recommended for frequent use.

Because the probiotics in EvoraPlus naturally produce a low, safe and continuous dose of natural hydrogen peroxide, its whitening effect can be compared to writing on a white board. In one hand, you have your marker (tooth staining items, like highly pigmented foods, coffee, red wine) and in the other hand you have your eraser, EvoraPlus.