Bright white teeth and fresh breath does not necessarily mean you have a healthy mouth!
Tags: dental, gum disease, natural health, oral care, periodontal disease, teeth, teeth whitening
Many of us remember the time from around last November when a flurry of reports citing Tel Aviv University and the University of Rochester suggested we might be brushing with cranberries soon.
The University of Rochester tested the effect of cranberries on a synthetic enamel-like substance, and found that the tart little fruit had strong abilities to repel cavity-causing bacteria, even warding off the formation of plaque. Immediately, the world saw a super-effective cranberry toothpaste in its future. True, fluoridated public water had already cut down on our average number of cavities substantially, but perhaps if we combined fluoride with a super-toothpaste, we’d see them disappear altogether.
Not so fast, say researchers and dentists. One of the drawbacks is that normally, we add and consume vast amounts of sugar with our cranberries. Needless to say, the Rochester experiments did not add sugar to the mix, yet most of the popular cranberry products on our store shelves are loaded with it.
No problem, said those of us who like to keep up on dental trends. What if we just add xylitol, a somewhat scary-sounding but natural sweetener that’s been shown to do its own number on S. mutans and even reverse minor tooth decay in some instances?
Even then, we still have a problem. Because cranberries are not only bitter, they’re extremely acidic. Applying acidic products to your teeth can end up softening the tooth enamel. Our teeth have the ability to recover and harden up again, but if they encounter acidic substances too often, the enamel will eventually start to erode.
So for now, just wait, say dentists. The trick is to isolate all the beneficial compounds in cranberries while removing the need to partner it with truckloads of sugar, and avoiding the acid problem. Needless to say, manufacturers are on the trail, but they haven’t gotten there yet.
That isn’t to say you won’t find any cranberry-containing toothpastes — some, produced by smaller outfits, have already hit the market. If you look at these products, you’ll see that they claim to have isolated all the positive cranberry compounds already. For those who like to experiment, it might be worth a try. But if you’d rather wait for a wider understanding that cranberry compounds have been properly identified and isolated before you switch toothpastes, go ahead.
Still, consider eating your cranberries anyway, even if it’s not Thanksgiving. They’ve been shown to come with loads of benefits, including an ability to help prevent clogged arteries and inhibit hostile bacteria in the stomach and urinary tract. Cranberries have also been shown to reduce LDL cholesterol, prevent kidney stones, and even aid in recovery from stroke.
About the Author
Nathan Fischer is a staff writer for http://www.curesforbadbreath.com. Stop by the site to learn more about curing chronic halitosis and to download the free Bad Breath Bible.
Tags: cranberries, cranberry, dental, halitosis, oral, oral hygiene, toothpaste, xylitolYou always brush your pearly-whites, you gargle antiseptic mouth rinses, and you floss. Throw in regular dental check-ups and you’ll think that you’re the poster boy for oral hygiene. What if I tell you that you’re forgetting something? Crazy, right? Nope, because you’re forgetting your tongue. You taste with it, you lick with it, and when temptation arises, you even wag it. Don’t you think it’s high time to start cleaning it? After all, I’m sure you don’t want to sport a white, abnormal-looking tongue.
An oft-neglected part of oral hygiene, tongues are not flat and smooth even if they appear that way to you. They have fissures which make for suitable anaerobic bacteria breeding places. This bacteria is the major source of stink breaths. Plus, you won’t be able to remove the viscous, jelly-like film of plaque covering your tongue through rinsing. What you must do is to scrape it. Scared? Don’t be; because cleaning your tongue takes no effort. You could do it in as little as a 1-2 minutes.
Before you do that, read up to avoid scrubbing your tongue raw. First, you don’t have to buy special tongue cleaners since your regular toothbrush will do. However, tongue cleaners are easier to maneuver. Use a bit of toothpaste for added bacteria-fighting power. Secondly, hard scraping is not needed. When your toothbrush or tongue cleaner makes contact with your tongue, it’s okay. Third, use short, slow strokes. Also, make sure that no space is left unclean. Try to move your brush from the back towards the front. Also, relax your mouth after a few seconds with a gargle to avoid locked jaws and gagging. Fourth, pay close attention to the back of the tongue, more bacteria are there than up front. After you’ve scrape all tongue surface area, rinse, and apply a second coat of toothpaste. Leave the paste on for at least a minute. It is ideal to let the paste on until you finish brushing your teeth. After your last gargle, give yourself a smile and vow to add tongue cleaning as part of your oral hygiene.
But of course, don’t get any ideas that tongue cleaning can stop stink breaths alone. Be reminded that you still have to clean your teeth and gums. Dental check-ups are still a must. After all, only your dentist would ask about your oral hygiene and praise your clean, healthy tongue.
For more information on Oral Hygiene please visit http://www.eknowitall.com/health/oral-hygiene/
Tags: breath, dental, dentist, health, hygiene, teeth and tongue, toothpaste