Do We Actually Know Enough to Keep Healthy Teeth?

Do human beings actually know what they can do to keep their teeth healthy and clean? At a first glance we'd be inclined to say “yes”, but there are lots of things that we ignore or pay too little attention to. How often do we ask ourselves what happens in the mouth after we suck at some delicious candies or eat an entire chocolate bar in one go? Well, the thing that we don't know is that bacteria are restless, and they have no other greater environment to grow into than the acid one created after some sugary thing has been chewed. Healthy teeth are definitely in danger when the dental enamel falls pray to bacteria.

Should we put a ban on sweets then if we want healthy teeth and a beautiful smile? Absolutely not, all we need to do is to actually try and limit eating sweets to meal times, since the saliva production helps you better cope with the bacteria. The enzymes in the saliva help to the natural neutralization process of the bacteria, not to mention the fact that saliva also washes food particles away. There are some tricks you could stick to in order to preserve healthy teeth. First of all, you could rinse your mouth with fresh water to minimize the sugar level in the mouth.

Then, if you chew some sugar free gum after the meal, you'll increase the saliva production and thus lower the bacterial threat. Experts also claim that cheese for instance will restore the pH balance after the meal, and you'd be able to have healthy teeth despite eating sweets. Furthermore, in case you have a soft drink, use a straw to sip it so that you minimize the contact of the teeth with the sugary liquid. Some drinks are not recommended at all for somebody who is keen on having perfect healthy teeth: coffee and tea are two such beverages that can easily stain the enamel and even dry the mouth.

Even when they are 100% natural, too acidic fruit juices can equally destroy the pH balance in the mouth, attacking otherwise healthy teeth. Orange juice for instance changes the acid level in the mouth and leaves the teeth exposed to decay. The only things that can save you under the circumstances of an improper diet are closely related to the oral health routine you establish for yourself. You can even talk to your dentist to ask for advice and have him or her recommend a special toothpaste or mouthwash that best suits your dental condition.

Muna wa Wanjiru Has Been Researching and Reporting on Teeth for Years. For More Information on Healthy Teeth, Visit His Site at HEALTHY TEETH

Article Source: articlesbase.com

Taking Care of Your Teeth

When you get your picture taken, everyone says, "Say cheese! Smile!" So you do - you open your mouth and show your teeth. When you see the picture, you see a happy person looking back at you. The healthier those teeth are, the happier you look. Why is that?

It's because your teeth are important in many ways. If you take care of them, they'll help take care of you. Strong, healthy teeth help you chew the right foods to help you grow. They help you speak clearly. And yes, they help you look your best.
Why Healthy Teeth Are Important

How does taking care of your teeth help with all those things? Taking care of your teeth helps prevent plaque (say: plak), which is a clear film that sticks to your teeth. The film itself might not sound so bad, but it's very sticky, and it acts like a magnet for bacteria (say: bak-teer-ee-uh) and sugar.

Like ants at a picnic, bacteria go crazy over the sugar on your teeth, breaking it down into acids that eat away tooth enamel, causing holes called cavities. Plaque also causes gingivitis (say: jin-juh-vi-tis), which is gum disease that can make your gums red, swollen, and sore. Your gums are those soft pink tissues in your mouth that hold your teeth in place.

If you don't take care of your teeth, it won't be long before cavities and unhealthy gums make your mouth very, very sore. Eating meals will be difficult. And you won't feel like smiling so much.

Before Toothpaste Was Invented

We're lucky that we know so much now about taking care of our teeth. Long ago, as people got older, their teeth would rot away and be very painful. To get rid of a toothache, they had their teeth pulled out. Finally people learned that cleaning their teeth was important, but they didn't have toothpaste right away. While you're swishing that minty-fresh paste around your mouth, think about what people used long ago to clean teeth:
ground-up chalk or charcoal
lemon juice
ashes (you know, the stuff that's left over after a fire)
tobacco and honey mixed together

It was only about 100 years ago that someone finally created a minty cream to clean teeth. Not long after that, the toothpaste tube was invented, so people could squeeze the paste right onto the toothbrush! Tooth brushing became popular during World War II. The U.S. Army gave brushes and toothpaste to all soldiers, and they learned to brush twice a day. Back then, toothpaste tubes were made of metal; today they're made of soft plastic and are much easier to squeeze!

Today there are plenty of toothpaste choices: lots of colors and flavors to choose from, and some brands are made just for kids. People with great-looking teeth advertise toothpaste on TV commercials and in magazines. When you're choosing a toothpaste, make sure it contains fluoride. Fluoride makes your teeth strong and protects them from cavities. When you brush, you don't need a lot of toothpaste: just squeeze out a bit the size of a pea. It's not a good idea to swallow the toothpaste, either, so be sure to rinse and spit after brushing.
How You Can Keep Your Teeth Healthy

Kids can take charge of their teeth by taking these steps:
Brush at least twice a day - after breakfast and before bedtime. If you can, brush after lunch or after sweet snacks. Brushing properly breaks down plaque.
Brush all of your teeth, not just the front ones. Spend some time on the teeth along the sides and in the back. Brush away from your gums.
Take your time while brushing. Spend at least 3 minutes each time you brush. If you have trouble keeping track of the time, use a timer or play a recording of a song you like to help pass the time.

Be sure your toothbrush has soft bristles (the package will tell you if they're soft). Ask your parent to help you get a new toothbrush every 3 months. Some toothbrushes come with bristles that change color when it's time to change them.
Learn how to floss your teeth, which is a very important way to keep them healthy. It feels weird the first few times you do it, but pretty soon you'll be a pro. Slip the dental floss between each tooth and up along the gum line. The floss gets rid of food that's hidden where your toothbrush can't get it, no matter how well you brush.

It's also important to visit the dentist twice a year. Besides checking for signs of cavities or gum disease, the dentist will help keep your teeth extra clean, and he or she can help you learn the best way to brush and floss.

It's not just brushing and flossing that keep your teeth healthy - you also need to be careful about what you eat and drink. Remember, the plaque on your teeth is just waiting for that sugar to arrive. Eat lots of fruits and vegetables and drink water instead of soda. And don't forget to smile!

Updated and reviewed by: Lisa Goss, RDH, BS and Garrett B.

Article Source: kidshealth.org

A Natural Remedy for Gingivitis, Toothaches, and Mouth Sores

Everyone has a variety of bacteria in their mouth. Some have more than others. This bacterium helps you by beginning the digestive process.

Excess bacteria in your mouth have now been found to cause more than tooth decay, gingivitis or gum disease. So, you need to know, even though you might not have gingivitis, how to control these plaque-building bacteria in your mouth.

Bacteria that create gingivitis live in your plaque and cause your gums to inflame, bleed, and separate from your teeth. You can also have bad breath when you have gingivitis. In more severe cases, your gums become sore, teeth hurt, gums recede, and teeth loosen.

To stop the inflammation and gum separation use this natural remedy to kill some of these bacteria and strengthen your gums in your mouth.

Here are the herbs and the formula you will need to make a remedy for a mild case of gingivitis:
2 parts white oak bark herb - powder
1 part myrrh gum herb - power or granules
3/4 part Peppermint leaves converted to powder
1/2 part anise herb - power or seeds
1/8 part clove - powder
If herbs and leaves are not in powder form, grind them in a coffee grinder. Use this formula to make as much powder as you want.

Place the mixture into a small container. I usually use a small-unused vitamin bottle.

I usually mix a small amount and use a tablespoon as my measuring tool. For example, 2 tablespoons of white oak, 1 tablespoon of myrrh gum, 3/4 tablespoon of peppermint leaves, and so on. The measurements do not have to be so precise.

How to use it:
To control bacteria in your mouth, use this power once a week. If you have gingivitis, you can use this 3 times a day. Place some powder on your toothbrush and brush your teeth and gums. After brushing spit out, a few time, the saliva and residue powder. Don't rinse out your mouth since you want to keep the active herb powders in your month. You can swallow any that remains in your mouth with no problem.

This powder combination is bitter, but quite powerful and will get the job done. You can add more peppermint powder to make it less bitter, if you like.

For severe cases of gingivitis and toothaches, you can also moist some powder with distilled water and then place the paste all along the your teeth and gums - front and back. Leave the paste in your mouth as long as you can. Don't worry about the herbs getting in between your teeth. This remedy works.

My wife was schedule for a root canal last year and a few weeks before her tooth started paining and couldn't sleep. So I made this remedy. She just placed the powers around the painful area. It wasn't long before the pain stopped and she was able to go to sleep.

There have been other clients that have used this remedy for a month and successfully avoided having the dentist apply gingivitis treatment. In cases of severe gingivitis, go see your dentist and at the same time use this remedy.

Author Bio
Rudy Silva is a natural nutritionist. He writes a newsletter called "Natural Remedies That work." You can subscribe to his newsletter and read some of the back issues, which give you information of how to have better health. Read his latest newsletter at: www.natural-remedies-thatwork.com/archive.html

By: Rudy Silva
Article Source: http://www.ArticleGeek.com

Top 10 tips for healthier gums

1. Floss at least once a day, every day. If your gums are bleeding then it is a clear sign you need to floss more frequently.

2. Try the 3 to 3 rule. Spending 3 minutes a day 3 times a day on oral hygiene can increase and maintain your oral health dramatically.

3. Receding gums are a sign of gum disease, but could also simply be the result of brushing too hard. Avoid using hard-bristled toothbrushes, as they actually damage your teeth and gums. Instead, use a medium or soft-bristled toothbrush.

4. Mixing some baking soda into your brushing routine a few times a week is very good for your gums. Even rinsing your mouth out with baking soda and water from time to time can help protect your teeth and gums from bacteria.

5. Eating well is another great way to keep your gums healthy. When craving something sweet, try eating yogurt and fresh fruit instead of a candy bar. Vitamin C is also known to promote healthy gums, and including it in your diet is just another great way to do so.

6. Chewing sugar free gum after a meal helps stimulate saliva, which is your bodies’ natural defense against harmful acids in the mouth. It does not need to be Trident brand gum, but by chewing sugar free gum after a meal can help prevent gum disease.

7. Use mouthwash once or twice a day after you brush. Mouthwash is a great defense against bacteria in your gums, and keeps your breath fresh too!

8. A waterpik is a another great tool you can add to your dental routine. The rigorous but not overly abrasive pressure gets plaque between teeth and also gently massages your gums.

9. Drinking plenty of water is a safe and healthy well to give your mouth a light rinse multiple times a day and promote gum health.

10. Visit your dentist regularly, at least once or twice a year, is another great way to stay on top of gum disease. The dentist will be able to predict early signs of the disease, and can work with you to create a plan to fight it.

We know going to the dentist isn’t your favorite thing, but at Caring Dentistry of San Rafael we make visiting a more pleasant experience than you’ve ever imagined!

Nutrition as a way of preventing dental diseases

Your request could not be processed. A very important role in improving healthy lifestyles, as well as for dental health, proper nutrition plays. Currently, almost 40% of the adult working-age population is overweight, or suffering from obesity. But as a rule, the initial stage of the disease is not regarded as human weakness, which over time leads to a breach of health.

Balanced nutrition is important for the healing of people and enhance their work. Nutrition also affects the appearance of man: body, skin, teeth, hair, to feeling the energy, desire and hard work.

Ancient Greek philosopher Socrates by these words: «We do not live to eat, but eat to live». Over the millennia, people have made great efforts to survive in a hard struggle for survival. Initially they used the surrounding flora and fauna. Over time, people are gradually mastered the difficult art of cooking.

The full board must consist of all the components necessary for the proper functioning of the body. They belong to: proteins, mineral salts and water, which are the «building blocks» of organism. Next come the carbohydrates and fats - the source of energy, and, finally, other substances needed to regulate metabolism (vitamins).

In other words, the consumption of food can be such that the total content of nutrients known to meet the physical needs of the organism, would contribute to the preservation of health and maximize efficiency.

Proteins are the basic building blocks the body. Valuable proteins in the meat, fish, milk, eggs and syrah. From this point of view, vegetable proteins are not complete.

The mineral salts are necessary for the formation of tissues of the body (primarily the bones and teeth), maintaining the maximum excitability of nerve and muscle fibers, acid balance.

For example, iron is an integral part of hemoglobin - is contained in the kidneys, heart, oat flakes, wheat, prunes. Zinc melts consisting of insulin, magnesium and manganese are necessary for the maintenance of normal carbohydrate metabolism, and calcium - to build bones. It also affects the heart's activity and has antiinflammatory effects. Good sources of manganese and magnesium are cocoa, almonds, eggs, nuts, and calcium - cheese, lean milk whey.

Important role in the process of metabolism plays phosphorus, which, together with calcium is used as a building material. In sufficient quantities, it is contained in egg yolks, dried peas, syrkovoy mass.

Due to the fact that the human body requires a lot of different chemical elements, their food must be as varied as any of the products is not in the structure of all necessary for normal vital substances.

Fluoride combats tooth decay

Fluoride in contact with one of the major mineral components of enamel - gidroksiapatitom, which is formed gidroksiftorapatit, which is much more resistant to the effects of different acids. This explains the weakening of the permeability of enamel.

In addition, fluorine slows metabolism and growth of micro-mouth - it can inhibit and delay the activity of one of the key enzymes of carbohydrate exchange, but slower than the speed of decomposition of carbohydrates, the less acid is formed. Scientists proved that fluorides also restore mineral and protein metabolism in teeth.

Currently, for the prevention of dental diseases, especially caries, use of organic and inorganic compounds of fluorine. The most frequently used fluorides of sodium, potassium, tin, titanium, aminoftorid. In humans, these substances are normally, drinking water or food. But in many parts of the sources of water fluoride concentration is available in small quantities. A caries appears when its content in drinking water reaches the 0.3 mark.

In this case, leaving the situation may be artificial fluoridation, and some even make fluoridation of table salt, milk and bread. Produced with the various drugs, pastes, gels and tablets, which must be used very carefully. As the excesses of kindness not to bring ...

Fluorosis. This disease appears due to chronic fluoride poisoning organism that develops as a result of prolonged consumption of food and drinking water with high concentrations of fluoride. Most often this disease affects children and adults in contact with fluorine compounds based on their activities. Initially, surface pa enamel formed small white and milk spots or bands, then formed Pigmented spots of yellow or brown color. Structure of hard tissue of the tooth is broken, deformed crown, enamel quickly wiped, and then shear. In severe fluorosis occurs defeat bones (spine and suffer the femur).

Combating this disease is usually confined to the elimination of the reasons. Drinking water deftoriruyut, passing through the absorbers, boil, desalt, defend. We recommend that a special diet. Neutralizes salt containing calcium and phosphorus, vitamins B and C, protein products. With the ability to adsorb fluoride and display it from the body, it is very healing milk.

To some, it may be more but the soul will have gargle. They used 0,1 - 0,2 per cent solution of sodium fluoride. The procedure, which lasts for 1-3 minutes, held twice a year for two weeks every other day.

Another option - application or fluoride varnish. In the first case, 1-2-percent solution of sodium fluoride gel or cause to carefully cleaned surfaces chubov - in contact with them, it solidifies in the form of thin films. Usually made of three to seven applications twice a year. Similarly, the teeth are covered, and fluoride varnish.

Along with the drugs of fluoride to prevent caries now use tools that increase the resistance of enamel to the destruction (they are called remineralizuyuschimi and method of application - reineralizuyuschey therapy) - a synthetic mixture containing ions necessary to restore and strengthen the enamel.

What is the mechanism of action remiparalizuyuschih funds? Penetrating osedaya outside and in different layers of hard tissue of teeth, the ions of calcium, phosphorus, fluoride, iron, molybdenum, etc. contribute to the formation of new crystals gidroksiapatita. As a result, the enamel becomes more resistant to acid shocks, and changes the nature of physico-chemical exchange of saliva. However, for successful remineralizadii need considerable time to help save some of his physical therapy procedures - Electricity and fonoforez.