They’ve become popular for their convenience and ability to lengthen the life of in-office treatments, but those inexpensive teeth whitening kits you find in the drugstore might not be the best idea. This doesn’t mean that they are bad all the time, but you definitely need to be aware of the downsides before heading out to buy the next whitening kit.

Whether you buy them in a paste, trays, strips, or mouthwash, make sure you know exactly what you need and what to watch out for before you buy.

Not All Stains Are The Same

Tooth enamel stains can come from just about anything. Foods such as blueberries and coffee can stain quickly. Poor hygiene and even good hygiene can cause stains when you miss small areas with your toothbrush. Age can discolor your teeth severely and still some are naturally a different color from the moment they appear.

Rather than heading to the drugstore to deal with the issue, you should make an appointment with the dentist. He or she will be able to examine the staining first to identify the source of the problem. The dentist will also be able to help you find a solution that works to prevent you from wasting your money.

Tooth Whitening Products And Dental Work

While most whitening products are completely safe to use, it can harm dental work, if you don’t use them properly. Treatments such as bridges, crowns, veneers, implants, and bonding will not change color regardless of the method you use. The best plan of action in this case is to have them redone or coated. If you choose to use harsh bleaching kits and leave them on too long, there is a possibility of weakening the material and softening the special coating. Your gums are also at extreme risk.

Available Treatment Options

At the bottom end of the scale (the weakest option) are over the counter strips, toothpastes, and mouthwashes. These only lighten teeth slightly, but are a great option to use with in-office treatments. Just be sure to check with your dentist; some are dangerous to use right before and after a professional whitening treatment.

Over the counter tray whitening may be stronger than the other methods, but you need to be careful here as well. Since the trays are not fit to your specific bite, they won’t get into all the hard to reach areas. If you really want a quality job, talk to your dentist about take-home kits that have custom-made trays. Your last option, and the most aggressive, is Zoom Whitening, which lasts up to three years with proper care.

Teeth whitening and at home kits are an excellent way to keep your smile looking its best, but like anything, you need to shop wisely. Your best course of action? Talk to your dentist to find out what they recommend for your particular situation. This ensures you’ll get the best value for your money with the least amount of risk, every time.

If you need to replace a number of teeth, you no longer have to dread the idea of dentures or fight with an ill-fitting bridge. With the new advancements in dental implants, you can have replacements that look and work just like the real thing. Imagine no fighting with moving dental work, no icky pastes, or wafers. All you need is a good dental hygiene plan and regular visits to your dentist.

Dental implants were great before, but advancements in the materials used and the techniques for implantation have made them even better. Once everything has healed, there should be no worries about anything coming loose, sores, discomfort, or the embarrassment that comes with other orthodontic treatments.

The Implant Process

A specialized titanium post is added in along the jaw where the bone will eventually grow around it and fuse onto the metal. This hygienic metal leaves a screw-like appendage above the gums. After approximately six months of healing time, the dentist will screw a crown-like top made of porcelain that resembles a natural tooth.

While it can take a year or more to do an entire mouth, they are long lasting, look natural, and don’t stop you from eating your favorite foods. The porcelain not only looks great, but also is resilient when it comes to pressure and chipping while resisting staining better than many traditional materials.

New Materials, Better Implants

Older dental implants used stainless steel. However, after some experimentation, doctors turned to titanium because it has the same hypoallergenic qualities and fuses to the bone faster. (This discovery goes to Per-Ingvar Branemark and a rabbit’s broken leg.)

Several other benefits to dental implants make them a superior choice as well. As we grow older, our jawbones begin to wear away. However, researchers have found titanium implantations actually prevent the bone from wearing away.

Staying Healthy

A degradation of nutrition is also common in people as they age because of the restrictions and difficulties they have with other treatments such as bridges and dentures. With the improvements to implantation technique and materials, there are no restrictions. This keeps patients eating more variety and maintaining a balanced diet. Also, because they are not attached to adjacent teeth, there is no wearing way of the enamel on healthy teeth, and therefore, less risk of decay.

Even with all of the advancements in this area, they still require good quality care. Without the proper cleaning and checkups, you leave your gums open to gingivitis and disease.

If you are interested in getting dental implants, you must meet a few requirements. First, you cannot smoke. This restricts the blood vessels and inhibits healing making it impossible for the bone to fuse to the metal. You need to have a healthy bite pattern to prevent an excessive amount of force from being placed on a single tooth. Finally, you need to have good oral health with enough bone to support the titanium.

With all of the advantages over traditional treatments, dental implants are quickly becoming the preferred treatment for replacing missing teeth and maintaining that healthy smile.

Each year, one debate goes on across the country: Should we continue to add fluorine to drinking water? Dentists and oral care professionals argue that fluorination is an important tool in the fight against tooth decay. Some religious, environmental, and political groups state that this violates human rights and is actually detrimental to the oral health of many.

Dental Associations And Health Organizations Fight To Keep Fluoride In Water

Water authorities have added fluoride to public water since the 1940s in an effort to combat tooth decay, which occurs in 60-90% of the population. By adding fluorosilicic acid, sodium fluorosilicate, or sodium fluoride, governments can reduce the occurrence of cavities by up to 40%. It is completely odorless, tasteless, and invisible to the naked eye.

When you drink fluorinated water, the fluoride mixes with the saliva in your mouth to create a protective barrier. This slows down the demineralization of tooth enamel and promotes the repair of early cavities. It is possible to get too much fluoride leading to a condition known as dental fluorosis. However, this only extremely mild and does not cause and health problems or aesthetic malformations.

Opposing Groups

Organizations such as political, human rights, environmental, and religious groups such as Christian Scientists are greatly opposed to the fluoridation of water. Some see it as a violation of human rights because it is forced on the individual.

Others say it is unnecessary and has no benefits. And others argue that it is part of a large conspiracy. Those focused on natural living or who believe traditional medicines are evil, see fluoride as being a direct violation of their beliefs and rights. One final argument is cost — however, this argument is clearly unfounded. A yearly fluoride treatment from the dentist costs an average of $83. For one person to get the same amount of fluoride from toothpaste, it would cost $8-$16 per person for a year. Fluoridated water cost only $0.93 per person per year.

To avoid the fluoride, many members of these groups live on natural or bottled water. However, both of these water sources contain natural fluoride, and in some instances, in higher doses than found in public water systems.

Alternatives To Fluorinated Water

Dental sealants and fluoride treatments, toothpaste, and gel are all suitable alternatives to fluorinated water. Education on things such as proper oral hygiene and proper diets can also help significantly. Salt and milk have both been fortified with fluoride in some instances. Extensive tests and studies have shown that the best option is still water because most people from all walks of life have access to it.

Dentist and oral care professionals have noticed a significant drop in the occurrence of cavities in both children and adults. For children and adults who do not have access to a dentist, and live below the poverty line, milk, toothpaste and other items are often inaccessible. And, with no real negative effects of any kind, there is no reason to keep fluoride out of the water.