I am proud to say that I have all my own teeth at the age of 65. While that may not sound unusual to some people, everyone in my family who is my age or older wears dentures. I always tell people that that flossing is the key to good dental health. I have arthritis in my hands, but I don't let it keep me from flossing every day. My trick is to use those little "flossers" you can buy at the drug store. They have plastic handles floss stretched out on top of the handle. These make flossing easier on days when my arthritis is acting up. I started this blog to let other people know that they can keep their teeth healthy into old age when they take care of them. If you have hand pain, find ways to make flossing easier, like I did.
Don't Let Hand Pain Keep You from Flossing
Should You Consider Teeth Whitening?
Francis Miles
Teeth whitening is a common practice for many people. However, you may wonder if the procedure is safe. While you want a brighter smile, you have to consider any risks involved that goes along with it. Fortunately, there are some safe options you can consider. You still need to think about how teeth whitening can impact your health. The following are some things to consider:
Why Do You Want to Whiten Your Teeth?
Teeth whitening exists because teeth can be easily stained throughout the course of daily life. Daily consumption of coffee and tea, smoking, or injuries to the teeth can cause them to become discolored. When you whiten stained teeth, you will feel more confident when you smile and may even have a boost to your self-esteem.
What Are Your Options?
Once you make the decision to whiten your teeth, you need to decide which option is best for you. There are at-home teeth whitening kits you can purchase if you want to dip your toes into the water of teeth bleaching. You may notice some results, but you will need repeated applications to get the outcome you want. This is because the concentration of the bleaching agent is not as high as you would get in the dentist's office.
After you get comfortable with the idea of teeth whitening, you may want to try a professional treatment with the dentist. A trained professional will apply the whitening agent to the teeth. The results are a brighter smile performed in a safe environment.
Is Teeth Whitening Safe?
The experts consider teeth whitening safe when performed by a professional using approved whitening techniques. If you are pregnant or nursing, you may want to wait to have your teeth whitened. Your teeth should also be free of cavities, or you will notice some sensitivity. You should also have healthy gums. You should never over-whiten your teeth, as this can result in damage to your tooth enamel.
There are some possible drawbacks to regular teeth whitening, including the possibility of more sensitive teeth. If this happens to you, tell your dentist right away. You can use pain-sensitive toothpaste to help deal with the discomfort. You should also hold off on further teeth whitening until your dentist says it is safe to restart.
If you are in doubt about whether or not teeth whitening may work for you, be sure to seek a consultation with your dentist to get more information. Be sure to discuss your concerns and the health of your teeth during your consultation.
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