Does Brushing Your Teeth With Baking Soda Make Them Whiter?

Author
by TAMI FARMER 

A toothbrush and some baking soda may make your teeth whiter. Many things stain the teeth and there are different ways to remove various types of stain. Staining can occur on the outside or inside of the tooth. No type of brushing can remove stains that have been incorporated inside the tooth. But brushing with baking soda or using baking soda toothpaste may remove surface stains on the outside of teeth.

Stains Baking Soda May Remove

Surface stains on the outside of the tooth can be caused by poor oral hygiene, tobacco, foods, beverages, medications or a combination of these. Brushing with baking soda can remove light surface staining on the teeth. Mixing water with baking soda forms a mildly abrasive paste. When used with a toothbrush, this paste combines with the action of the toothbrush to remove surface stains.

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Stains Baking Soda Can't Remove

Staining on the inside of the tooth can occur from things such as too much fluoride, the antibiotic tetracycline, genetic causes or unknown events. Brushing does not get inside of the tooth and will have no effect on these types of stains, no matter what you brush with.

Stubborn surface stains, such as heavy tobacco stains, must be professionally removed by the dentist or dental hygienist at a cleaning appointment and cannot be brushed away. Cavities can also cause your teeth to stain and these stains are not affected by brushing. Stains from cavities may be white and chalky or gray, brown or black.

Baking Soda and Toothpaste

Toothpaste polishes the teeth to get them clean. Ingredients in toothpaste include fluoride to make the teeth more resistant to cavities and flavoring to provide a fresh taste. Abrasives, such as baking soda, are added to toothpaste to help remove stains and give the teeth a shine. Abrasive ingredients can cause tooth sensitivity if they are too rough on the teeth. If your teeth seem more sensitive after using a homemade baking soda paste or a commercial toothpaste with baking soda, stop using it and talk to your dentist.

Proper Brushing Technique

Brushing with baking soda or a baking soda toothpaste requires using a proper brushing technique to remove stains effectively. You should brush your teeth at least once in the morning and once in the evening with a soft toothbrush with the baking soda and gentle pressure. Aim the toothbrush at a 45-degree angle to the gum line and use small, circular strokes. Then, roll the toothbrush toward the chewing surface of the tooth. When brushing the chewing surfaces, you can use a back-and-forth motion.

For further information log on website :
http://www.livestrong.com/article/295865-does-brushing-your-teeth-with-baking-soda-make-them-whiter/

How to Get Coffee Stains Off of Teeth

Author
by KATIE LEIGH 

You teeth are covered with a delicate layer of white enamel that's prone to staining, particularly when it's exposed to acidic liquids such as coffee. According to the book "My Favorite Yankee Miracles" a mixture of hydrogen peroxide and baking soda can remove coffee stains on teeth. The baking soda is gentle enough to slough off the stains without damaging your tooth enamel, and the hydrogen peroxide is a whitening agent that's found in many commercial tooth-bleaching kits. Make sure to check with your dentist before using this treatment, as it may damage veneers and crowns.

Step 1

Photo Credit Kate Dugger/Demand Media

Measure out 1 tsp. of baking soda into a small dish. Add three to five drops of hydrogen peroxide, and stir the mixture to make a thick paste.

Step 2

Photo Credit Kate Dugger/Demand Media

Scoop the mixture up onto your toothbrush and brush your teeth with the mixture for about two minutes, making sure to pay special attention to the coffee-stained areas. Do not press harder on your teeth than you normally would, as that may damage your enamel.

Step 3

Photo Credit Kate Dugger/Demand Media

Rinse your mouth with cool water to remove any traces of the mixture. Do not swallow the stain-removal treatment.

Step 4

Photo Credit Kate Dugger/Demand Media

Repeat the treatment once daily to remove any fresh stains. It may take a few applications to completely whiten your smile.

Warnings

• Never whiten children's teeth with this mixture. Hydrogen peroxide can be toxic if swallowed, and the treatment can damage delicate baby teeth.

Tips

• Rinse with water immediately each time you finish a cup of coffee, tea or other staining liquid. Taking care of stains before they can stick will minimize tooth discoloration.

Things You'll Need

• Measuring spoons
• Baking soda
• Small dish
• Hydrogen peroxide
• Toothbrush

For further information log on website :
http://www.livestrong.com/article/176183-how-to-get-coffee-stains-off-of-teeth/

How to Re-Enamel and Recalcify Teeth

Author
by SHARIN GRIFFIN

Tooth decay is commonly associated with loss of tooth enamel. When your teeth are not taken care of properly or your diet fails to make the cut, you can lose calcium and protective enamel. This allows germs and bacteria to enter the tooth, causing it to decay and darken. This decay can reach to the root of your teeth, causing pain and infection. To restore enamel and calcification to your teeth, work closely with your dentist and practice proper oral hygiene.

Step 1

Brush your teeth with a flouride toothpaste at least twice per day. Flouride helps strengthen your teeth and protect them. Your dentist will give you a flouride treatment to restore enamel and calcium during your bi-yearly cleanings.

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Step 2

Purchase teeth-whitening kits containing calcium peroxide. These kits are available at many drugstores and are less damaging than standard peroxide bleaching kits. According to the "Journal of Clinical Dentistry," tooth enamel and calcification can be increased through regular use of calcium peroxide bleaching agents.

Step 3

Chew gum that contains xylitol. Xylitol has decay preventing qualities, according to the "Lansing State Journal." It prevents enamel and calcium loss, allowing your teeth to remain protected and strong.

Step 4

Eat plenty of antioxidant rich foods, such as fresh fruits and vegetables. Stay away from sugary snacks and foods high in acid content.

Step 5

Drink plenty of water to avoid dehydration and dry mouth. When your mouth is dry, your enamel and the minerals in your teeth start to deteriorate. By drinking eight to 10 glasses of water per day, you are supplying your teeth with the support they need to maintain mineralization.

For further information log on website :
http://www.livestrong.com/article/532985-how-to-re-enamel-and-recalcify-teeth/

Side Effects of Shisha

Author
by NOREEN KASSEM 

Shisha or hookah smoking involves a water pipe that has a bowl, smoke chamber and hose. A special type of tobacco is burned inside the chamber, and smoke rises through water in the bowl before it is inhaled through the pipe. MayoClinic.com warns that the tobacco used in shisha smoking is toxic. Shisha smokers may inhale more tobacco smoke than from a cigarette because of the larger pipes used. Shisha smoking brings on several side effects.

Addiction

As with cigarette smoking, shisha smoking carries the risk of addiction, leading to daily use. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention underlines that shisha contains tobacco, nicotine and other chemicals that make it addictive. Nicotine reaches the brain in only about 10 seconds after inhalation. For this reason, addiction can occur after even a few sessions of smoking shisha. Unpleasant withdrawal symptoms from stopping shisha smoking include irritation, fatigue, headaches, tingling and depression.

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Cancers

A misconception about shisha smoking is that it is less damaging to the body than cigarettes, because the tobacco is inhaled through water. However, MayoClinic.com explains that shisha smoke also contains tar, carbon monoxide, heavy metals and other toxic chemicals. These chemicals can be carcinogenic (cancer-causing) in the body. Shisha smoking may increase the risk of cancers, particularly of the lips, mouth, tongue, throat and lungs.

Asthma and Illness

The heavy volume of smoke from shisha may also cause chemical irritation of the lungs, leading to or worsening allergy-induced asthma. Even in individuals who are not prone to asthma, the toxic chemicals in the smoke can irritate and inflame the lining of the nasal passages, mouth and throat and trigger allergic reactions by the immune system. The Singapore Health Promotion Board notes that, as with cigarette smoke, even secondhand shisha smoke can cause damaging effects in the body that may lead to disease.

For further information log on website :
http://www.livestrong.com/article/251907-side-effects-of-shisha/

Signs of Smoking Cigarettes

Author
by VIOLA HORNE 

Smoking cigarettes, cigars, pipes or any type of tobacco causes physical changes in the body. While some of the effects of smoking can't be seen for years, other signs of cigarette smoking can be observed within days, if not minutes, of the last cigarette. Some of the signs are overt while others may be less obvious.

Physical Evidence

Finding tobacco or paraphernalia in the person's possession or on his property may appear to be an obvious clue that the person is smoking. However, while finding actual cigarettes, lighters, matches or pipes can mean that a person is smoking, it is not definitive. Other reasons may exist for having possession of tobacco or accessories.



Finding evidence of cigarette smoking may be a more clear sign. Ashes in a car or ashtray, cigarette butts or burn marks may be a stronger indication that the person is smoking.

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Appearance

Smokers experience the effects of tobacco in their appearance and presence. According to MayoClinic.com, smoke immediately gets in a person's hair and clothing, causing the person to smell like tobacco. Cigarette smoke quickly causes the breath to smell bad. After a period of time, teeth and fingernails begin to turn yellow or brown. Cigarette smoking narrows the arteries that lead to the head, causing pallor and an unhealthy appearance. Eventually, cigarette smoking causes wrinkles, a raspy voice and often a hacking cough.

Emotional Signs

According to a 2010 study in the journal "Addictive Behaviors," while some people smoke to self-medicate or improve mood, some teenage smokers may actually experience an increase in depression. According to Jennifer O'Loughlin, a professor at the University of Montreal Department of Social and Preventive Medicine, people who used cigarettes to enhance mood had a higher risk of experiencing depression than people who never smoked.



Nicotine and other tobacco constituents also have an effect on brain circuitry, according to a 2007 study published in "Nicotine & Tobacco Research," the official journal for the Society for Research on Nicotine and Tobacco. People may exhibit fewer attention-deficit symptoms after smoking cigarettes.

Behavior

Smokers who don't want to be found out may act suspicious and become easily startled or angered. According to TeenDrugAbuse.us, teen smokers may act more aggressive or abrasive. They may become more willing to partake in other addictions. Smokers who become addicted may plan their day around when they can smoke and may become irritable if they can't have a cigarette. According to MayoClinic.com, smoking can decrease energy levels and may reduce the desire for previously enjoyable activities.

For further information log on website :
http://www.livestrong.com/article/249266-signs-of-smoking-cigarettes/