Tips for a Whiter Smile

Dental Floss - While brushing helps to prevent stains on the outsides of your teeth, dental flossing is just as important in order to prevent and remove staining between your teeth, contributing to the overall cleanliness of your mouth.

Water - Water is great at flushing away acids or sugar on your teeth after drinking or eating, therefore helping to prevent tooth staining.

Electric Toothbrushes - Dentists believe that when it comes to toothbrushes, electric ones are far more effective at removing stains on the tooth's surface and increasing the overall appearance of your teeth.

Strawberries - While other berries contribute to teeth staining, there is some evidence to suggest that strawberries may actually promote whiter, brighter and healthier teeth - bonus!

Dairy - Calcium and phosphorus help to protect your tooth enamel, and these two minerals are found in high quantities in dairy products such as cheese, yogurt and milk. Consuming food and beverages high in these two minerals will allow your enamel to become stronger and gradually resist staining.

Crunchy Fruits and Vegetables - Crunchy fruits and vegetables such as apples, pears, carrots and lettuce are all excellent at acting as a natural abrasive, therefore lifting stains gradually as you chew.

Chewing Gum - If you don't want to have to carry your toothbrush with you everywhere you go (let's face it, who would?), then your best option is to always have a packet of sugar-free gum handy to chew on after eating any teeth-staining food.

Condiments - Condiments such as barbecue sauce, ketchup, soy sauce - and yes, even our favorite chocolate sauce - are all culprits of staining your teeth. So next time you might want to go lighter on the sauce, or just try to avoid it altogether!

Be Wary of Berries - Berries such as raspberries, blueberries and blackberries may be good for you, but they're also three of the worst stain-producing fruits for your teeth! Enjoy their nutritional value, but it's recommended that you brush your teeth after eating them to avoid stains setting in.

Avoid Darker Beverages - Beverages heavy in color, particularly coffee and tea, are major culprits in tooth staining. While you don't have to avoid them altogether, adding more milk or opting for lighter varieties will help to stop the stains.

Beverages: Too Hot or Cold? - Beverages that are either very hot, or very cold, are also dangerous to your teeth enamel. The extreme temperatures make teeth more porous, therefore putting them at a much higher risk of unwanted staining.

Use a Straw - Many drinks, such as fruit juices, are quite acidic and therefore attack teeth enamel, making them more prone to staining. These drinks should be consumed through a straw in order to prevent as much acid wear as possible, as should sugary drinks that are also no good for your teeth.

Choose the Right Lipstick - You can easily fake whiter teeth by carefully choosing which shade of lipstick you apply. Greyish teeth seem whiter when teamed with a brown-toned lipstick, whereas nude or pink shades instantly brighten off-white or slightly yellow teeth.

Whitening Strips - Most experts recommend using whitening strips, rather than having a full bleaching treatment, as whitening strips are widely available and quite effective. Bleaching treatments also puts your teeth at more risk of staining once the treatment has finished, therefore should be avoided.

Toothpaste - Every night, without fail, brush your teeth before going to bed. This will prevent stains forming while you sleep, helping you to maintain whiter teeth every day. Toothpastes with baking soda in them have proven to be particularly effective against stain build-up.

What Your Dentist Can Do For Your Smile

You should consider a full dental examination if you are uncomfortable with the appearance of your smile because your teeth are crooked, broken or discolored. By always covering your mouth or lips while you talk or smile may make people think you are hiding something or that you lack confidence. Your teeth should not hold you back from looking or feeling your best.

The right cosmetic changes to your teeth can make a huge difference in the way you look and, ultimately, in the way you feel about yourself.

Some of the common cosmetic dental procedures include:

Scaling and polishing: This is done to remove plaque and surface stains, and give the teeth a brightening polish.

Bleaching: This is done to brighten and whiten teeth. It can also be done using a strong solution of hydrogen peroxide or carbamide peroxide that is activated by a high-intensity light.

For best results, you may require several treatments and at-home treatments to maintain results.

Alternatively, there is another bleaching technique using laser.

The teeth are prepared with a special acid which is combined with concentrated hydrogen peroxide solution and a laser beam is used to painlessly activate the bleach.

Laser bleaching is the quickest method of brightening and whitening teeth.

Depending on certain habits (like smoking, tea or coffee drinking), the whitening effects can last for as long as 2 years.

CAUTION: Women who are pregnant or breast feeding should not have their teeth bleached.

Crowning: This is the traditional way of repairing a broken or badly shaped tooth using a 'crown' or 'cap' to cover the tooth.

A dental crown can be used to restore weak, broken, badly discolored or misshaped tooth.

Crowns can be made from different materials including steel, metal, porcelain or glass.

Bonding: This is an alternative to crowning. This involves sticking a layer of plastic, called a composite, to the teeth to make them more attractive.

The dentist contours, sculpts and polishes the material to create a desired shape and length. It is a wonderful technique for repairing chipped and fractured teeth as it can be used to change the shape and structure of the teeth.

In extreme cases, bonding can be used to completely cover the surface of each tooth to mask severe discoloration, bad positioning, or poor shape.

Averagely, the typical bond lasts 3 or 5 years but requires routine maintenance to remove stains.

Veneers: This is the bonding of a very thin layer of porcelain on the surface of the teeth. It is an effective way of treating discolored teeth, closing gaps or repairing chips and cracks.

The more-luxurious laminate veneers which are ultra-thin sculpted pieces of tooth-shaped porcelain offer the best options for reshaping the teeth.

They make the teeth look so naturally healthy and can last as much as 10 to 15 years.

Orthodontics: This is the use of fixed braces to correct the alignment of the teeth. This treatment will straighten crowded or crooked teeth and move them back in line.

A good cosmetic dentist can redesign anyone's teeth and provide a list of options to suit any budget.

Don't allow your teeth deprive you of a beautiful smile, consult a dentist today!

Home Remedies For Common Teeth Problems

There is no substitute for a professional dental examination  especially when you have dental problems as certain problems with the teeth may actually be symptoms of more serious systemic diseases or infections.

However, there are a few things you can do by yourself, at home, when you have some dental troubles.

These includes:

For teeth whitening: Sprinkle some baking soda on a wet toothbrush and brush gently to remove stains and build-up from the enamel. Rinse thoroughly with water. You can do this once a week.

Also for teeth whitening, ground some charcoal into powder, mix with some honey and use as toothpaste to brush your teeth gently. Be gentle on gums and rinse thoroughly after brushing. You can do this once a week.

Lastly, for teeth whitening, use bitter leaf to wash the teeth and gums thoroughly and rinse with water.

For gum infection: Mix one tablespoon of salt in half glass of warm water and gargle 2 to 3 times daily.

This is also effective in treating sore throat and can serve as a mouthwash for use once a day.

Also for gum infection, chew a few basil (scent) leaves first thing in the morning before breakfast.

This is also an effective remedy for throat infections.

For relief from toothache: Peel a glove of garlic and bite down against the affected tooth. Leave on for about 10 minutes. After removing the garlic, rinse your mouth with warm water.

Alternatively, you can mash the garlic with a little salt and apply the paste on the affected area.

Along with other medicinal properties, the juice from garlic contains natural pain killing and anti-inflammatory properties.

No mouthwash: Dilute one part of lemon juice to 3 parts of warm water and use to rinse your mouth.

What you need to solve your dental troubles are as common as stated above, give them a try. You'll be glad you did.

8 Handsome Ways to have Beautiful Smiles

We exercise to keep fit, go different lengths to keep our body glowing, dress to flatter our shapes, apply make-up all in a bid to improve our looks; One major way we can complement our look is with a beautiful smile.

Nothing beats the charm of a dazzling smile!

One way you can boost your smile's dazzle is by looking after your teeth. When you smile, your teeth should be bright with no chips or cracks.

Our teeth play an important role in how beautiful our smile is and generally, in our overall appearance. Good teeth can help you look younger and more attractive.

Unfortunately, not all of us are lucky enough to be born with a set of pearly white teeth. Also, as we age, the teeth get discoloured. This is a natural part of the aging process but there is no need for despair.

Below are simple ways you can enhance the appearance of your teeth for a prettier smile:

• Brush: You must brush your teeth twice a day - before breakfast and before you sleep. Daily brushing is important to remove plaques. When plaques are not removed, they continue to build up and, along with food particles that are left, can cause teeth decay and gum diseases.

         Brush your teeth for at least 2 minutes making sure you clean the insides of your teeth, your gum and tongue as well.

         You can boost you gum health by massaging gently with your brush while brushing. This help increase blood flow to the gum, those making them healthier.

         You can consult your dentist for the type of brush that best suit your but remember to change them every 3 months.

         Avoid the use of brushes with very hard bristles, they can damage your gum and the protective enamel covering your teeth.

• Floss: This is the only way to eliminate bacteria between your teeth which causes teeth decay and gum diseases. Use dental floss at least once a day to remove food particles stuck in-between your teeth. Avoid using toothpicks which can damage your gum.

• Eat right: Simply chewing on crunchy raw fruits such as apples, carrots, cucumber and cabbage can help clean the teeth and gums. These foods act as natural stain removers and are also high in Vitamin C which prevents gum diseases.

• Avoid sugary foods and drinks: Sugary drinks, citrus (lemon, lime etc) fruits and juices contain harmful acids that attack the enamel on teeth and trigger the decay process. Also, constant drinking of dark beverages like coffee, tea, and red wine can stain or colour your teeth. If you do indulge yourself, rinse your mouth with water or use a mouthwash right after. To minimize the chances of staining or colouring your teeth with these beverages, use a straw to prevent direct exposure to your teeth.

• Quit smoking: It stains your teeth and also causes bad breath too.

• Chew gum: Sugar-free gums can help keep your teeth clean and healthy. Chewing gum helps you remove food particles stuck to the teeth and also increases saliva flow in the mouth that help neutralize the harmful acids that cause tooth decay. However, avoid constant chewing which can cause articular problems and dental cavities.

• Use mouthwashes: Get and use fluoride mouthwashes especially at night to help strengthen teeth enamel. Before using a mouthwash, read the instructions on the product and use as directed.

• Consult a dentist: Go for regular dental check-ups, at least once a year and every-time you have problem with your teeth. Regular dental checkups are not only for dental health but for general well-being as well as serious health conditions that can be detected through routine oral examination.

You are what your smiles make you, get the most of life - get a beautiful smile, get a beautiful life!