Love Your Age by Barbara Hannah Grufferman

Author:Barbara Hannah Grufferman
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: National Geographic Society
Published: 2018-02-13T05:00:00+00:00

Electric or Manual?

Many dentists recommend electric toothbrushes to help people improve technique and duration of brushing, but according to the Mayo Clinic, there’s no significant difference in results as long as you brush thoroughly and consistently.

Give Yourself a Younger Smile

Is your grin getting dim? It’s not just you. It’s almost impossible to keep teeth from getting stained over time. But whitening your teeth will take years off your face. And if you do it, you won’t be alone. According to the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry, whitening is the most requested elective dental procedure. There are lots of ways—from expensive to inexpensive, and from easy to slightly complicated—to get back your 100-watt smile. Here’s the skinny:

• All teeth whiteners use some kind of peroxide bleaching solution, with the exception of whitening toothpaste.

• If you have crowns, veneers, or other dental work, they will not be affected by bleach the same way as your regular teeth, so you might end up with mismatched tones.

• All bleaching can increase tooth sensitivity. Although it is usually temporary, it can be painful, especially if you have receding gums. A toothpaste for sensitive teeth can help.

• For the health and the safety of your teeth, be sure to stick to products that are FDA-approved and use them only as directed.

• To avoid damaging teeth and gums, don’t bleach more than once a year or according to your dentist’s advice.

• Not all stains can be removed. In particular, mineral stains, like those from iron and fluoride, are more stubborn than food, coffee, or wine stains. Some medications can also stain teeth.

• If you have especially stained or pitted teeth, whitening might not be effective; you might want to consider veneers instead.

What About Whitening Rinses and Toothpastes?

We’ve all seen those ad campaigns promising we can simply brush—or rinse—years of stains away from our teeth. But according to a 2010 study published in the Journal of Clinical Dentistry, many whitening toothpastes and oral rinses are very abrasive and can actually strip enamel. And the alcohol in oral rinses can dry out and irritate your mouth and gums. Bottom line: Stick with regular toothpaste and find another way to whiten. You’ll save money, and your teeth, too.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.