Of course, we all know some things can really stain our teeth - like red wine, coffee, and carbonated drinks - but what if we told you there are certain fruits, vegetables, and even drinks that can help you achieve whiter teeth?
Apples, cauliflower, celery, and carrots are “nature’s toothbrushes” - these work like an abrasive scrub to help whiten teeth. They also stimulate the production of saliva, which helps prevent plaque from forming. Since stains stick to plaque, the saliva helps prevent staining altogether.
Eating juicy citrus fruits increases the production of saliva, washing away foods that stain. Oranges and pineapples are naturally acidic, which may help whiten the surfaces of the teeth. The acid of these fruits contain enzymes, which kill bacteria that cause tooth decay and bad breath.
Strawberries contain malic acid that whitens teeth, munching on these throughout the week can help naturally brighten the appearance of your teeth.
Dairy products - yogurt, milk, and hard cheeses - contain lactic acid, which may help protect the teeth against decay. Dairy contains helps of calcium, helping to guard and strengthen the bone that holds teeth in place. Chewing on hard cheese creates saliva, helping remove food particles that would otherwise stain teeth. Yogurt - researchers argue - helps bind to teeth and prevent harmful acids from attacking the teeth and causing cavities.
Prevention is always better than the cure so to be sure to avoid eating and drinking too many teeth-staining products, such as coffee, tea, blueberries, red wine, soy sauce, fizzy drinks, and tobacco.
It only takes around seven minutes for destruction to start and for damage to be caused to your teeth. Rinse with plain water for several seconds and brush your teeth (if possible) soon afterwards (but not directly after as this can cause more damage than good). If water isn’t available, chew sugarless gum to remove stain-causing particles.
Tuesday, 9 April 2013
Tuesday, 2 April 2013
How to Avoid Toothache Forever
Nearly one in ten people in the UK are not registered with a dentist and only 21 per cent of those that are say they visit their dentist at least once a year. According to one study, around one in four people dread going to the dentist and make excuses so they can avoid attending appointments.
Dental pain can be caused by a variety of problems with the most common cause of toothache being dental decay.
REGULAR CHECK-UPS
It’s recommended that young people aged under-18 should visit the dentist every three to 12 months and adults should attend dental appointments between three to 24 months - all depending upon the advice of their dentist. Regular check-ups make sure your teeth are healthy, your dentist can identify any problems that are developing and give advice to prevent any further progression of dental issues - such as dental decay and gum disease.
COST
Whilst some people say they do not have the time to visit their dentist (despite employers being obliged to give employees time off work for such appointments), sometimes the cost is an issue and a fear of the dentist’s chair is all too common. However, the fact is toothache is one of the ways your mouth tells you there is a problem and not taking a trip to the dentist means whatever problems there might be, could be getting worse.
Dental trips might appear to be an expense worth sparing - especially if you visit your dentist for a check-up only to be told your teeth are fine. But consider this - if you only visit the dentist when the problem is causing serious discomfort, the costs to correct the damage will turn out to b far greater than if you’d paid for regular check-ups that would have identified the problems before they worsened.
CAUSES
Tooth decay now affects 31 per cent of adults in the UK and is a significant problem among children too. It can cause discomfort and toothache, as does gum disease. Both can be avoided by watching the foods and drinks you consume and making sure your teeth are well looked after with regular cleaning, brushing, and flossing.
Another common cause of dental pain is bruxism - grinding and/or clenching of the teeth. This can lead to the teeth being worn down causing the jaw to ache. Anxiety and stress is a common cause of bruxism, in fact 70 per cent of cases are caused by stress, so it is important to reduce stress levels. A mouth guard made by your dentists will prevent your teeth being damaged and help stop your from grinding/clenching your teeth during sleep.
Tooth sensitivity is a common cause of toothache, often felt when teeth react to hot and cold temperatures. Tooth sensitivity is caused when receding gums expose the sensitive dentine below or when the enamel on the surface of the teeth is damaged.
PAIN RELIEF
Gargling with salt water helps to soothe irritated gums, over the counter painkillers temporarily dull dental pain, and oil of cloves can be used as a natural painkiller and antiseptic. The best pain relief is to avoid dental problems from developing through regular visits to the dentist so dental issues can be identified early on.
PREVENTION
Visit your dentist regularly and make appointments to visit a dental hygienist to prevent plaque from building up on the teeth. Plaque build up can lead to cavities and onto more serious conditions such as periodontal disease.
There are various ways you can protect your teeth to avoid toothache - resist snacking and eliminate foods that put your teeth at risk. The sugars in some foods combine with plaque in your mouth to create avid, which will damage your teeth, so snacking on foods and drinks high in sugar throughout the day will cause frequent damage. It takes an hour for the saliva to restore natural pH, constant snacking means the teeth are under attack all day without having a chance to recover.
EFFECTIVE BRUSHING 25 per cent of adults don’t brush twice a day - people who only brush once a day are a third more likely to develop tooth decay. Effective brushing is crucial for protecting your teeth. You should brush your teeth for two minutes, twice a day - we recommend using a manual toothbrush in the morning and an electric toothbrush in the evening. Use circular strokes over each tooth, paying attention to the gum line as this will brush away food debris and bacteria. Introduce flossing and mouthwash to your daily routine, this will ensure all parts of your mouth will be cleaned since flossing and rinsing with mouthwash reaches areas of your teeth brushing alone cannot reach.
Dental pain can be caused by a variety of problems with the most common cause of toothache being dental decay.
REGULAR CHECK-UPS
It’s recommended that young people aged under-18 should visit the dentist every three to 12 months and adults should attend dental appointments between three to 24 months - all depending upon the advice of their dentist. Regular check-ups make sure your teeth are healthy, your dentist can identify any problems that are developing and give advice to prevent any further progression of dental issues - such as dental decay and gum disease.
COST
Whilst some people say they do not have the time to visit their dentist (despite employers being obliged to give employees time off work for such appointments), sometimes the cost is an issue and a fear of the dentist’s chair is all too common. However, the fact is toothache is one of the ways your mouth tells you there is a problem and not taking a trip to the dentist means whatever problems there might be, could be getting worse.
Dental trips might appear to be an expense worth sparing - especially if you visit your dentist for a check-up only to be told your teeth are fine. But consider this - if you only visit the dentist when the problem is causing serious discomfort, the costs to correct the damage will turn out to b far greater than if you’d paid for regular check-ups that would have identified the problems before they worsened.
CAUSES
Tooth decay now affects 31 per cent of adults in the UK and is a significant problem among children too. It can cause discomfort and toothache, as does gum disease. Both can be avoided by watching the foods and drinks you consume and making sure your teeth are well looked after with regular cleaning, brushing, and flossing.
Another common cause of dental pain is bruxism - grinding and/or clenching of the teeth. This can lead to the teeth being worn down causing the jaw to ache. Anxiety and stress is a common cause of bruxism, in fact 70 per cent of cases are caused by stress, so it is important to reduce stress levels. A mouth guard made by your dentists will prevent your teeth being damaged and help stop your from grinding/clenching your teeth during sleep.
Tooth sensitivity is a common cause of toothache, often felt when teeth react to hot and cold temperatures. Tooth sensitivity is caused when receding gums expose the sensitive dentine below or when the enamel on the surface of the teeth is damaged.
PAIN RELIEF
Gargling with salt water helps to soothe irritated gums, over the counter painkillers temporarily dull dental pain, and oil of cloves can be used as a natural painkiller and antiseptic. The best pain relief is to avoid dental problems from developing through regular visits to the dentist so dental issues can be identified early on.
PREVENTION
Visit your dentist regularly and make appointments to visit a dental hygienist to prevent plaque from building up on the teeth. Plaque build up can lead to cavities and onto more serious conditions such as periodontal disease.
There are various ways you can protect your teeth to avoid toothache - resist snacking and eliminate foods that put your teeth at risk. The sugars in some foods combine with plaque in your mouth to create avid, which will damage your teeth, so snacking on foods and drinks high in sugar throughout the day will cause frequent damage. It takes an hour for the saliva to restore natural pH, constant snacking means the teeth are under attack all day without having a chance to recover.
EFFECTIVE BRUSHING 25 per cent of adults don’t brush twice a day - people who only brush once a day are a third more likely to develop tooth decay. Effective brushing is crucial for protecting your teeth. You should brush your teeth for two minutes, twice a day - we recommend using a manual toothbrush in the morning and an electric toothbrush in the evening. Use circular strokes over each tooth, paying attention to the gum line as this will brush away food debris and bacteria. Introduce flossing and mouthwash to your daily routine, this will ensure all parts of your mouth will be cleaned since flossing and rinsing with mouthwash reaches areas of your teeth brushing alone cannot reach.
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