Teeth with yellow or dark stains can mar your confidence levels. It can make you not too sure about yourself as you make the effort to hide your teeth. Though everyone is born with distinctive hair, eye and tooth color, white teeth looks the most beautiful. There is no second opinion about it. Children are born with white teeth but as we grow older our intake of different food items start affecting it. Certain foods and beverages like tea, coffee and berries leave dark stains when consumed regularly. Smoking is also a huge factor for ugly teeth. How many regular smokers you know have bright teeth? Very few, aren’t they? If you have this horrible habit, do yourself a favor and stop smoking. You will be rewarded with better teeth and a healthier body.

Teeth whitening can be done professionally or at home. Whitening the teeth is so important because people are very conscious about how they look and a dazzling smile can make an average-looking face look beautiful. White teeth also project a youthful look increasing the confidence of the owner. If you want to get your teeth done professionally you can be assured that you will be in experienced hands. Four to five sittings at the dentist will remarkably improve the appearance of your teeth. Nowadays advanced technology is being used making the procedure completely safe and risk-free.

But if you are one of those people who don’t want to spend $300 on professional teeth whitening, you can opt for a home kit. There are a great many available in the market and they are much less expensive. Each kit will come with a carbamide peroxide gel and a custom-made tray that will hold the gel onto your teeth. You can leave the gel for anything from an hour to overnight. It’s better if you could consult your dentist before you do this at home.

But teeth whitening once a year is not enough to hold on to your pearlies. There is absolutely no substitute for a healthy lifestyle and a balanced diet. Including crunchy food in your daily diet like broccoli, apples, spinach and oranges will keep your teeth in perfect condition. Quitting smoking, limiting the amount of sugar in food, having less tea and coffee are ways which are going to ensure that you have your teeth in perfect condition even when all your contemporaries lose theirs! Stay happy and keep smiling!

1. Incisors: The upper and lower jaws include a total of eight front teeth. These are called incisors. The pair of teeth which makes up the middle portion of your mouth, both top and bottom, is called central incisors. Lateral incisors are the teeth that are located on each side of the central incisors. The main characteristics of all incisors are that they are broad and have a narrow sharp edge with which they can cut or snip off food. They possess a single root.
2. Canines: There are a total of four teeth on both sides of the upper and lower incisors. They are called canines, cuspids or eyeteeth. They are the most stable and longest teeth. They are good for tearing and ripping off food that is tough, for instance meat. They have a single sharp point and they are thick. They possess a long single root.
3. Premolars: There are two premolars next to each of the canines. There are a total of eight canines. Premolars are also known as bicuspids. These teeth are considered as a cross between molars and canines. They come with sharp points. They are ideal for ripping and tearing and also for grinding and chewing due to their broad surfaces. The first premolars on each side of the canines in the upper jaw have two roots. The second premolars possess one root. The premolars in the lower jaw possess one root.
4. Molars: The last three teeth on each side of the mouth on the upper and lower jaw are called the Molars. There are a total of 12 molars. The first molars are located just next to the second premolars. These are also known as the 6-year molars. The third and last molars are also known as the wisdom teeth. The second molars are also known as the 12-year molars. Molars are ideal for chewing, grinding and crushing food.

Knowing more about teeth will help in maintaining them properly. A beautiful face with stained teeth is not only unhygienic, it is also very unattractive. Take care of your teeth properly and they will pay you back in the long run.

There are many ways by which you can have a beautiful smile that will dazzle everyone. You don’t necessarily need to have Greek-god looks to have a beautiful smile. It’s much easier than that. Check out the list below.

1. Have fun and relax. Smiling is definitely not a chore. Don’t force it on yourself. Wiggling your jaw till it unclenches is a good way. Relax your face and then smile.
2. Maintain oral hygiene. There is no point in having the cutest-looking face in town and having stained teeth to couple it with. Brushing your teeth twice a day and flossing it very important for you to have the perfect smile. If you have yellow teeth or bad breath, you will obviously try not smiling. So instead of hiding, take care of your mouth and smile wide. If you feel it’s necessary do not hesitate to visit your dentist for a teeth-whitening session or invest in a home teeth whitening kit.
3. Think thoughts that make you happy. This always helps. It will not just make you smile, it will also dissolve stress. Thinking positive thoughts even when you are upset about something, makes you look at things in a positive way. It ultimately makes you a happier, more attractive person.
4. Make your lips look pretty. Using lip balm will prevent your lips from getting chapped and make them supple. If you are a woman, use a lip gloss or lipstick. Making your lips pretty and attractive will make you want to smile more to show it off.
5. Flex your facial muscles. Pull the muscles around your jaw and cheeks upward. Relax them. Try doing this regularly to smile properly and not look lame or fake.
6. If you rarely smile, why not practice the act? Start with a small smile and when you feel comfortable with it, try smiling wider so that your teeth show.
7. Laugh a lot. Try doing things that will make you laugh. Like watching a sitcom on television or chatting with an old friend. Your laugh will make your smile reach your eyes.
8. Don’t be scared of showing your teeth. Believe it or not, the open-mouthed toothy grin looks the most natural and attractive. Try it today.

Most people grow out of smiling as they grow older. Don’t be one of them. Try smiling today and experience the change in you.

TEETH STAINERS

Good white teeth are a sign of good health and well-being. But, with the lifestyle that people enjoy today, this is a rare occurrence.  Our teeth have a baseline color, whose shade may vary a little from case to case. It is analogous to two blond females. They are both blonde-haired individuals, but their blonde hair, are not of the same shade. Tooth discoloration is be caused by surface staining.   The time between professional dental cleanings may subject the teeth to various life events and foods that may discolor the teeth.

The cumulative effect of a number of different processes may affect the color of a person’s teeth. Chromogenic foods like coffee, tea, colas, and red wine are, all known to cause teeth discoloration. Along with smokeless tobacco, cigarettes, pipes, and cigars are said to cause teeth staining. Antibiotics like tetracycline (and its derivates) cause blue-gray tooth staining, if ingested during tooth formation. Fluoride is another antibiotic known to cause chalky white to brown tooth stains.  Physiological processes are also causes of teeth discoloration.  Aging is another culprit causing this defect. Tooth decay may also lead to black to brown teeth. At times teeth discoloration may be a result of tooth trauma, like an accident.  Dental work on teeth, may also lead to discoloration of teeth.

TEETH WHITENING FOODS

Maintaining good oral hygiene is one of the most beneficial ways to reduce discoloration of the teeth. However, some foods provide natural home remedies for teeth whitening. These are, not as good, as professional teeth-whiteners are, but they offer cheap alternatives for sparkling teeth. The following foods are elemental in giving white teeth.

Strawberries:

Rubbing strawberries, on one’s teeth, leads to shining teeth. Alternatively, preparing a paste of crushed strawberries with baking soda and brushing one’s teeth with it, twice a week, each time leaving the mixture on the teeth for five minutes, can give white teeth. Remember, the next time you go to a strawberry park, don’t eat those strawberries – rub them on your teeth.

Orange Peel:

Orange peel is a natural tooth whitener. Buffing one’s teeth with the inside of an orange peel is a good remedy for white teeth. Alternatively, combining ground bay leaves with dried orange peel into a paste, and using that for brushing teeth can give good results.

Lemon Juice:

This is, already used in the hair as a bleaching agent.  However, this ingredient works wonders on the teeth too. Mixing lemon juice with baking soda to make a paste, for brushing the teeth, or gargling with it daily before brushing one’s teeth can help remove surface stains.

Apple Cedar Vinegar:

Apple Cedar Vinegar, apart from curing yeast infection, also removes dirty stains from the teeth. Like a lemon, this, can be mixed with baking soda, and used. This has the added benefit of relieving symptoms of acid reflux disease. It is found that people suffering from acid reflux disease often have stained teeth.

Crunchy Fruits and Vegetables:

Eating raw vegetables also leads to whiter teeth. Apples, carrots, cauliflower, celery, pears and other crunchy fruits and vegetables help clean the teeth and prevent stains. The natural fibers of the fruits and vegetables combine with the saliva in the mouth, to wash away the food particles and stain causing bacteria.  The malic acid in them further helps in this process.

BENEFITS OF COFFEE AND TEA

Drinking of tea and coffee has various benefits. Recent research has revealed that drinking of tea; green tea in particular, leads to prevention of rheumatoid arthritis, cardiovascular diseases, cataracts and even cancer. Green tea is said to aid the weight loss program, as drinking of green tea helps burn more calories.  One of the best benefits of green tea is that it helps to fight bacteria, thus giving the immune system a boost.  It helps lower blood sugar and cholesterol. Drinking green tea also arrests the ageing process.

As with tea, drinking coffee has many benefits. Coffee offsets some of the bad habits of people like smoking or heavy drinking.

Research has shown that smokers who drink coffee are less likely to suffer from heart disease than those who do not. Drinking coffee is also reported to prevent liver disease in heavy drinkers.  The antioxidants in coffee prevent the occurrence of colon cancer. Trigonelline, an ingredient of coffee is also reported to prevent tooth decay.

STRUCTURE OF THE TEETH

The surface of the teeth is composed up of tooth enamel.  This is a hard material protecting the inner tissues of the teeth. Although the enamel is hard, it is also porous, thus leaving it susceptible to staining with prolonged exposure to certain foods or drinks. The enamel covering the teeth is semi-transparent and underneath that is the material called as dentin. This dentin is softer than enamel.

EFFECTS OF COFFEE AND TEA ON TEETH

Prolonged exposure of the tooth enamel to drinks like coffee and tea lead to staining of the teeth.  This happens because the tea and coffee contain brown or yellow dyes, which penetrates the enamel and stains the dentin. This is how most tooth stains appear. Tea tends to stain the teeth more than coffee does. A shining example of this is the condition of the white mug that one uses for tea and for coffee. After prolonged use, the tea mug will have stained more than the one used for coffee.  Tea and coffee tend to stain the teeth as the tannic acid (the stuff that makes the dark color) etches into the pits and grooves of tooth enamel thus staining it brown.

Bleaching teeth is done using oxidizing agents like carbamide peroxide and hydrogen peroxide. These agents interact with the enamel of the teeth and oxidize the stain deposits. When the process is repeated, the bleach starts sinking lower inside the dentine layer. When the process reaches completion, the signs of discoloration go away leaving dazzling white teeth.

If you want to get bleaching done professionally by a dentist, you can opt for any of following two ways:

1. If you want to get your teeth bleached using the “Office bleach” procedure, the dentist will apply a layer of oxidizing agent onto your teeth.  After a short period of time, he will flush away the layer. Your teeth will achieve instant brightness. The dentist will most probably be using a 35 % hydrogen peroxide equivalent. This may be a pretty fast procedure, but it is not totally risk-free. It can damage the soft tissues of your mouth by chemical burns. It needs to be monitored by the dentist very minutely.
2. Another method of getting your teeth whitened professionally by a dentist is longer, but definitely less risky. If you opt for this method, the dentist will put the oxidizing agent on to a thin strip of material and place it on your teeth. This strip will not be removed in that sitting. You will have to keep that strip for an hour to several days, depending on the condition of your teeth. This procedure is time-consuming, but it has much less risk of damaging the soft tissue of your mouth.

Another method of getting teeth bleached is fast gaining acceptance. It is called Light-activated bleaching. It is a new procedure and is still under study to understand its efficacy.

If you don’t want to spend money on the dentist, there are options for you to whiten your teeth at home. There are a lot of home kits available in the market which you can use yourself at home. It is much less expensive and contains all that you will require. There will be a custom-made tray that you will have to fix on your teeth and a carbamide peroxide gel. The gel has to be worn for an hour or even overnight. The peroxide contained in the home kits are usually much lower in concentration than what is used at the dentist. Hence they are low in risk and can be used safely.

Children look so angelic when they smile because of their unspoiled white teeth. As we start growing older, we start torturing our pearlies with tea, coffee, alcohol and smoking. Reducing the intake of these will help us in the long run. Take care of your teeth the proper way and dazzle the world with a beatific smile.

There are a lot of ways you can do this which are cheaper and safer.

1. There are foods and beverages that leave stains in your teeth. Tea, coffee and berries are common culprits. If you cannot stop having them, make sure you brush your teeth or at least rinse your mouth with water later on.
2. Smoking is another huge factor. Smoking leaves behind dark stains. That is the reason why all chain smokers have such ugly teeth except those who go in for whitening treatments. It’s better to give up smoking altogether. Not only will you have better teeth, your body will also thank you.
3. Opt for natural teeth-whitening toothpastes. There are quite a few available in the market but make sure you buy one that has natural ingredients like minerals and herbs. Do not buy toothpastes that contain aspartame. The best place you can buy natural toothpastes is a natural health store or a discount store that has dental care products.
4. Baking soda is another great way to brighten teeth naturally. Brush your teeth properly after dipping your toothbrush into a jar containing baking soda. Rinse thoroughly. Do this for two months twice daily and you will notice a difference. Another trick you can use is adding salt to the baking soda and using the mixture to brush teeth.
5. Strawberry is a delicious way to brighten teeth. What you have to do is mash a strawberry and use your fingers to rub your teeth with it. Rinse your mouth with water and floss later. The natural enzymes present in strawberry will whiten your teeth.
6. Use lemon juice. It is a natural bleaching agent and can help you get sparkling white teeth. Mix a little salt and lemon juice together to make a paste. Use this to brush your teeth with. Rinse thoroughly with water. You can also try making a paste of baking soda and lemon juice and use it to brush your teeth.
7. Hydrogen peroxide, when used with baking soda is another wonderful remedy for stained teeth. Make a paste using the two ingredients and brush your teeth with it. Rinse thoroughly with water afterwards.
8. Make a paste using a few drops of apple cider vinegar and baking soda. Dip your toothbrush into this mixture and brush your teeth. Do not forget to rinse thoroughly with water.
9. You can also grind bay leaves and orange peel together and use this mixture to brush your teeth. Alternately, you can rub an orange peel on your teeth.
10.  Eat more crunchy foods like broccoli, celery, apples and carrots.

You don’t need to spend a whole lot of money to have beautiful teeth. Try these at home and you will have a bright sparkly smile in no time at all.

HOW TO KEEP OUR TEETH IN GOOD CONDITION

The following things are practiced:

• Brush regularly and properly. One should brush at least twice a day.
• Swish the mouth with water after meals.
• Floss properly.
• Use a toothpaste containing fluoride.
• Use anti-tartar toothpaste and mouthwashes.
• Special toothpaste should be used for sensitive teeth.
• Use tooth-whitening products
• Avoid excessive use of sugary foods.
• Avoid sugary foods before bedtime. If eaten, then the teeth should be cleaned thoroughly.
• Clean the teeth regularly.
• Use a mouthwash.
• Avoid cheap dental products like mouthwash, toothpaste, etc.
• AVOID SOME KINDS OF FOODS.

FOODS TO AVOID

Unknowingly, we consume foods, which damage our teeth enamel, thus leading to their staining.  The structure of the teeth is composed of tooth enamel. The enamel is a hard material protecting the inner tissues of the teeth. Although, the enamel is hard, it is also porous, thus leaving it susceptible to staining by prolonged exposure to certain foods and drinks. The enamel is semi-transparent and has an under layer of dentin.  The dentin stains due to the ingress of colors or dyes into it, through prolonged use of some foods.

These foods are as under:

COLAS: Soft drinks and aerated drinks contain sugar, which has carbon as its main ingredient. Excessive use of such drinks, leads to deposition of sugar particles, in the teeth.  Retention of these particles, leads to their disintegration to the bare ingredients and carbon being black in color stains the teeth.  

COFFEE AND TEA: Tea and coffee contain certain brown and yellow dyes, which stain the teeth in due course of time.  If, these are consumed, then they should be with milk and not in their black form.

BLUEBERRY: This is one of the natural stains for fabric. Likewise, it also stains the teeth.

SMOKING: The nicotine and tar content in cigarettes tend to stain the surface of teeth, making them yellow in a short time. 

Other foods to avoid for preventing staining the teeth are rice, cranberries, mustard, liquor, and red wine

Research has shown that 80-90% of the cases of bad breath originate in the mouth.  The intensity of bad breath may depend upon the time of the day. The odor may be more intense after having eaten foods like garlic, onions, meat, fish and cheese.  Obesity, smoking and alcohol consumption are also causes of bad breath. The odor may also be more during the morning hours, as the exposure of the mouth, to oxygen, is limited, during the night, and therefore is inactive.  Studies have shown that 25% of people in USA suffer from chronic bad breath. This leads to a bad social, professional, and personal life, thus leading to low self-esteem and increased stress.  

DIAGNOSIS

The origins of bad breath lie in the mouth, tongue, periodontal disease, nose, tonsils, stomach and systemic diseases like lower respiratory tract infections, etc.  Scientists admit that it would be difficult for a person having bad breath to know about it unless and until someone else tells the person. The simplest and most effective way to diagnose bad breath is to ask a trusted adult family member or close friend. The confidant can further determine the origin and treatment for the condition. The best way would be to scrape the posterior back of the tongue, lightly with a plastic disposable spoon and to smell the drying residue. 

However, there are home tests available, which use a chemical reaction to test the presence of polyamines and sulphur compounds on tongue swabs, but their effectiveness is suspect. Moreover, as breath odor changes in intensity throughout the day depending upon many factors, multiple testing may be necessary.  Also available are professional methods to diagnose bad breath, which are adopted, only if the home methods fail. Hundreds of clinics and dispensaries now claim to detect and subsequently cure the condition. These clinics use equipments like halimeter, gas chromatograph.

• If you are the first time user (newbie), to get the best results, apply Idol White twice a day for two weeks.
• Brush Your Teeth three times a day and floss at least once in every two days. If you’re a “teeth geek”, brush your teeth after taking every meal, though it is not necessary when you have Idol White with you.
• Idol White fits in your pocket, you can bring it along to wherever you want and use it whenever you like.