The teeth whitening blog

When I was young, my uncle used to tease me saying I will lose my intelligence when I extract my wisdom tooth…and the funny part is that I used to believe it!

Jokes apart, wisdom teeth erupt after the age of 12 till you reach 20 and it differs for all people. If your mouth is not large enough to accommodate these third molars, they have to be extracted. It is better to visit a dentist and know his opinion about this in your case since all of us are unique, and what is applicable to my teeth might not be suitable for you.

I always used mineral water for my kid for drinking and cooking. Soon I realized that it is not helping her teeth to prevent decay! I used to brush her teeth twice daily, so I was surprised.

My dentist told me that I can safely use tap water as it contains fluoride, which is useful for getting rid of decay in kids. Now we all drink tap water and maintain the dental regimen for the family along with a balanced diet. I must admit that it has helped to a great extent for keeping healthy teeth.

Tap water is indeed good for teeth, as I have realized!

If you are concerned about your oral health, you must be aware of what dental sealants are. They are helpful in preventing the physical effects of early tooth decay.

Sealants are basically clear, transparent or white plastic coatings that get bonded to the outer surface of your tooth. They are utilized for saving a particular tooth from decaying further as they fill up the grooves in the tooth. The best thing about them is that they are not soluble in saliva and are safe for us.

No need to worry any more about the tiny pits on your teeth now, sealants will do the job well!

If you love sweets and desserts, this one is for you. We always thought that sweets are bad for your teeth. Of course they are! But if you eat a bar of chocolate ALL at one go, it will damage your teeth lesser than if you keep on snacking on it every half an hour.

This is because the number of times you expose your teeth to sugar is more important than how much sugar your teeth are exposed to. The more often you eat, you are preventing saliva to clean up the mouth and do its function well.

So eat a chocolate all at once next time!

The other day I was at my dentist’s office for routine check-up. He suggested that I buy an electric toothbrush for everyday use. I asked him why and here is what he said.

An electric toothbrush is effective in getting rid of 98 percent of plaque, which consists of stains. Moreover, if you use an antibacterial mouthwash it helps a lot. One thing that you must take care is not to brush too hard with an electric toothbrush as it might remove the surface enamel. This can further lead to staining since the interior dentine is exposed.

I have started using it, why don’t you try?

There will be hardly anyone who does not want bright and white teeth. But are you sure your teeth can handle the whitening treatment?

If you have sensitive teeth or receding gums or faulty dental restorations it is advisable that you ask your dentist for his opinion. There are chances that he might advise you not to go for teeth whitening. This is because whitening might make your teeth more sensitive and weak. In case you cannot bear the strong smell of hydrogen peroxide, whitening is not for you.

So before taking any step for teeth whitening, consult your dentist!

Flossing is indeed useful for reaching the difficult spaces between your teeth. It works very well when it is included as a part of your daily oral care regime. But the way you do it has to be correct.

To begin with, you will need about 18 inches of dental floss so that it is enough for all the teeth. Always work the floss taking one tooth at a time. This will scrape off plaque conveniently. There are wax varieties available that are easy to pull through your teeth which can be used too.

Have you come across any other flossing tricks?

What did I say? Stop munching?

I don’t mean to say that you stop eating altogether for the sake of healthy teeth. I want to say that snacking in between meals is as harmful for your teeth as it is for your metabolism. So make sure you brush well after you eat anything.

Moreover, the longer it takes for you to finish a meal you are increasing your chances of tooth decay. Sweet foods start affecting the teeth in about fifteen minutes and it takes almost half an hour for salty foods to begin harming your teeth.

Any tips from your side?

I have many cousins who brush twice daily and still suffer from cavities. I am sure there are many more like them amongst us who wonder what is wrong with them.

The problem is not with how many times you brush but it is important to know HOW you brush. Most of us move the brush side ways for the front teeth as well as inner teeth. But this is not the right way!

Brushing should be from top to bottom, even for inside teeth. This will properly clean our teeth and keep them healthy longer.

Try this and let me know!

Teenagers are often seen sporting a set of braces that are used for straightening the teeth. The effect after removing braces is really good. What if you find tooth decay on removal of braces?

One solution for preventing this from happening is by regular brushing. I don’t mean the ‘twice daily’ brushing routine. Along with that, the person wearing braces must brush gently after EVERY meal or snack. This will remove all the food debris and lend a fresh breath too.

Since there is a great chance of food-lodging in people using braces, utmost care in important for well-aligned, healthy teeth.