Choose The Right Floss
by Fraser Hendrie

Here is another part of our series on choosing the best home care products to look after your smile to keep it looking gleaming and white. Today we are focusing on dental floss. In many years as a dentist in Edinburgh, I have discovered that many people really do not like to floss. Now while learning to do this well is not easy starting with the right tools for the job will make a difference to your chances of success and keeping a healthy smile for life.

There are thousands of brands of floss out there to choose from some good some not so well and some are downright awful.

First tip, forget about floss and buy DENTAL TAPE. Floss is made of a round fiber which usually takes more force to get in between your teeth and is more likely to cause pain as it hits your gum..OUCH!! It also misses many bits that tape will get into.

If you have a heavily restored mouth with lots of fillings, then flossing is very important to you. In between the back teeth will never (yes NEVER) get cleaned without using tape or something similar. If you have fillings or crowns then there are even more potential places for bacteria to lurk. Think what would happen if you never washed between your toes.

Very smooth tapes that slip very easily between the teeth are easier to use but tend to spread the bacteria that we are trying to remove. So you do need a tape that has a bit of “grab” to it and this is why Waxed or Coated tape is better.

Waxed or Coated tape is also better because it shreds less and will be less likely to get stuck between your teeth.

Look, too for Monofilament tape, this means that instead of it shredding it will break cleanly if it hits a sharp edge on a filling or crown. This again avoids that horrible feeling of having a bit of last nights floss stuck in between your teeth the next morning!

If you are regularly getting dental tape stuck in just one or two areas, then let your dentist know as it can mean there is a problem.

Finally one last tip, wash your hands thoroughly after flossing as some of the mint flavored coatings can really sting if they get in your eyes. Do not ask how we know!

SUMMARY

1. Buy TAPE not FLOSS

2. Look for WAXED or COATED tape

3. Change brand until you find one that does not shred

4. If all tapes shred in a specific area let the dentist know

5. Ask our hygienist for a demonstration of the Perfect flossing technique

6. If you are still having problems then maybe you need to try other methods of cleaning between your teeth.more in a future issue.

As ever the information above is good for MOST people, for advice and assistance specific to your own situation, we always recommend that you seek professional advice from a suitably qualified person.

Whats the Alternative to Floss?

We all know that a white bright smile is this seasons hottest look. Many of us find flossing a difficult task yet cleaning in between the teeth is absolutely critical to prevent gum disease and tooth decay as well as keeping our smile looking its best. So what are the alternatives to floss that a dentist would recommend? Fraser Hendrie a dentist in Edinburgh with nearly 15 years of experience writes%26hellip; Floss is still a great way of cleaning between teeth, but if you need an alternative why not try one of the following. As always ask your dentist or hygienist for their advice on the best way to maintain a healthy beautiful smile. %26ldquo;Bottle Brushes %26ndash; these unflatteringly named devices are little miniature brushes that can fit in between most peoples teeth. They allow you to manually clean the bits that a regular toothbrush won%26rsquo;t reach. They come in a variety of sizes and are fairly easy to use.%26rdquo; Best for %26ndash; patients who have had some gum disease in the past or who have teeth that are not very crowded. Ideal for clearing round big fillings or for older patients who want to keep a healthy white smile. Worst for people with very healthy gums or crowded teeth as often enough space to feed the brushes through does not exist. The Interflosser - This is a device with a toothbrush style handle with a small replaceable bow at one end. The bow has a short piece of floss across it and is attached to the handle in such a way as to allow you to keep the back teeth healthy without having to master the intricacies of holding floss the right way or fitting half your hand to the back of your mouth. Best for %26ndash; patients with tight contacts between their teeth who find the manual dexterity required first thing in the morning or last thing at night is just too much for them/ Worst for %26ndash; patients with big spaces between their teeth. This device is not suited to cleaning large spaces Toothpicks %26ndash; an old tried and tested method of cleaning in between the teeth. The major risk with a toothpick is that you will skewer your gum. They do not clean adequately all the way between the teeth so on the whole are best avoided except in emergencies. If you must choose, toothpicks try to buy the softer plastic variety rather than the wooden ones as these are generally kinder to the gums. John Booth a cosmetic dentist in Edinburgh says, %26ldquo;It is generally considered better to preserve the smile that you have with great home care than to rely on a dentist to correct problems after they occur. Most good cosmetic dentists will always want you to have healthy and well cared for teeth before they consider any tooth whitening or smile makeover options. %26rdquo;

Choose The Right Floss
by Fraser Hendrie

Here is another part of our series on choosing the best home care products to look after your smile to keep it looking gleaming and white. Today we are focusing on dental floss. In many years as a dentist in Edinburgh, I have discovered that many people really do not like to floss. Now while learning to do this well is not easy starting with the right tools for the job will make a difference to your chances of success and keeping a healthy smile for life.

There are thousands of brands of floss out there to choose from some good some not so well and some are downright awful.

First tip, forget about floss and buy DENTAL TAPE. Floss is made of a round fiber which usually takes more force to get in between your teeth and is more likely to cause pain as it hits your gum..OUCH!! It also misses many bits that tape will get into.

If you have a heavily restored mouth with lots of fillings, then flossing is very important to you. In between the back teeth will never (yes NEVER) get cleaned without using tape or something similar. If you have fillings or crowns then there are even more potential places for bacteria to lurk. Think what would happen if you never washed between your toes.

Very smooth tapes that slip very easily between the teeth are easier to use but tend to spread the bacteria that we are trying to remove. So you do need a tape that has a bit of “grab” to it and this is why Waxed or Coated tape is better.

Waxed or Coated tape is also better because it shreds less and will be less likely to get stuck between your teeth.

Look, too for Monofilament tape, this means that instead of it shredding it will break cleanly if it hits a sharp edge on a filling or crown. This again avoids that horrible feeling of having a bit of last nights floss stuck in between your teeth the next morning!

If you are regularly getting dental tape stuck in just one or two areas, then let your dentist know as it can mean there is a problem.

Finally one last tip, wash your hands thoroughly after flossing as some of the mint flavored coatings can really sting if they get in your eyes. Do not ask how we know!

SUMMARY

1. Buy TAPE not FLOSS

2. Look for WAXED or COATED tape

3. Change brand until you find one that does not shred

4. If all tapes shred in a specific area let the dentist know

5. Ask our hygienist for a demonstration of the Perfect flossing technique

6. If you are still having problems then maybe you need to try other methods of cleaning between your teeth.more in a future issue.

As ever the information above is good for MOST people, for advice and assistance specific to your own situation, we always recommend that you seek professional advice from a suitably qualified person.

Yellow Teeth - Need for a Makeover

Step right up ladies and gentlemen; get your winning teeth whitener ticket! I thought I had heard just about everything until I saw an ad for a tooth makeover sweepstakes. You got it, lotto for yellow teeth. I did not go to the site, but the caption spoke a thousand, or should I say 50,000 words. That was the amount the tooth makeover was valued. Why does someone even have yellow teeth? Without much thinking, I can think of several reasons why white teeth are not in the cards for everyone. Let us start with food; stains from blueberries, blackberries, beets, gelatin, food coloring, and so forth that cause tooth stain. Then we have beverages like coffee, tea, carbonated beverages, juices and more that prevent our teeth from being their whitest. Next let us consider medicines, it is a well knows fact that tetracycline can cause yellow teeth, but not everyone does not know that the topical applications of fluoride can cause tooth stain. When topical fluoride is applied unevenly this can result in white patches on the tooth surface, this can trap foods and cause a stain. White patches on the tooth surface can also be caused by ingesting too much fluoride. Damaging the enamel surface can be the culprit for yellow teeth/. Sometimes a person brushes so often with such harsh teeth whiteners, that we can actually damage the protective surface of the tooth. The list for causes of less than white teeth and yellow teeth is indeed a long list. Some people are just plain born with yellow teeth. You have yellow teeth. Does that mean you need a dentist to give you a complete makeover for whiter teeth? Should you damage the surface of the enamel enough and develop dental cavities, and then the dentist might just have to give you a makeover. Whiter teeth can be achieved in various ways. Your dental professional could bleach, or apply whiteners. Different artificial coverings can be applied to give you whiter teeth and fillings replaced called dental veneers. Your dental professional can actually give you a chart for the shade of whites you want your teeth. They can polish, buff, paint, you name it, and they can take numerous measures to make your teeth white. Of course, yellow teeth regardless of the reason, are only going to get just so white. Your dentist will first determine the cause why your teeth are not their whitest. Your dentist will correct serious issues such as cavities, point out trauma, replace metal fillings, or other factors that concern your oral hygiene health. Then the dentist can give you the white teeth you desire for a few hundred dollars and some cosmetics. To be rid of yellow teeth, keep your mouth clean. Rinse after eating especially if you will not be able to brush. See your dentist regularly for dental checkups and cleaning. Avoid food that stains. Avoid smoking. Avoid using every new fad tooth whitener and yellow remedy that comes along. Trust good sense and listen to your dentist. Do not use your mouth as a chamber for a chemical experiment. If your teeth still are not as white as you hope, seek first professional advice. Let your dentist be your advisor to whiter teeth. Let your dentist tackle your yellow teeth and give your mouth a makeover you deserve. Take care of your teeth, it is true you can get another set, but dentures do not stay white either without proper care. Once you decide what shade of white you want your teeth, then the dentist can apply the proper compound to whiten your yellow teeth. Yellow teeth bothering you, do you want whiter teeth? Then get your dental makeover.

What is the Best Wrinkle Cream for Me?

Having a beautiful and young looking skin is one of the most rewarding fillings for any women, a great skin give you self confidence and makes you feel like your self image is connected with the way you feel.However you know that aging is a natural process that we cant stop and but in many ways aging is our fault due to the lack of care we give to our body and the junk food we eat every day.Fortunately there are some wrinkle creams that have been developed and have shown to produce positive results in a short amount of time. But before you put anything on your skin is important that you learn to discern what cream ingredients are good and which are junk or dangerous.I have heard people ask in a retail store: What is the best wrinkle cream for me? The employees usually recommend you some kind of popular cream that might suit your skin type. However let me might clear that a good anti wrinkle cream should work well for any type of skin.The problem with most wrinkle creams in the market is that they include chemicals to cover up wrinkles or synthetic ingredients that can hurt the skin. Nevertheless if you use a natural anti wrinkle cream that is made of just organic ingredients it should be good for any type of skin and not hurt it.Alcohol is a substance that is often used by some filler creams in order to cover up wrinkles, but alcohol actually drys the skin which therefore produces more wrinkles, that is not what you want.A good wrinkle cream for you should contain natural ingredients, anti oxidants, vitamins and other organic ingredients from plant extracts, seeds, water and flowers.Due your research and just use natural creams and you will have a healthy and young skin for a long time, take vitamins and drink a lot of water to keep your skin young and smooth.

Yellow Teeth - Need for a Makeover

Step right up ladies and gentlemen; get your winning teeth whitener ticket! I thought I had heard just about everything until I saw an ad for a tooth makeover sweepstakes. You got it, lotto for yellow teeth. I did not go to the site, but the caption spoke a thousand, or should I say 50,000 words. That was the amount the tooth makeover was valued. Why does someone even have yellow teeth? Without much thinking, I can think of several reasons why white teeth are not in the cards for everyone. Let us start with food; stains from blueberries, blackberries, beets, gelatin, food coloring, and so forth that cause tooth stain. Then we have beverages like coffee, tea, carbonated beverages, juices and more that prevent our teeth from being their whitest. Next let us consider medicines, it is a well knows fact that tetracycline can cause yellow teeth, but not everyone does not know that the topical applications of fluoride can cause tooth stain. When topical fluoride is applied unevenly this can result in white patches on the tooth surface, this can trap foods and cause a stain. White patches on the tooth surface can also be caused by ingesting too much fluoride. Damaging the enamel surface can be the culprit for yellow teeth/. Sometimes a person brushes so often with such harsh teeth whiteners, that we can actually damage the protective surface of the tooth. The list for causes of less than white teeth and yellow teeth is indeed a long list. Some people are just plain born with yellow teeth. You have yellow teeth. Does that mean you need a dentist to give you a complete makeover for whiter teeth? Should you damage the surface of the enamel enough and develop dental cavities, and then the dentist might just have to give you a makeover. Whiter teeth can be achieved in various ways. Your dental professional could bleach, or apply whiteners. Different artificial coverings can be applied to give you whiter teeth and fillings replaced called dental veneers. Your dental professional can actually give you a chart for the shade of whites you want your teeth. They can polish, buff, paint, you name it, and they can take numerous measures to make your teeth white. Of course, yellow teeth regardless of the reason, are only going to get just so white. Your dentist will first determine the cause why your teeth are not their whitest. Your dentist will correct serious issues such as cavities, point out trauma, replace metal fillings, or other factors that concern your oral hygiene health. Then the dentist can give you the white teeth you desire for a few hundred dollars and some cosmetics. To be rid of yellow teeth, keep your mouth clean. Rinse after eating especially if you will not be able to brush. See your dentist regularly for dental checkups and cleaning. Avoid food that stains. Avoid smoking. Avoid using every new fad tooth whitener and yellow remedy that comes along. Trust good sense and listen to your dentist. Do not use your mouth as a chamber for a chemical experiment. If your teeth still are not as white as you hope, seek first professional advice. Let your dentist be your advisor to whiter teeth. Let your dentist tackle your yellow teeth and give your mouth a makeover you deserve. Take care of your teeth, it is true you can get another set, but dentures do not stay white either without proper care. Once you decide what shade of white you want your teeth, then the dentist can apply the proper compound to whiten your yellow teeth. Yellow teeth bothering you, do you want whiter teeth? Then get your dental makeover.

What Teeth Whitening is all about

Teeth bleaching or teeth whitening as it is commonly called is an often used method in general dentistry and more so in the area of cosmetic dentistry. It is usually expected that white teeth are the most striking characteristic of a smile. The bleaching process is perfect for patients who have very healthy teeth and gums but it is not suggested for people suffering from gum disease or those who have fillings in their teeth as the success rate in such cases is lower. With advances in technology, we now have laser bleaching.As a person grows older, the color of the teeth gets darker. This is because the enamel gets less permeable this altering the tooth’s mineral structure. Teeth also get discolored depending on the amount of tea or coffee you consume. Another reason for discolored teeth is if you are in the habit of smoking, chewing tobacco or betel leaf as is common in Asia. Since white teeth are connected with youth, bleaching procedures have plenty of takers in recent years. The teeth whitening techniques used in cosmetic dentistry are surely exceptional ways to whiten and brighten your smile.Anybody who has already got his permanent teeth can meet the criteria for teeth whitening. There are plenty of whitening methods to think of beginning with the whitening toothpastes or bleaching kits that are within everybody’s means. Then you move on to the more sophisticated methods provided by cosmetic dentistry like costly in-office whitening sittings or laser bleaching.Cosmetic dentistry employs two core methods of teeth whitening. In the first method, often referred to as power bleaching or office bleaching, a highly concentrated oxidizing agent is used. In the other method called take home bleach or over the counter bleaching, a narrow mouth guard a used to hold a low concentration of oxidizing agent near the teeth for several hours a day over a period of five days to two weeks. As a comparatively new procedure in cosmetic dentistry, laser bleaching is a variant of the power bleaching or office bleaching mentioned earlier. The only difference is that laser bleaching makes use of an argon laser to stimulate the bleaching agent rather than the normal light source used in conventional in-office methods. The laser improves the efficacy of the whitening. Laser bleaching is the most costly option in cosmetic dentistry but it also produces the most remarkable results. If you come to a decision that cosmetic dentistry is the correct option for you, don’t forget to ask your dentist which whitening method would work best on you and don’t expect to see results overnight. Teeth that have turned yellow react best to bleaching. Teeth that have turned grey or brown or spotted may not whiten uniformly when subjected to bleach. People with sensitive teeth or diseases of the gum should avoid chemical whitening and check out other choices like bonding or veneersAs time goes by you will find that your newly whitened teeth will begin to darken as you consume tea, coffee, cola, red wine or smoke. You can rinse out your mouth as soon as you have these. Based on which teeth whitening technique you used, you might require a touch every few months or every couple of years or so.

Teeth whitening advice for those interested in cosmetic dentistry

People are very much the same, although some things, like their color, can be different. I’m not talking about hair, skin or eye color, but the tooth color. You don’t want to be in the yellow team, do you? I thought so… So, the natural teeth color can be in a variety of shades; but, the shade that you practically have is worse, thanks to the cigarettes, the coffee, the cola, the red wine or even the cherries and blueberries that we are consummating. But there are other reasons why our teeth are getting shady colors, like aging, accumulation of plaque, tartar deposits or even the over consumption of fluoride which leads to a “mottled” look of the teeth. Of course there are more reasons why teeth are losing their original color like treatment with the antibiotic during childhood or trauma to the teeth which causes a brown, gray or black color … So, now that we’re finished with mustering the reasons why teeth are getting “not so white”, let’s talk about how can we make them white? Dentistry has a specialized branch which takes care of the look of our teeth, called the cosmetic dentistry. The cosmetic dentistry treatments are vary. Here are a few of the most popular treatments: we have the “tooth bleaching”, or the simple teeth whitening, the Enamel shaping, which reshapes the contouring enamel of the tooth ,we have the bonding which helps with chipped or cracked teeth and the tooth veneers, those ultra-thin laminates that are affixed directly to the teeth.The materials used by dentists in the past were gold or amalgam as fillings or for other restorations. Even then, some of these teeth were veneered in porcelain. Now, cosmetic dentistry uses porcelain for the entire dental work. Porcelain has a look very much like the natural tooth. The bond to the underlying tooth is made with resin adhesives. For the teeth whitening through laser bleaching the only material needed is the hydrogen peroxide gel. Anywhere you go, the dentist will use some product containing anywhere from 15% to 30% this substance. But, before you begin your teeth whitening treatment, the dentist will protect the soft tissues by placing a gel or a special shield. He will also use a gel to isolate the gum areas. After that he applies the hydrogen peroxide to the teeth. The use of a laser light increases the whitening effect. Then you must rinse off the bleaching gel and repeat this procedure for a few times. See? it really isn’t so hard and the result can bring only joy into our life.Before you do a teeth whitening, make sure you don’t have any white fillings. The thing with them is that they will remain less white after the teeth whitening, then the newly bleached teeth. And another problem for those who want to go to a cosmetic dentistry, to perform a teeth whitening, is the after time. Can we eat, can we drink? Well …yes, but there is a common side effect, the teeth sensitivity. This sensitivity worries us although for only 24 hours, so it’s not that bad…Cosmetic dentistry can be an option only once…if we put some effort. Because the teeth whitening’s effect can be maintained. This way, we also make a little money saving, by putting a little bit of effort. We most follow a few simple steps, and we practically earn some money doing that…So, for someone who just finished a session of teeth whitening at a cosmetic dentist, here are the rules to follow for keeping your new teeth white on for as much as you like…First, use a whitening toothpaste; second, brush or rinse immediately after eating; third, use a straw to drink coffee, tea, colas and red wine…and, last, only for the ladies use pink based lipstick.So, finally, let’s see what our options are(what cosmetic dentistry can do): if you have tooth-colored fillings, crowns, caps or bonding in your front teeth then bleaching, as a teeth whitening method is not really recommended. These materials are keeping their color and not turn white as the teeth…So their next option can be tooth veneers or bonding (also at the cosmetic dentistry).The veneers are those porcelain or plastic pieces which are glued at the front of the teeth. They can be two variants for veneers: porcelain (indirect) veneers or composite (direct) veneers. At the other hand the cosmetic dentistry’s bonding uses composite resin to recolor the smile…Besides the dental (in-office) whitening at the cosmetic dentistry it is used, like we said earlier, the home treatment for teeth whitening. Wow…teeth whitening, without cosmetic dentistry, in the comfort of your home. And the quality is the same with a cosmetic dentistry’s teeth whitening. The first method is brush-on teeth whitening, and it is about letting it dry on our teeth and tah-dah…in the morning they’re white. But attention, not doing this hole thing at the cosmetic dentistry has two flaws, if you get the teeth whitening formula wet even with saliva it becomes really easy rubbing off parts of the formula. Second flaw is about one of it’s ingredients, alcohol, which causes bad breath. Cosmetic dentistry’s alternative method is the use of all kind of bleaching gels. If you have the time and money, we suggest teeth whitening at the cosmetic dentistry. The home made “white” is more for keeping it.

Fast and Easy Lunches

Let’s face it, cooking is not a top priority in the lives of every man, woman, or child on the planet. In fact, far too people have made learning to cook a priority in their lives. This means that we often exist on convenience foods and boxed mixes rather than taking the effort to prepare healthy meals for our families and our own personal enjoyment. The same holds true for lunches when we often resort to a can of soup or box of macaroni and cheese or some other such product rather than putting our creative efforts into making a quick and easy yet delicious lunch. You will see many ideas in this article and the hope is that these ideas will not only get you off to a great start for ending the lunch rut we all seem to find ourselves in at some time or another but also to try new things on your own. First of all, not all great lunches require actual cooking in order to prepare. Some of them will require the use of the microwave and some of them will need to be cooked or at least prepared before hand and reheated. The choices are virtually limitless once you understand the creative concept that must be in place. You should also find that many of these ideas are so simple you will wonder why on earth you have never thought of them. I certainly hope that some of these ideas will become main features within your own home. Lettuce wraps. These mike delightfully delicious lunch treats and the filling can be prepared ahead of time, which leaves only reheating the filling and wrapping when you’re ready to eat. This is a fun lunch to share with your little ones and it teaches them that lettuce is much more versatile than people often give it credit for being. Some people choose to go with a teriyaki inspired filling; my family likes taco inspired fillings for our lettuce rolls. You are perfectly free to come up with a favorite filling of your very own. Try sandwiches with different breads. Believe it or not, my children love trying new things. It’s a rare trait for which I am extremely grateful. Believe me I understand all too well how fortunate I am. My youngest however, has a little difficulty with thick or crusty bread. Her favorite sandwich choice has become Hawaiian sweet rolls. We put the meat, cheese, mustard, and pickle in her roll as if it were a bun and she’s thrilled. Other great ideas include hollowing out crusty rolls and filling them with roast beef and cheddar. You can broil this in your oven for a few minutes for a rare sandwich treat. The cooking part is very minimal and you do not have to have in depth knowledge of anything to prepare or enjoy these simple treats. Other great bread ideas include croissants with ham and cheese or chicken salad, taco pitas (another great favorite in our household), and paninis (this works really well if you have a George Foreman grill or a panini press). While this is by no means the end all be all guide to cooking quick and easy lunches it is good food for thought. The hope is that this will get your own creative juices flowing so that you can prepare wonderful lunches for your family without needing to do too terribly much heavy cooking in the process.

Choose The Right Floss

Here is another part of our series on choosing the best home care products to look after your smile to keep it looking gleaming and white. Today we are focusing on dental floss. In many years as a dentist in Edinburgh, I have discovered that many people really do not like to floss. Now while learning to do this well is not easy starting with the right tools for the job will make a difference to your chances of success and keeping a healthy smile for life. There are thousands of brands of floss out there to choose from some good some not so well and some are downright awful. First tip, forget about floss and buy DENTAL TAPE. Floss is made of a round fiber which usually takes more force to get in between your teeth and is more likely to cause pain as it hits your gum%26hellip;..OUCH!! It also misses many bits that tape will get into. If you have a heavily restored mouth with lots of fillings, then flossing is very important to you. In between the back teeth will never (yes NEVER) get cleaned without using tape or something similar. If you have fillings or crowns then there are even more potential places for bacteria to lurk. Think what would happen if you never washed between your toes. Very smooth tapes that slip very easily between the teeth are easier to use but tend to spread the bacteria that we are trying to remove. So you do need a tape that has a bit of %26quot;grab%26quot; to it and this is why Waxed or Coated tape is better. Waxed or Coated tape is also better because it shreds less and will be less likely to get stuck between your teeth. Look, too for Monofilament tape, this means that instead of it shredding it will break cleanly if it hits a sharp edge on a filling or crown. This again avoids that horrible feeling of having a bit of last nights floss stuck in between your teeth the next morning! If you are regularly getting dental tape stuck in just one or two areas, then let your dentist know as it can mean there is a problem. Finally one last tip, wash your hands thoroughly after flossing as some of the mint flavored coatings can really sting if they get in your eyes. Do not ask how we know! SUMMARY Buy TAPE not FLOSS Look for WAXED or COATED tape Change brand until you find one that does not shred If all tapes shred in a specific area let the dentist know Ask our hygienist for a demonstration of the Perfect flossing technique If you are still having problems then maybe you need to try other methods of cleaning between your teeth%26hellip;.more in a future issue. As ever the information above is good for MOST people, for advice and assistance specific to your own situation, we always recommend that you seek professional advice from a suitably qualified person.