Natural Tips for Teeth Whitening at home

No matter what fashions are ruling the runway this season, there's one flattering accessory that will always remain in vogue: Bright, glistening white teeth

While traditional treatments like teeth whitening toothpastes, at-home trays and in-office procedures are an effective way to get there, they can sometimes cause tooth sensitivity and pain. For those hoping to steer clear of chemical treatments, there are a few techniques that can possibly help your smile to sparkle naturally.

The first step is good oral hygiene. “Health and beauty are intertwined” says Arthur Glosman, D.D.S., a cosmetic dentist in Beverly Hills. “If something is healthy, it’s going to look beautiful. If it’s sick, no amount of white teeth is going to make it look good.”

Beyond that, here are a few remedies that do work for a whiter teeth:

Crunchy fruits and vegetables
Crunchy, crispy fruits have an abrasiveness that can help to lift stains from the teeth and give the illusion that they are whiter. "They're like nature's toothbrush"

Try munching on apples, celery and carrots, which have enough abrasiveness to clean tooth surface without posing any harm to the enamel. "The crispier the better"

Flossing
People underestimate how important staining is that happens in between the teeth. If you just floss, you can remove so much of the staining that's in between the teeth that your teeth will already look whiter.

No matter how bleached your teeth are, they won't look healthy set up against red, puffy and receded gums, so continuing to brush at least twice a day on top of a daily flossing is highly recommended.

Cheese, Milk and Yogurt
There's a growing body of evidence indicating that eating a small amount of cheese after a meal can potentially help to prevent tooth decay and promote enamel re-mineralization.

Milk and yogurt keep teeth sparkling and cavity-free because they contain the minerals calcium and phosphorus, which promote the remineralziation of tooth enamel.

Sugar-free gum with xylitol
Xyoltol is a natural sweetener that can actually help to prevent plaque. While plaque feeds on regular sugar, it can't digest xylitol. Xylitol also neutralizes pH levels in the mouth and increases saliva production. Saliva is like the natural cleaner that we have in our mouth and it spills through all of the cracks and crevices.

Bear in mind that this works both ways -- while saliva can wash away food and debris, it can also carry bacteria throughout the mouth, meaning twice daily brushings and low sugar intake are just as important.

Baking Soda (Sodium Bicarbonate)
While there are properties in baking soda that can remove surface stains, it's not the ideal long-term tooth whitener, says Kimberly Harms, D.D.S., consumer advisor for the American Dental Association, as it can be too abrasive on teeth and ultimately damage the enamel (which can actually make teeth appear even darker). Instead, she suggests sticking with whitening toothpaste that has a clinically tested, safe amount of abrasive properties. The American Dentistry Association looks at appropriate abrasiveness levels, among other factors, when handing out their ADA Accepted seals.

Facts About Dental Crowns

A crown is a type of dental restoration that fully cups over that portion of a tooth or dental implant that lies at and above the gum line.

Once placed, it in effect becomes the tooth's new outer surface. In comparison, a dental filling just fills in or repairs a portion of a tooth.

Dental crowns are sometimes referred to as dental caps, tooth caps, or porcelain jackets

Dental crowns are permanently cemented into place. The tooth crown unit that results is cared for and functions like any natural tooth.

Why are crowns placed?
There are a several different reasons why a dental crown might be made for a tooth. Dentists routinely use them to:

• Restoring or making changes with a tooth's shape
• Strengthening a structurally compromised tooth
• Improve the appearance of a tooth (including color, shape and even apparent alignment).

What kinds of materials are dental crowns made out of?

• Porcelain Crown (or other type of dental ceramic.)
• Metal alloy or Full Metal Crown "FMC" (a gold or other precious, semi-precious or non-precious alloy)
• A combination of dental ceramic and metal alloy (porcelain-fused-to-metal crowns)

The advantage of a crown
In some instances, it's conceivable that a dental filling might be placed as an alternative. A dental crown, however, offers a big advantage due to the way that it's constructed.

Crowns are fabricated in a dental laboratory (by a dental technician using molds your teeth). Dental Fillings, in comparison, are built right in your mouth by way of your dentist placing the filling material directly upon your tooth.

It's easier to get the "perfect" tooth shape with a crown
A dental laboratory technician gets the opportunity to simulate and examine aspects of your bite and jaw movements from a variety of angles, and then sculpt your dental crown so it has the ideal shape.

With a dental filling, the dentist has far less control over the restoration's final contours because it is often difficult for them to visualize, evaluate, or access to the tooth they're working on.

How Often Should You Go to the Dentist?

Even if you take excellent care of your teeth and gums at home, you still need to see your dentist regularly. Your dentist can check for problems that you may not see or feel. Many dental problems don't become visible or cause pain until they are in more advanced stages. Examples include cavities, gum disease and oral cancer.

Regular visits allow your dentist to find early signs of disease. Problems can be treated at a manageable stage.

On average, seeing a dentist twice a year works well for most people. A few people can get away with fewer visits. Others may need more frequent visits. People with very little risk of cavities or gum disease can do fine seeing their dentist just once a year. People with a high risk of dental disease might need to visit every three or four months, or more. This high-risk group includes:

• Smokers
• Diabetics
• People with current gum disease
• People with a weak immune response to bacterial infection
• People who tend to get cavities or build up plaque

The schedule for any person may change during a lifetime. In times of stress or illness, you may need to see the dentist more often than usual. The dentist may help you to fight off a temporary infection or treat changes in your mouth.

If you take good care of your teeth and gums at home and your dentist doesn't find any cavities or gum disease for a few years, he or she may choose to lengthen the time between visits. Ask your dentist the best schedule for your routine dental visits.

Choosing the Right Toothbrush

What Type of Toothbrush Should I Use ?
With so many shapes, sizes and styles of toothbrushes on the market, deciding which kind to buy can be confusing. Here's what you should look for when choosing a toothbrush:

• Most dental professionals agree that a soft-bristled  toothbrush is best for removing plaque and debris from your teeth. Small-headed toothbrushes are also preferable, since they can better reach all areas of the mouth, including hard-to-reach back teeth
• When it comes to the type of handle (such as non-slip grip or flexible neck), shape of the head (tapered or rectangular) and style of bristles (such as rippled, flat or trimmed to a dome shape), pick whatever is most comfortable for you. The best toothbrush is one that fits your mouth and allows you to reach all teeth easily
• For many, a powered toothbrush is a good alternative. It can do a better job of cleaning teeth, particularly for those who have difficulty brushing or who have limited manual dexterity

How Often Should I Replace My Toothbrush ?
You should replace your toothbrush when it begins to show wear, or every three months, whichever comes first. It is also very important to change toothbrushes after you've had a cold, since the bristles can collect germs that can lead to reinfection.

Tips for Brushing Your Teeth Properly

Dentists say that the minimum time you should spend brushing your teeth is 2 minutes twice a day.
Here are some tips on how to brush your teeth properly:

• Hold your brush at a 45-degree angle against your gumline. Gently brush from where the tooth and gum meet to the chewing surface in short (about half-a-tooth-wide) strokes. Brushing too hard can cause receding gums, tooth sensitivity, and, over time, loose teeth.
• Use the same method to brush all outside and inside surfaces of your teeth.
• To clean the chewing surfaces of your teeth, use short sweeping strokes, tipping the bristles into the pits and crevices.
• To clean the inside surfaces of your top and bottom front teeth and gums, hold the brush almost vertical. With back and forth motions, bring the front part of the brush over the teeth and gums.
• Using a forward-sweeping motion, gently brush your tongue and the roof of your mouth to remove the decay-causing bacteria that exist in these places.
  
• Use an egg timer or play a favorite song while brushing your teeth to get used to brushing for a full 2 to 3 minutes. Some electronic toothbrushes have timers that let you know when 2 minutes are up.