6 Natural Tips for Teeth Whitening
As I approached my fortieth birthday my husband pointed out a horrible fact. My smile was looking dull. Years of coffee and tea, as well as several years spent smoking in the 1990s, were catching up to my teeth. A close look in the mirror confirmed that my once dazzling choppers looked downright dingy, so I began researching teeth whitening procedures.
Several hours of online research led me to some disturbing facts. Cosmetic bleaching treatments, purchased over the counter or applied in a dentist’s office, often contain harsh chemicals that can seep into the gums and tongue causing oral damage. At the advice of a friend I instead began looking into natural teeth whitening treatments that I could do on my own. Some of the things I found were obvious and seemed like common sense. However, I was surprised at some of the other things in the list – like avoid drinking water with fluoride.
Tips on Undergoing your Own Natural Teeth Whitening Treatments
provided he can remember my birthday and our anniversary without prompting!)Which Foods Can Cause Teeth Discolouration?
It’s hard to believe that even the simplest of drinks can contribute towards teeth discolouration, but tea, sauces, wine… all can cause your teeth to lose their sparkle and develop nasty plaque.
So what can you do to prevent it? Avoid them completely?
Of course not! If you did that you’d barely have anything left to eat/drink. However, learn to recognise which foods can discolour your teeth and you can then take the next step to protect them.
Top 6 foods which discolour teeth
1. Tea – this characteristically healthy drink is reputed to be worse than coffee at staining your teeth. Even herbal tea and white teas can erode your enamel causing your teeth to take on a yellowish appearance.
2. Sauces – soy sauce, tomato sauce and curry sauce have all been linked to staining so opt for lighter sauces where possible.
3. Acidic drinks – alongside fizzy drinks, sports/energy drinks have also been found to erode tooth enamel.
4. Wine – red wine in particular is known for tooth discolouration due to the tannins and chromogens it contains. Yet white wine is no less bad for your teeth due to its high acidic content.
5. Berries – the pigmented molecules in blueberries, blackberries, cherries, pomegranates and other colourful berries all have a tendency to stick to your enamel, thus staining your teeth.
6. Sweets – this one should really be of no surprise considering the colour they can sometimes send your tongue.
How can I stop staining?
The problem with most of the foods listed above is a lot of them are full of nutrients and antioxidants which are good for your body, so unsurprisingly you don’t want to exclude them from your diet entirely.
For this reason, try to cut back and eat them in moderation (this is particularly true of the berries and tomato sauce). Alternatively you can try swapping them for berries which are equally filled with antioxidants such as cauliflower, apples, grapefruit and melon. These are all good for your body, but won’t stain your teeth.
Other tips you can try include:
. Brushing regularly – as well as brushing twice a day, why not also try brushing your teeth after you have eaten something which you know is notorious for staining. Flossing too can help to limit plaque. Simply aim to rinse your mouth and brush your teeth after Continue reading
Gum Disease and Other Health Problems
Oral health is more important than you may realize and it is imperative to understand the connection between poor oral health and overall health. Poor oral health can lead to periodontal disease, otherwise known as gum disease, which can then lead to a host of other serious medical conditions, such as diabetes. Poor oral health may also affect or contribute to various other health conditions and diseases, including:
1. Diabetes – Having diabetes can contribute to poor oral health and gum disease, as it puts the gums at risk due to the body’s lowered resistance to infection. Individuals with inadequate blood sugar control have a higher risk of developing further severe infections, including the infection of the gums. An infection of the gums can impair the body’s ability to utilize or process insulin, which makes diabetes much more difficult to control.
2. Endocarditis – Poor oral health and gum disease, coupled with a weak immune system or a damaged heart valve, can cause complications and infections in other parts of the body, such as the membranous lining of the heart. Since gum disease and other dental procedures cut or wound the gums, bacteria and plaque are allowed to enter the bloodstream, which then block or damage the blood vessels and arties leading to heart disorders.
3. Alzheimer’s – Poor oral health and gum disease can lead to Alzheimer’s; with an NYU study finding an increased inflammation of the gums, leading to increased inflammation and degeneration of the brain, which impaired cognitive functions.
4. Cardiovascular disease – Poor oral health and gum disease may lead to cardiovascular disease. Studies suggest that heart disease is associated with oral bacteria due to inflammation from a severe form of gum disease known as periodontitis. Individuals with gum disease are more likely to have cardiovascular disease compared to individuals that have healthy tissues, which is again due to wounded gums and the displacement of oral plaque and bacteria into blood vessels and arteries.
5. Other – The pain and swelling caused by gum disease can also lead to a greater occurrence of stroke, low-birth weight babies, oral cancer, pre-eclampsia and pancreatic cancer.
Proper oral hygiene is essential not only to prevent oral health problems, but overall health, as well. Appropriate dental care is crucial for proper oral hygiene, which can prevent gum disease. Brushing and flossing routinely along with routine cleanings performed by a dentist are fundamental to proper oral hygiene.
Without consistent proper oral care, numerous overall health issues can result. Routine dental exams can protect your oral health, as well as protect your overall health, and your dentist is able to uncover problems in the early stages, when a problem is easily treatable and the damage is nominal. Treating conditions early and learning how to prevent gum disease will protect your oral health and help avoid health problems associated with poor oral health.
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Becky Mackay is an online writer, with a keen interest in health and lifestyle. For more tops tips on dentistry and preventing gum disease visit her Twitter page FreshHealth11