Heart Health: Don't Neglect Dental Care

As you age, your teeth may not have the sheen and luminous qualities they once did. Years of coffee drinking and other activities could have resulted in a dull smile. Luckily, you can reverse this situation. How?

Using Baking Soda

Many modern toothpastes are infused with sodium bicarbonate--the chemical compound known generally as baking soda. That's because people have known for years that the compound has brightening properties. You can place a dollop of baking soda directly on your personal toothpaste and scrub your teeth with it. Results should be immediate, so much so that you want to use it every time you brush. Beware of doing this; because baking soda does have abrasive qualities, you'll start to brush off the dental enamel if you're too forceful or use the compound too often. Limit your use of baking soda to, perhaps, once a week.

Doing Oil Pulling

Ayurvedic medicine from ancient Indians, passed through the centuries, mentions "oil pulling" as a methodical practice which will cure many ills. Today, people report seeing many dental benefits from the action such as whitening and lightening of teeth. To do it, you simply purchase coconut, olive, sesame or other plant oils--not canola or vegetable--and rinse with about a tablespoon or so of the liquid. About 15 minutes seems to be the best amount of time. You "pull", swirl, and push the oil around your dental cavity.

Coconut oil, with its natural antibacterial qualities, seems to be by far the most popular oil to start with. If you pull every evening or morning, you should be able to spit out the liquid and see that your teeth are a little brighter each time. Take a photo before you start, and then snap another a few weeks after you've begun to see if you notice marked differences.

Drinking With Straws

Once you're actively using ideas to physically remove stains, you're going to be much more aware of everything you're consuming and the likelihood that it could be sabotaging your brightening efforts. For that reason, keep straws around. When you've got the urge to get a can of soda or another cup of coffee, don't do so without sticking a straw in it. The straw will protect your teeth from most contact.

Seeing the results of these tips can make you feel optimistic about your smile. Cosmetic dentists are the professionals most knowledgeable about brightening your teeth; book appointments for whitening treatments and discuss your teeth with them. For more information, contact a cosmetic dentist near you.