Showing posts with label Dental Health Tips. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Dental Health Tips. Show all posts

Friday, July 27, 2012

Techniques to Have a Whiter Smile

We all want to have a whiter smile, and it’s important to consider these factors. However, sometimes it can be hard, due to lifestyle decisions or even just the state of our teeth. Here are some ways for you to have a whiter smile, both in the office, and also through natural means. 

Why Discoloration happens 

Discoloration happens for a variety of reasons. Some people may genetically have less vibrant smiles. 

More often than not, however, we cause this. plaque and bacteria will grow, causing your teeth to yellow. If there is gingivitis and other tooth issues, the enamel might be further ruined.

It’s also caused by the foods we eat. Are you a coffee fanatic or do you love red wine? Well chances are, you’re going to have a smile that’s a little less bright.  These foods stain your teeth and can only be taken off with a dentist’s help. 



Finally, it is caused by more harmful types of lifestyle activities we take.   Alcohol Can do this, but smoking is another. Smoking is not only bad for you, but it opens the door to oral cancer, and can cause your enamel to be permanently compromised, which isn’t fun for everyone. 

Now that you know why it happens, here’s a few ways to have a whiter smile. 

At home 

At home is the first option that we have. You can get toothpastes that whiten the teeth naturally or go to the dentist’s office for a take-home whitening kit. This can be a whitening tray, where you put it in your mouth for a period of time.



They’re good if you need a little bit of vibrancy, but they have their flaws. For starters, you’re not going to see a huge change. It might be good for a shade or two lighter. If you have serious discoloration, it might not work.

As well, it also might cause tooth sensitivity, a common problem amongst those who get whitening treatments. It can cause sensitive teeth, which isn’t always fun to deal with. 

But, for the price you pay, it’s far cheaper than other methods of trying to whiten your teeth.

In-Office 

There are also in-office whitening treatments. 

These are done in one session and can cause your teeth to get multiple shades lighter than they would if you were doing this at home.   The best part: it’s strong, so it will naturally stay.

There is bleaching, Zoom whitening, and other means to make your teeth shining and vibrant. The biggest downside to this is the costs. It isn’t cheap and might be hard to afford. 

But if you get this, you can usually maintain it for a while. It isn’t permanent, but it can give you the confidence that you’re looking for.



Natural Alternatives 

There are a few ways for you to naturally whiten your teeth. Bear in mind that they aren’t perfect and might not actually give results. 

The first is activated charcoal, which you can put in your mouth, and grab onto the plaque and other remnants, contributing to stains. The downside with this is it does interact with other medicines. 

Baking soda is another. It’s a bit rough, but it does remove the surface stains without causing damage to the enamel.

Apple cider vinegar can also remove surface stains. You dilute this with water, then swish it about to remove the surface blemishes.

Finally, hydrogen peroxide. It acts as a natural bleaching agent, in order to whiten teeth, along with disinfecting and removing the plaque that’s there.

These all work together to make your smile nice and white.


Saturday, September 3, 2011

The Connection Between Your Mouth and Your Health

Your health is important, but did you know it starts in your mouth? Your oral health plays a huge part in the overall health and wellness of the body.   This intimate connection is important to understand, and here, we will go over the different connections, and how this might play a part in this.

The Mouth and Body Connection 

Your mouth is actually linked to the body. For instance, when gum decay starts to settle in, that bacteria does travel via the bloodstream to various parts of the body.

Periodontitis actually is linked to a lot of problems, especially your blood pressure, e heart disease, and it can actually be traced to low birth weight.



Periodontitis doesn’t just affect whether the teeth will be in the mouth, but also if your heart’s going to be strong! 

Other conditions include clogged arteries, and a stroke. It might also contribute to respiratory health as well, especially if there are issues with the oral cavity and sinuses. 

Common Oral health Issues that May Impact your General Health 

There are a few issues that are definitely a big part of your general health. 

The biggest one is gum disease and periodontitis. This is a more advanced form of gingivitis, which is an inflammation of the gums.   This causes the teeth to fall out and become loose. 

While it does affect the smile, it can also cause heart disease, high blood pressure, and also clogged arteries in many different cases. 

Another common oral health issue that can happen is of course, if there is jaw clenching and tightening, resulting in teeth grinding. This stress can cause some high blood pressure, and it can also impact a person’s breathing. Someone with sleep apnea for example, might also suffer from tooth grinding. It’s all connected! 

But it’s more than that. when you don’t take care of your teeth, it can impact your general health too.   if your teeth are falling out, you might have issues with speaking as well, and it might cause a speech impediment to show up. 

It also impacts your mental health too.   depression and low self-esteem happen when tooth decay is left unchecked.   Good hygiene on the flip side will boost your confidence, improve the overall self-image you have, enhance the way you feel about yourself, and increase your self-worth as well. 

How to Prevent This 

So how do you prevent this? The answer is actually quite simple.

Take care of your oral health.



Brush your teeth twice daily for two minutes. If you have the money for such, try to get yourself a toothbrush that can get those hard-to-reach areas.

Make sure that you also floss your teeth as well.   This is a more effective way to get particles between the teeth, and if you are pressed for time, this is the more important of the two to do.

Now, what if you have done both of these things? That isn’t the only thing you must do. you need to get checked out when you can, in order to make sure that any plaque that’s become tartar is taken care of. Try to go once every six months, or more, if the dentist calls upon it.



Overall, drink water and eat healthily, and you will be able to, through all of this, ensure that you get the right results. Your overall health will be so much better, and you will not only look good, but also feel good too.

Your body and mouth are connected, and don’t you forget that.