Thursday 30 December 2010

Use Baking Soda And Peroxide For Easy Teeth Whitening

If you want to have a whiter set of teeth and a brighter smile without spending a ton of money on professional services, then natural home remedies may be the best option for you. One of the most effective home whitening methods is making your own mixture of baking soda and hydrogen peroxide. Yes, you can really use baking soda and peroxide for easy teeth whitening! The best news is that this will cost you only a minimal amount of money as these two ingredients are common household items, and you can just buy them cheap at your local groceries and drugstores.

Hydrogen peroxide usually comes in concentrations ranging from 2%-3%. This exerts its effect through a chemical reaction involving the dissociation of peroxide into its two component elements: water and oxygen. When this happens, some foaming occurs and the foam produced works to break down the film of plaque growing on your teeth. It can access those hard-to-reach places in your mouth that your normal toothbrush can't. This makes it easier for the scrubbing action of your toothbrush more effective in removing hardened plaque.

The other key component, baking soda, has many wonderful uses. It is mildly abrasive, so it can scrub the surfaces of your teeth clean without doing damage to your gums. It has also antibacterial properties, which means that it can eliminate the microorganisms that cause bad breath. Additionally, it is mildly basic, so this can neutralize the acids that cause tooth and gum decay.

You don't have to be a master chef to make this baking soda and peroxide recipe. Anyone can combine these two ingredients together; it doesn't take much skill. You could just take a small cup, put in a few drops of hydrogen peroxide, and then add a tablespoon of baking soda. When you mix this all together, it forms a paste that you can use much like your usual toothpaste. After brushing with this mixture, rinse your mouth with water our mouthwash, then don't forget to brush again using your regular toothpaste to get the benefits of fluoride.

Money-wise, this home teeth whitening treatment is definitely a more sensible choice over professional treatments, which can run up to a couple hundred bucks. When used consistently, it will definitely gradually give you a healthier-looking and brighter smile, at more than half the cost.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Samantha_L_Hunter

Friday 24 December 2010

Which Type Of Dental Surgery Should You Have?

Long ago, people were only able to deal with tooth decay. Later on, there were remedies for missing teeth (dentures) and crooked teeth (braces). But right now, even a mouth and teeth overhaul is possible with cosmetic dental surgery. Whether you're worried about having yellow teeth, large gaps, chips, tooth aches, etc., you can easily fix it with cosmetic dental surgery. But if you happen to suffer from severe dental issues, then you might need some serious dentition modification via dental surgery. How do you known when you need one? And which type of surgery should you avail of?

When you're about to seek for treatment, dentists usually examine your teeth first. But knowing about the dental probabilities will help you ask the right questions when you are with your dentists and have an idea already of what he's about to do to you. If you're dealing with tooth discoloration, a few chips, and poor tooth shape, then you can avail of porcelain veneers. These are artificial coverings that mask the front part of each tooth correcting the shape, the alignment, and making the tooth look lighter. But if the cracks are severe, and each tooth is partially crumbled, then you are to get crowns. Crowns are a good way to retain whatever is left with your teeth, especially when there's no reason to get rid of them. These artificial coverings are also made of natural looking materials such as porcelain, that work on restoration.

If gaps and missing teeth are the ones bothering you, then you ought to ask about bridges. These are two connected crowns mounted on the teeth to artificially fill the gap. But if the gap is just too severe to conceal, then it's better to get dental implants instead. An implant is like a false tooth surgically attached to your jawbone to make it appear as if you have a real tooth again. If your tooth seems okay but there's an infection surrounding it or causing pain, then you are likely to undergo a dental surgery called root canal. A root canal means removing the infection, and then taking out the tooth root. It could hurt, but it's better than extracting a tooth that could still be used.

Tag : dental,dental care,dental plans,tooth

Wednesday 15 December 2010

Types of Teeth Straightening Solutions to Suit You and Your Budget

Many people are often confused on the best type of teeth straightening for them. Some people are bothered about having a visible brace whereas others are worried about the cost and pain of the treatment as well as time.

Many people are afraid of any teeth straightening solutions from the way it is going to look. Nobody wants to have braces that really still out like when you were younger. For people like this, there are many options available.

The first is a invisalign- a plastic retainer. These appear to be invisible and are very hard to notice. Plus there is attaching to teeth as they can be removed when eating, etc. All the orthodontist needs are impressions of your mouth. You get new retainers every few months that move your teeth gradually.

The second option is a brace that fits to the back of your teeth. These are lingual and are hidden completely by your teeth. You will be able to feel them and they be uncomfortable to start with, but they cannot be seen at all.

If you are not so fussed about the visibility of braces, then self-litigating braces might be best for you. These don't have the elastics that attach to the braces. The wires slide to tighten, and are more comfortable and look a more discreet.

For a compromise there are white wires and invisible clear brackets that are hardly visible on the teeth. Many celebrities have used these so they are highly chosen.

There are many teeth straightening solutions available, ask your local orthodontist for the best options for you.

Tag : dental,dental care,teeth,dental assistants

Written by Neil Smith.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Neil_Matthew_Smith


Saturday 11 December 2010

What Are Tray-based Teeth Whitening?

Everybody desires bright, shiny, flawless teeth. Having perfectly shaped teeth just requires going to the dentist's habitually - at least every six months, but have you ever asked yourself why your teeth become discolored? What it is that stains them?

There are several reasons why teeth become stained. Dark coloured teeth or a propensity towards staining can be hereditary. Drinking lots of black tea, black coffee, red wine or Coca Cola is discolouring. Too much fluoride can cause staining. Over zealous brushing with an abrasive tooth paste or smokers' tooth powder will wear the enamel off which will expose the grey dentin below the surface. Smoking will blemish your teeth. Some antibiotics can cause teeth yellowing. Old fillings can blemish your teeth and teeth discolour naturally as you get older.

The proper and regular use of a good quality tooth paste will help keep discolouration at bay, but there are two types of staining: intrinsic and extrinsic staining. Tooth paste with inherent tooth whitener will help keep extrinsic (surface) staining in check, but tooth paste cannot effect intrinsic staining (beneath the surface). If you want to get at the intrinsic staining, you will need to use a proprietary teeth whitening agent.

There are two major routes to teeth whitening: the professional route and the DIY route. There are several kinds of professional whitening, but they are all very similar in that they typically involve gels to deliver the whitening agent and a light (laser) to activate it. These systems are applied in a dental surgery.

DIY teeth whitening systems usually involve trays which fit over your teeth, in essence providing a tub of whitening gel for your teeth. The trays are half filled with whitening gel and then pressed over the teeth, Obviously, the gel comes into contact with the teeth and the peroxide bleaching agent will supply oxygen to the teeth in order to lift the discolouration.

After 30-60 minutes the chemicals in the gel have been used up and the session is over. What really matters here is that the trays are a good fit. Some people do find it tricky to get trays to fit their mouth, but they can have dentists make up trays specially for them. This is a lot more costly though. Dentists agree that the DIY use of bleaching trays is comparatively safe and will lighten your teeth by 2-3 shades.

Dentists use more powerful solutions of whitening agent than are normally on hand to the public and some claim that coupled with an actifying laser, their systems are far more effective than trays. However, there are many dentists and clients who dispute the claim asking for evidence. There does not seem to be any.

Actually, teeth whitening is an ongoing procedure. A session in a dentist's chair will keep your teeth shining for a year. DIY techniques have to be repeated on a regular basis, but for both types of whitening, you have to play your part as well. You cannot just whiten and forget. You have to maintain, which means regular brushing twice a day with a good tooth paste; gargling with anti-plaque mouthwash; and gargling with water after drinking red wine, black tea or black coffee.

Tag : dental,dental care,dental insurance,dental plan

Friday 3 December 2010

Lavender Soothes Dental Patients Link To Article

There is definite good news for those suffering from dental anxiety: the scent of Lavender long known for its soothing properties has found a new use in dentistry. Recent research, published in Community Dentistry and Oral Epidemiology, shows that lavender scent reduces anxiety in dental patients. However, the bad news is that it does not reduce anxiety about future dental visits.

Researchers from King's College London, studied the effects of lavender on 340 people, and found that those exposed to lavender oil scent were less anxious about their dental treatment. The study was carried out on patients waiting for a scheduled dental appointment.

The lead researcher, Metaxia Kritsidima explained that a substantial number of people avoided getting dental treatment because they are scared of the dentist. This can have a significant impact on their dental health. The anxiety of dental patients is not just stressful for them, but also for the dentist. Says she: "Working under a state of increased tension may potentially compromise their performance, as well as lengthening appointment times. This is why finding a way of reducing dental anxiety is really important."

According to Dr Koula Asimakopoulou, who was part of the research team, this is a significant difference, and it was present regardless of the type of dental appointment." She also added that their findings suggest that lavender could certainly be used as an effective "on-the-spot" anxiety reduction in dentists' waiting rooms."

The use of lavender oil for soothing dental patients appears to be a novel idea. A spokeswoman for the British Dental Association was quoted by BBC News saying: "Dentists use a range of techniques to help patients feel calm; some specialize in hypnotherapy or counseling - but I haven't heard of anyone using lavender oil." These research findings are new, but the use of lavender as a calming agent is very old.

The next time you visit the dentist, ask if your dentist will use some lavender to help soothe your dental anxiety. What dentist would object to the scent of lavender wafting through the air, if it is going to keep their patients calm and quiet while in the chair!

Tag : dental,dental care,dental plan

Monday 29 November 2010

How To Deal With Milk-teeth

The first set of teeth that humans get are often called milk teeth. There are only twenty milk teeth and they usually appear in pairs, those on the lower, biting jaw usually coming out first. The first teeth usually appear in the sixth or seventh month and the complete dentition period can last from 18 to 30 months. However, there is a lot of latitude and many babies vary from this pattern in many ways.

The procedure of dentition for babies is often very painful, but it is also totally necessary, and there is very little that can be done to assist the child. However, if you keep in touch with your doctor or midwife, things should go well. One of the potential problems is infection. With the teeth breaking through the gums, bacteria can easily invade, so it is a period to watch what your baby puts into its mouth while teething.

There are two trends in teething: problem-free and problematic. We will look at them both. Most babies that have been breast fed, handle teething better than other babies, but not all. This does not mean that you should breast feed, it is only an observation - teething must still hurt.

The symptoms of teething are: swollen gums, increased saliva and reddened cheeks. In addition, teething babies chew on anything within reach and become more thirsty. Because the baby's gums are sore, it will not want to drink for long at a time, but being more thirsty, it will need to drink more often. It will also become more ill-tempered and cry a lot more than usual.

In order to alleviate these symptoms, exercise your baby as much as you can, especially in the fresh air. It will make it tired. Feed often, but not for long periods of time. Some kind of teething ring is fitting at this time because you can guarantee that it is clean and antiseptic. Chewing seems to alleviate the pain, but it could only be a distraction. No matter, anything that works is good.

Different countries have different customs. Some European countries (used to) give licorice root, honey or other sweet products to divert the baby during teething, but this practice has largely been discredited, because of evidence that a chubby child will become a chubby adult.

Your midwife will be able to give you plenty of advice, and there are new products and ideas appearing every year, so you would be wise to dedicate some of the little time that you now have left as a parent to joining a website or a blog on teething babies.

Tuesday 23 November 2010

Sensitive Teeth And How To Take Care Of Them

Many people have sensitive teeth. In fact, millions of people suffer discomfort or even pain from eating their favourite foods and drinking their favourite drinks. However, in the majority of cases, there is a lot that can be done to desensitize sensitive teeth.

Sensitive teeth most often trigger pain when people eat or drink something very cold like ice cream, iced lemonade or a cold beer. However, some people face the problem when they eat hot foods too. Some even get trouble when they breathe cold air. These examples of pain from sensitive teeth usually come from a partly exposed tooth nerve.

If this is due to cavities, then the pain is to a large extent, self-inflicted, because everybody should go to see a dentist twice a year for a check up and pre-emptive or corrective work.

Sometimes, however the trouble lies with the fact that the gums are retreating which occurs naturally as we get older. The receding gums expose the lower parts of the teeth and thus the roots too.

In this case, the pain essentially occurs because the exposed root has tubules which run to your nerves. Any pressure on these will be fed to the nerves resulting in pain.

Remedial action is difficult, pre-emptive action is not. Unfortunately, many people were instructed how to brush their teeth quite badly. For decades, children were taught to scrub at their teeth to get them clean, but a side effect of that harsh brush work, is to steadily push the gums back off your teeth. It may take decades, but it is almost certain to happen and this will result in sensitive teeth.

Current guidance is to brush gently and never towards your gums, always away from them. Modern tooth pastes are so much better than they were decades ago, so they do not need so much assistance to get your teeth clean.

If, however, you are in the sad position of already having sensitive teeth, there may still be something you can do about it. Potassium nitrite will help 'desensitivize' your teeth, so you should look for a tooth paste that contains this chemical. It can be found in several preparations for sensitive teeth including Sensodyne tooth paste, which is recommended by dentists for this task all over the world.

Another method you can try is using mouth wash containing fluoride. There are dozens of them in any pharmacy, so you will have to try a few until you find one that works for you. A couple of tips are to first try the brands of mouth wash that contain high levels of fluoride and brands that do not contain alcohol. Some seem to burn your mouth, but others do not.

If these suggestions have no effect, then you are incredibly unlucky, and there is nothing for it but to go to the dentist. A dentist deals with sensitive teeth every working day, and there are new products coming onto the market all the time, so go along to your dental surgery and let them sort out your sensitive teeth.

Monday 15 November 2010

Your Baby's First Molar Tooth

At about the thirtieth month of a child's life, it has its full quota of twenty temporary teeth. The first, or six year molars, the initial teeth of the permanent set, make their appearance when the child is approximately years old. There are four of these, one for each side, above and below. In front and behind these four teeth the remaining twenty-eight permanent teeth will take their positions. Therefore, it is most important that these teeth, known the keystones of the dental arch, preserved.

The first molar is larger than any tooth in the temporary set and chewing surface has five cusps which grind the food. These cusps are separated from each other by grooves wherein small, sticky particles of food may be caught and held if sufficient care is not taken free the teeth of such particles after meals. The bits of food offer favorable environment for bacteria causing dental decay. The bacteria enter the grooves, multiply, and penetrate the enamel or covering of the tooth to begin destruction.

Their destructive action is evidenced by a small cavity. The size increases, and the child complains of toothache. If at this time the tooth is still neglected and a dentist's services are not employed, the extent of the destruction will reach proportions beyond the possibility of repair and the only remedy will be removal.

Its loss is most serious, for not only is the molar tooth essential for complete mastication of food, but if it is removed from the jaw before all the remaining permanent teeth have appeared, these other teeth may take improper positions in the gums and thus develop unsightly irregularities of the mouth.

The parent must watch for the appearance of the first molars in the child's mouth; must see that these teeth are kept scrupulously clean; and as a final check the careful parent should permit a dentist to examine these teeth and the temporary teeth, as well, at regular intervals.

Saturday 6 November 2010

Kids' Dentists

A parent wants the best for their children and selecting kids' dentists may be a smart option. Good oral health should begin in babyhood in order to instill lifelong habits and longevity of the teeth. With proper attention, each tooth that erupts in an infant's mouth can be stronger and less susceptible to decay. Here are some things parents should consider:

- Even before the choppers begin to emerge, an infant should have his or her gums cleaned after feedings. Cleaning can be done with a damp soft washrag.

- Babies should not be put to bed with their bottle. Falling asleep with sweet liquid dribbling into their mouths is an invitation to tooth decay and a condition called "bottle mouth."

- Even formula and breast milk contain sugars. Juices and sodas are definite no-no's in bedtime bottles. Water is the only acceptable fluid for them to sip while falling asleep.

- Pacifiers should never be dipped in sugar or honey to quiet down a fussy child. Anything sweet will transform into bacteria and acidic deposits which will damage the enamel of sprouting teeth.

- Thumb sucking and pacifier dependence should be discontinued by the fourth or fifth birthday. Once permanent choppers begin to arrive, misalignment may occur due to the sucking.

- According to most dentists, children should begin drinking from a sippy cup by their first birthday. After some months of practice with the sippy cup, a regular drinking glass should be introduced.

- Teething timetables vary depending on the individual genetic predisposition. The two central bottom incisors are often the first to arrive, followed by the two central uppers.

- Teaching kids how to brush and floss should begin in early childhood. They may need help from their parents until they are in their elementary school years, however.

- Toothpastes containing fluoride are a good idea in moderation. Adults will need to monitor the amounts initially, as large dollops of the substance can make the youngsters sick. Fluoride can help increase strength of the enamel and cut down on decay.

- Earlier orthodontia: Back some years ago, orthodontists didn't start their work of straightening till the kids were adolescents. This has changed to early preventative intervention which can eliminate the need for braces or cut the timeframe of straightening down substantially. Even elementary school youngsters should consult an orthodontist if it's apparent that they will end up with a crooked grin.

- Braces can be cool: So many children end up wearing braces in order to straighten their smiles. The dental industry has taken note of that and beautified the apparatuses. Clear, multicolored or fancily bejeweled - braces have become hip.

- They are what they eat: Not only is a growing human body formed by the nutrients which are ingested, by each tooth is affected as well. The healthier the menu, the healthier the kid. Sugary or starchy items break down into acidic residues which erode the enamel. When sweets are eaten, brushing and flossing should follow as soon as possible.

Your kids' dentists can keep their mouths healthy. The practitioners can be the beginning of a lifetime regime of strong dental habits.

Saturday 5 June 2010

Which Teeth Whitening Treatment Works Best?

A smile lights up your face and is probably the best way to dress up your self confidence. People can assume many things about another person just by the way you smile at them. Other jobs actually hire you for your smile, believe it or not, especially those that require excellent customer rapport. These days, a crooked smile can be fixed by dentists through various dental technology advancements. You'd be surprised how much some people are willing to spend on these procedures just to get that perfect smile.

Teeth whitening has become a major business boomer for dentists these days. Although it can be just as expensive that other dental procedures, but it is has made more people appreciate dentists. Usually, people leave dental clinics looking like major wrecks with hardly the desire to smile after hours of uncomfortable drilling and what not. After all, what would make you smile after shelling out hundreds of dollars just to have your teeth drilled and excavated? Then again, when people leave the dental clinic after a whitening treatment, they all seem to have this bright smile plastered on their face soon as they step out of that dentist's office even they just shelled out a few good hundred dollars.

There are many treatments to whiten your teeth. But it is best to evaluate the condition of your teeth and ask your dentist to choose the best treatment for you. As with any medical treatment, risks are always there. So, be sure to get some advice from your dentist before proceeding with this, as not everyone can be a candidate for this cosmetic procedure.

Always have the facts on hand about any dental procedure you would like to have done. There are a few ways to whiten your teeth naturally if you prefer home remedies for teeth whitening. If you'd rather go with professional teeth whitening, this requires the application of bleaching gels that may cause gum and teeth sensitivity and usually give varying results. Results are dependent on your teeth's degree of discoloration, your lifestyle and habits, as well as the type of whitening system you have chosen. Doing an at-home procedure requires diligence to achieve desired results. Also, it is important to know that results do fade with time and may call for a few more whitening treatments over the years to come. Unlike porcelain caps or veneers, your teeth naturally absorbs stains from food, beverages and some medicines. So if these things don't factor well with you, you may want to reconsider going with natural teeth whitening remedies. An expensive teeth whitening treatment does not always mean it is the best one for you.

Over the years, people have made use of tried and tested natural remedies and it is quite humbling to know that many of the things we enjoy today were borrowed from these long time cures. Unknown to most, a mixture of lemon juice and some salt used regularly can whiten your teeth with superb results. You can also use a dried orange peel and ground bay leaves turned into paste and it can also give you whiter teeth. If you like some thing a little more fruity tasting, get some strawberries and mash them in cup. Brush the moosh on to your teeth and leave it on for 5minutes and then rinse it off. It is best to rinse good after using home remedies since they don't always taste so well.

You have a wide range of teeth whitening treatments available for you to choose from. But choosing the best and the most effective one for you is what really matters in the end. Whether you decide to go with a professional teeth whitening treatment, or make do with natural home remedies, as long as you are happy with the results, then its all that counts.

 
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