Improving Your Oral Health and Whitening Your Teeth

A beautiful smile should be important to everyone for many different reasons. Good dental hygiene is important to your overall health and is often the first thing people notice when meeting you, such as during an employment interview. There are many over-the-counter whitening methods these days, but over the years, many methods have been used to maintain a beautiful white smile. Some of them have been more detrimental in nature than actually beneficial; some old whitening methods are harmful to the enamel on your teeth that protects your teeth from decay.

One old method of whitening ones teeth is to use malic acid, which removes discoloration on surfaces and acts as an astringent. One easy method to use is combining baking soda and ground strawberries. This paste-like mixture can be used as a natural tooth cleanser that cleans away coffee stains, wine and other types of discolorations.

Although there is no real replacement for a dentist's dental bleaching treatment, home remedies and over-the-counter methods are a great, low-cost alternative. However, it is important to remember to never overdo any teeth cleaning and bleaching method, as this can eat away at the enamel. The enamel on your teeth is what keeps the bacteria and debris from harming your teeth. A person's dental health is very important, because bacteria and debris can develop into cavities and cause many other oral diseases, including mouth odor, gingivitis and other forms of gum and mouth conditions.

Another natural whitener for your teeth is baking soda. Baking soda mixed with a little hydrogen peroxide makes an excellent tooth whitener, and many years ago many people used it regularly as an alternative to toothpaste. Mix the combination into a paste similar to toothpaste, and be prepared for it to bubble once applied to your teeth. The peroxide reacts with bacteria and will start to become fizzy and bubble while brushing, however, make sure you do not swallow any of the mixture, and rinse your mouth well.

It is recommended that you only use any method of teeth whitening only twice a week, because using any teeth whitening method more than twice a week can remove too much enamel from your teeth.

Many toothpastes now contain baking soda to help remove stains from coffee, wine and tea, as well as other discolorations. Many over-the-counter bleaching products include hydrogen peroxide as one of the main whitening ingredients.

Another old way of whitening your teeth is to rub a ripe banana peel on your teeth every day. The inside of the banana peel should be used to massage your teeth and gums for at least two minutes before brushing. This method is supposed to improve your smile and oral health.

Whitening mouthwashes are also available, and they are not only are used to whiten teeth, but are also used to kill oral bacteria. The mouthwashes are especially good at removing stains where a toothbrush and floss cannot reach.

Products to avoid include lime and lemon juice, bleach, salt brine and various powdered household scrubbing cleansers, since these products can do more harm than good. They may whiten your teeth, but the results are only temporary solutions, and they can severely harm the enamel on your teeth and do real harm to sensitive gums. Harming the gums can cause your teeth to dislodge and in some instances can cause damaged teeth to eventually fall out.

An even stranger way to whiten teeth is to use wood ash. Wood ash contains potassium hydroxide, phosphorus and magnesium. The potassium hydroxide acts as a bleaching agent on your teeth. The wood ash also contains tiny crystals that can remove plaque in many hard to reach areas. You should be careful though; this is a method that is very hard on the enamel of your teeth and should be used cautiously.

To maintain your smile, there are a few routine good hygiene habits that one should keep in mind, including the following:

-- The cessation of smoking can rapidly improve your smile over time.
-- Do not drink alcohol because over time, alcohol can destroy your gums and oral health. Drinking wines can rapidly stain your teeth and, over time, can destroy your beautiful smile.
-- After eating, everyone should brush there teeth for at least two minutes to remove any food particles and sugars left by the food eaten and any beverages consumed.
-- Do not use any chewing tobacco; it will not only discolor your teeth, but can also destroy your gums and, in some instances, lead to oral cancer.
-- Limit sugar and salt, and use lemon and lime sparingly. Sugars and salts can stay on teeth, destroying your dental health and causing cavities over time. Lemon and lime acids can wear teeth enamel down gradually, allowing bacteria and debris to cause cavities and gum disease.

Sources:

"Teeth Whitening Strips, Gels, Toothpaste, Bleaching and More," Web MD.

"Home Remedies for Teeth Whitening," Natural-HomeRemedies.com.

"How to Whiten Your Teeth Naturally," Health.com.