The BEST and WORST foods for healthy teeth

Like many people you probably don't spend much time worrying about what effects the food you intake has on your teeth. Well according to an article published on green.yahoo.com there are foods that can help your oral hygiene and those that can hurt it. For better dental check-ups try incorporating the good foods and minimizing the bad.

Let's start with the good..

1. Fruits and Vegetables: Not a big surprise here I'm sure but what you might not know is that fruits and vegetables that are rich in fiber stimulate saliva flow which aids in a healthy mouth

2. Dairy Products: Heavy in calcium which increases bone strength  as well as teeth.

3. Any foods with fluoride: Fluoride water helps your teeth.

4. Sugarless gum: Like vegetables is a saliva producer and removes food particles from your mouth.

5. Licorice: Surprised? We were. According to the article, licorice inhibits growth of plaque.

Now on to the bad..

1. Sugary candies: Candy like carmel's, lollipops, and starbursts (chewy candy) have sugars that stick in your teeth and cause cavities.

2.  Starchy foods: Bacteria loves to feed on starch so when eating bread or potato chips be aware of any particles left in your teeth.

3. Soda, Sport Drinks, any carbonated beverage: The high sugar contents in these drinks promotes tooth decay.

4. Lemons: The acid from this fruit weakens tooth enamel.

5. Dry mouth items like alcohol: Its important to minimize dry mouth so be sure to drink plenty of water to offset the effects of dry mouth.

To get more detailed information visit this link: http://green.yahoo.com/blog/care2/218/the-best-and-worst-foods-for-your-teeth.html

Surprised by any of these foods? Tell us what you think by posting comments!

THIS toothbrush

There are all kinds of toothbrushes out there for consumers to choose from. Firm bristles, soft bristles, medium bristles, manual brushes, electric brushes. But have you ever seen a toothbrush that you are supposed to chew in order to clean your pearly whites?




For many years, people in Asia and the Middle East have relied on used twigs from the Salvadora persica tree, which they called called Miswak, to clean their teeth. According to behance.net,

THIS aims to repackage and promote the miswak as an organic, biodegradable, portable, more beneficial substitute for toothpaste and a toothbrush. The biggest challenge was figuring out how to package and market the twig to a contemporary American audience, who would not be entertained with the idea of biting off the top of the stick in order to use it. The solution for this is a cigar-cutter-like cap that peels off the outer layer to reveal the natural bristles, and slices them off after use. It also protects the stick from germs and microbes.

THIS toothbrush may be a beneficial substitute for toothpaste and toothbrush, but do you think people will actually use a twig to brush their teeth? Those who used twigs like this at the moment as well as in the past used it because they had no access to actual toothbrushes and toothpaste. How do you think people who take toothbrushes for granted will feel about this product?

Leave your thoughts below!

Is Your Toothbrush Safe?

Is your toothbrush safe from dun dun dun... Your toilet? 

Have you ever wondered whether your toothbrush provides an excellent breeding ground for bacteria? In particular, bacteria from your bathroom toilet? MythBusters conducted a month-long experiment to determine just that.

The experimenters, Adam Savage and Jamie Hyneman, placed toothbrushes throughout their experimental bathroom in various distances from the toilet. They also had a control group in the form of two toothbrushes self contained in the kitchen. 

After an entire month of regular bathroom use microbiologist, Dr. Joanne Engel, performed tests on both the bathroom and two kitchen toothbrushes. To find out what Dr. Engel discovered, watch the video included below. 

Posted by: Celia Franco

How Familiar Are You With These Terms?

When it comes to dental hygiene, there are many common words that one hears when sitting in the dentist chair.  The most common one of these is "floss", but there are a plethora of other terms dental professionals use when discussing teeth; do you know them all?

Tooth Cavity: Cavities in teeth are holes that are created by acid in your mouth, specifically around your gums. Tooth cavities most commonly occur when foods containing carbohydrates become trapped between your teeth and are not completely removed when one brushes their mouth.  The bacteria living inside your mouth then digest these carbohydrates which in turn create the acid which causes cavities.

Plaque: Plaque is a sticky, colorless deposit of bacteria that is constantly forming on the surface of teeth.  Food, saliva, and fluids in your mouth produce these deposits that collect where your teeth and gums meet.

Tartar: Tatar is a deposit that forms after plaque has hardened on the tooth.  The susceptibility of tartar build up varies greatly between each individual but the urgency to remove it stays the same.  Tartar can be easily nitcable unlike plaque in that it has a tellow or brown color on your tooth.  Because tartar buildup bonds so strongly to enamel, it can only be removed by a dental professional. 

These are only three of the most common dental hygiene terms often thrown around in the dentist office.  Try and use them at home and see if your friends and family really know what's going on inside their mouths.  Post comments below with your own terms you defined or would like to see included in our list.

Questions & answers about dental care !

What type of toothbrush is suitable for children?

A toothbrush with a small head is recommended, so that children can use it easily, and it will not cause gagging when they brush their back teeth.
The handle should have the correct length and thickness. It must be easy to use and provide for a firm grip.
Toothbrushes can easily be modified if difficulty is experienced with a regular brush.
These brushes for children often have handles and heads that are brightly coloured, and show cartoon characters. Brushing needs to be a fun experience!

Should I share my toothbrush with another member of the family?

Toothbrushes should not be shared as they can harbour infectious bacteria.
Using the same toothbrush can transmit hepatitis and other diseases.
Mothers should not share their toothbrushes with their children.
The initial immunity to infection that the child shares with the mother does not last indefinitely.
Toothbrushes should also be kept separately, as an added precaution.

Are electric toothbrushes recommended?

Electric toothbrushes have proven to be very successful in maintaining good oral health, and removing plaque.
The action of the brush is very efficient for cleaning teeth.
Electric toothbrushes are recommended for the elderly and people with arthritis or other disabilities, who may find it difficult to manage with a manual toothbrush.
Children enjoy the fun of using an electric toothbrush. It will result in a more thorough cleaning of their teeth, particularly at an early age.
As they grow older it may be less important to use an electric toothbrush.
It is effective with fixed orthodontic appliances.
Remember that the cleaning of teeth will only be successful, if the motivation exists to have healthy teeth and gums.
Consult your dentist and follow the manufacturer's instructions.

The Evolution Of the Tooth Brush

The toothbrush as we know it today was not invented until 1938. However, early forms of the toothbrush have been in existence since 3000 BC. Ancient civilizations used a "chew stick," which was a thin twig with a frayed end. These 'chew sticks' were rubbed against the teeth.

The Miswak (also called "siwak" or "miswaak") is a chewing stick made from a twig of a Salvadora persica (arak or peelu tree). The usage is incredibly simple. First peel of a small portion of bark from the end of the twig. Then chew on the peeled portion of the twig until it looks like a brush.

The tree itself has antiseptic properties and it is comparable to other oral disinfectants and anti-plaque agents used today. In fact, the World Health Organization (WHO) has recommended the usage of Miswak.

The bristle toothbrush, similar to the type used today, was not invented until 1498 in China. The bristles were actually the stiff, coarse hairs taken from the back of a hog's neck and attached to handles made of bone or bamboo. Could you imagine brushing your teeth and gum's with the same bristles you brush your hair with?

Boar bristles were used until 1938, when nylon bristles were introduced by Dupont de Nemours. The first nylon toothbrush was called Doctor West's Miracle Toothbrush. Later, Americans were influenced by the disciplined hygiene habits of soldiers from World War II. They became increasingly concerned with the practice of good oral hygiene and quickly adopted the nylon toothbrush.

The Nylon toothbrush we use today has really made brushing easy and enjoyable. Without these nylon brushes, I'm pretty sure the world would be a different place, lacking the smiles that brighten it up each day!

Bad Breath: 5 causes and 5 Cures

How to restore your fresh breath—and relationships ?

Wondering why your loved ones are giving you more personal space than you’ve asked for? Suspicious about the Altoids left on your desk with dental floss bows? If you’re one of 90 million Americans suffering from chronic bad breath, here are some of the possible causes, as well as remedies to restore your fresh breath—and relationships.

Top 5 Causes of Bad Breath

1. A dirty mouth

“Ninety percent of mouth odors come from mouth itself—either from the food you eat or bacteria that’s already there,” says Dr. Richard H. Price spokesman for American Dental Association. “Mouth odor is like any other body odor—the result of microbes living in the body giving off byproducts.” In the mouth, this means bacteria that normally live in the mouth interact with food particles, blood, tissue, etc., to create volatile (i.e., stinky) sulfur compounds. If you don’t clean properly, the bacteria build up, and next thing you know—that’s not toothpaste on your tongue.

2. A mouth out of balance

Certain mouth conditions can exacerbate bacterial growth and odor, such as gum disease and dry mouth. Gum disease causes bloody gums, creating more elements for those pesky bacteria to putrefy. But it is a dry mouth that is the more common cause of bad breath. Saliva helps flush out the mouth, keeping bacteria moving so they don’t settle down and multiply, while drier mouth is a breeding ground for bacteria. In spring and summer, allergy medications can dry you out; in winter, dry heat tends to be the culprit.

3. Stinky foods

If it stinks going in, chances are it’s going to stink coming out. The obvious offenders are onions, garlic, alcohol and tobacco. And foods don’t only create a stench in the mouth. “Plant oils are absorbed and the byproducts enter your bloodstream so you are actually breathing the odors out via your lungs three to four hours later,” says Jeannie Moloo, a registered dietitian and spokeswoman for the American Dietetic Association. [Fulldisclosure: Moloo is the author’s cousin.]

4. Not enough carbs

You look great after four weeks on Atkins, so how come you still can’t get a date? High-protein, low-carb diets cause your body to burn stored fats for fuel instead of carbs and can lead to a condition called ketosis. “As fat burns, ketones build up in the body, and some are released through breath,”explains Moloo. “Unfortunately ketones don’t smell particularly good.” And bad breath trumps six-pack abs.

5. Illness

Occasionally, bad breath can be a sign of a more serious illness. The most common systemic causes of bad breath are diabetes or GERD (or gastro esophageal reflux disease). Diabetes can also cause ketosis, and the resulting bad breath is sometimes one of first symptoms that lead to diagnosis. GERD is a backflow of acid from the stomach to the esophagus. Less common but possible are liver or kidney disease—when toxins from these organs are excreted through the lungs, causing bad breath.

Top 5 Cures

1. Keep it clean

Gum, breath mints, mouthwash… these are all helpful stopgaps, but they won’t cure bad breath. The way to get rid of bad breath for most of us is to brush, floss and tongue scrape twice a day. Yes, for fresh breath, the key is tongue scraping. “You can brush and floss till the cows come home, but it won’t help unless you get way back,” says Price of the American Dental Association. A tongue scraper is available at most drugstores. Price swears it helped him when he was suffering from bad breath (not something you want in your dentist, he points out). “Now I smell like a petunia,” he says. “For most of us, brushing, flossing and tongue scraping twice a day will control bad breath.”

2. Keep it moist

The best way to keep the right saliva balance is to drink plenty of water or liquids. To prevent dry mouth in winter, use a humidifier. If you snore or suffer from postnasal drip, try saline nasal spray to keep nasal passages moist.

3. Watch what you eat

Avoiding the main offenders (onion, garlic, tobacco, coffee, etc.) is the best way to avoid food-related bad breath. Dietitian Moloo also cites research that suggests certain foods can help: “Two cups of tea a day can prevent bad breath for some. The polyphenols, a plant chemical in tea, may prevent growth of bacteria responsible for bad breath.” You can also chew parsley, which seems to curb offending smells from other foods and bacteria. And cranberries may eliminate offensive smells and make the bacteria less sticky, which makes plaque less likely to form. Price says sugarless gums that contain xylotol may kill some bacteria and help reduce plaque.

4. Eat some carbs

Apparently the only way to help the ketosis caused by low-carb diets is… to eat some carbs. Moloo recommends fruits, vegetables and whole grains over frosted doughnuts.

5. See your doctor

If tongue scraping and carbo-loading doesn’t do the trick, check with your doctor to see if he or she suspects a more serious cause. Diabetes, GERD or other diseases require specific diagnoses and treatments.