The Health Blog

Most people nowadays are getting attracted to tooth whitening products because they want to have a million dollar smile just like the celebrities seen on television.

If you want your teeth to become whiter and more dazzling, you can add whitening toothpastes into your personal dental care kit. If you want to use whitening toothpastes, don’t forget to check if it still contains fluoride and other ingredients that fight and prevent plaque and tartar.

However, a lot of whitening toothpaste users claim that these whitening products didn’t really do much in changing the color of their teeth. The yellowing of the teeth is actually a natural phenomenon. As a person gets older, his or her teeth becomes yellowish.

If you are not satisfied with the color of your teeth, the best way is to visit your dentist first and consult him or her about your dilemma. Your dentist will tell you about the effectiveness of over-counter-products or they may even offer to give you professional treatment.

Most celebrities actually prefer to undergo professional teeth whitening treatment because that way, their unique needs can be met. Be very careful in purchasing over-the-counter teeth whitening products because some of these may contain bleaching agents that can actually damage your mouth and gums.

In addition to that, do follow the instructions strictly to avoid experiencing adverse side effects.

The primary aim of personal dental care is to prevent cavities from forming in the teeth. In order for you to prevent cavities and maintain a healthy set of teeth, you need to remove plaque, a transparent layer of bacteria that stays on the surface of your teeth.

Some effective ways to prevent plaque from forming is to brush your teeth at least twice a day and floss at least once a day. Brushing your teeth will help stimulate your gums and in turn keep them healthy and less susceptible to gum diseases.

Choose The Right Toothpaste

Toothpastes are typically made of detergents, abrasives and foaming agents. The most common active ingredient in toothpaste is fluoride. Fluoride is the component of the toothpaste that is responsible for preventing cavities from forming.

I visited my dentist today and while waiting for my turn, I killed the time browsing on some dental magazines. And I found a great article about oral hygiene - talking about how to brush and floss properly.

Plaque-covered teeth, inflamed gum, and smelly breath are due to poor oral hygiene. Hence, the importance of cleaning your teeth as soon as these appear or erupt in the oral cavity to achieve zero cavity.

Correct tooth brushing and flossing are the most effective mechanical defenses against gum disease and halitosis (smelly breath).

Here’s how to brush properly:

1. Employ a circular brushig motion at a 45-degree angle and move from the outside to the inside of the teeth.

2. Brush using upward stroke for lower teeth and downward stroke for upper teeth.

3. Pay particular attention to the chewing surfaces and in-between teeth.

4. Avoid the back-and-forth motion. It may cause your gums to recede and irritate the roots and surfaces of your teeth.

5. Brush at least twice a day for a full three to four minutes - the average song length. So why not tun on your radio while brushing?

6. Brush your tongue or you may use a tongue scraper.