Taking care of your teeth
Given today’s skyrocketing dentistry prices and the fact that most people cannot afford private dental plans, it may be time to consider becoming your own dentist. Of course, this doesn’t mean taking courses for do-it-yourself root canals, but there are some basic tips that can make your pearly whites look better.
- Try whitening toothpastes. Make sure the toothpaste has the American Dental Association (ADA) seal of approval and has been clinically proved to whiten teeth effectively. Very few whitening toothpastes have undergone any type of clinical trial, and ones that are too abrasive can damage teeth or make them very sensitive. The most important thing is to brush your teeth at night.
- Flossing regularly after supper and before you brush your teeth is also a must.
- Fluoride-based mouthwashes have also been proven very affective in fighting cavities and gum disease.
- When you are brushing your teeth, you haven’t finished the job until you brush your tongue. Your tongue harbors germs and bacteria that can cause bad breath. You can brush your tongue with regular toothpaste.
- There are some types of food that stain teeth like coffee, tea, red wine, and others that work on the teeth like detergents. Food that require a lot of chewing like apples, celery, and carrots whiten teeth naturally. Vegetables like spinach, lettuce and broccoli prevent staining by creating a film on the teeth that acts as a barrier.
- For whitening effect use strawberries or lemon peels which have gentle cleansing and bleaching properties and help remove coffee and tea stains from the teeth. They should be massaged over your teeth.
All these procedures really don’t take longer than five minutes at a time. Keep that in mind the next time when you find yourself waiting in your dentist’s lobby for three new cavities that surely could have been avoided.