Dental Care for Every Day

Aloe Vera, A New Remedy For Sensitive Teeth
Many effective dental care and dental cosmetics products include herbs and natural remedies as they are safe and can be used by almost everyone on a long-term basis. Recently, a group of scientists studied and analyzed therapeutic properties of such popular herb as aloe vera. Numerous scientific tests showed that this natural remedy can play an important role for treating many dental problems, including periodontal disease and dental cavities. The results of the study were published in such reputable magazines as Cosmetic Dentistry and General Dentistry (a journal of the Academy of General Dentistry).

Aloe vera is known for its rich content of useful elements and nutrients. During the experiments it became clear that aloe vera extract can not only heal small skin damages, have calming effects on our skin and prevent sunburn, but also fight against common dental problems. In particular, aloe vera extract can effectively assist in treating bleeding gums, help to reduce bad breath and prevent the development of dental plague, as well as some other dental diseases.

Dr. Dilip George, one of the leaders of this study, underlines that aloe vera products contain anthraquinones which have perfect anti-inflammatory and anti-septic properties, as well as excellent pain-killing effects. In addition to that, dental gels and other products based on this natural remedy will be less irritable and suitable for people with sensitive teeth. Thus, producing and marketing aloe vera dental gel is considered to be a new innovative approach in cosmetic dentistry and oral health care.

At the same time, Dr. Dilip George points on the necessity to continue the researches in order to find a special effective technology for manufacturing dental products with aloe vera. He underlines that using high temperature technology can “..destroy or reduce the effects of certain essential compounds, such as enzymes and polysaccharides“. Aloe vera dental gel will be more natural, safe and less abrasive denta care alternative perfectly suitable for everyone who faces he probem of sensitive teeth.

Dental Care and Medications

We all know so well that a good dental care includes a proper daily oral hygiene, regular dental check-ups and a low sugar diet. However, recently, Australian specialists point on one more important element of everyone’s dental care routine. After one of the researches carried out by dental experts in Sydney, it became clear that a great deal of medications and drugs we use on a regular basis are actually harmful and damaging to our teeth. According to the statistics mentioned at Perth Now, up to 40% of modern people regularly take at least one type of medications which are harmful to their tooth enamel.

In particular, there are a great number of medications which cause saliva reduction or ‘dry mouth’. This condition is quite dangerous for our normal oral hygiene because dry mouth brings to increased number of bacteria population on our teeth and tongue, slows down the processes of de-mineralization and tooth enamel reconstruction, this way creating a favorable environment and speeding up tooth decay. Also, our saliva contains special substances that can neutralize mouth acids which make our teeth decay. Therefore, using too many medications causing ‘dry mouth’ (like antihistamines, etc.) is connected with increased risks of having dental problems.

Some of modern medications are extremely acidic and can cause serious tooth decay. Those include some asthma medicines and others, and if taken for long period of time, they can be very dangerous for our oral health. Also, some medical syrups have a very high content of sugar, which is also harmful for our tooth enamel. If you are taking syrups on a regular basis, it is recommended to brush your teeth every time after your medicine is taken. In addition, such medicines as diuretics, immune-suppressive medicines, oral contraceptives and others are associated with increased risks of having various gum problems, oral ulcers, inflammation, etc.

It is also very important to remember that young children and teenagers are more vulnerable to the above mentioned negative effects of medications and drugs on their teeth, than grown-ups. That is why parents must control the use of antibiotics and other dangerous medicines. A special attention should be paid on the medications which contain fluoride, because it can be very harmful for the developing permanent teeth of children if taken in excessive amounts. Always consult your doctor or a health care specialist before giving your child one or another medication.


Stewed and Roasted Vegetables Can Harm Our Teeth

The Naked Chief Jamie Oliver made the people throughout the world like vegetable stews and oven roasted vegetables. If cooked with love, such meals are very tasty and, in addition, they are considered to be very healthy and useful for our body. In particular, stewed and oven-roasted vegetables are beneficial for our digestive system. However, according to a research carried out two years ago by a group of specialists at the University of Dundee, Scotland, eating a lot of stewed and oven roasted vegetables can be harmful to our teeth and stimulate tooth decay.

The researchers were analyzing chemical content of stewed vegetables cooked in oven for 45 minutes and in a traditional way (boiled in a pot on the top of the stove). They discovered that stewed squash, eggplant and green belly pepper have increased acidity, which can be compared to the acidity level in sodas, the most powerful destroyers of human teeth. Red peppers should be also associated with increased acidity and negative effects on our teeth enamel. At the same time, such vegetables as tomatoes and onions do not have high acidity levels whatever way of cooking is chosen.

“The acidity of ratatouille prepared by oven roasting is the same as that of some carbonated drinks that, when consumed in excess, are believed to contribute to the development of dental erosion,” Dr Graham Chadwick of the School of Dentistry, one of the leaders of the research, comments. The results of this interesting study were published in 2006 in European Journal of Prosthodontics and Restorative Dentistry. Acid erosion is one of the most common and dangerous dental conditions which affects modern people of all ages.