ARE TOOTH WHITENERS HEALTHY OR SHOULD THEY BE AVOIDED?
By Klaus Ferlow
Here is some interesting information about tooth whiteners. Everybody wants a sparkling smile, but do teeth whiteners really work and do no harm to your teeth and gums?
It is no secret that good healthy, white teeth can help enhance your appearance and boost your overall self-confidence and for the most part, people define "good teeth" as bright, white, and stain-free. Did you know that the teeth whitening is the number one most requested cosmetic procedure in North America and it does not show any sign of slowing down?
People have been able to take advantage of professional whitening services from their dentist for many years now. And today, you can find whitening strips, gels, trays, and lights anywhere from your dentist office to your local health and grocery store, pharmacy etc. They are quick, easy to use, and can be very effective at unsightly stain and brighten up your teeth.
Perfect, right? Not really!
Most of these products contain some kind of peroxide to remove stains. In some cases, the hydrogen peroxide, along with a variety of other chemicals found in these products, can cause alarming problems such as gum irritation, tooth sensibility, and in some cases even tooth decay.
These products that you may be using to make your teeth look bright and white could make them rot and fall out!
Overuse of at-home whitening kits has some serious risks. Not only can they cause over-sensitivity, they can also damage tissues and wear the enamel down so much that your teeth look almost see-through and very unnatural. Eventually, they can become odd shades of blue and gray.
The off-white color of teeth that most people find unsightly and unattractive is the color that your teeth are meant to look. It is really a good thing!
The color of your teeth is based on the amount in your teeth's enamel. The more calcium you have the more color is in your teeth. But, when you use bleach, you are using a product that contain abraisives so it can scrub away stains left by food, drinks, and other things like smoking. But, it can also scrub away the enamel on your teeth! This is called demineralization.
Demineralization happens when substances that you put in your mouth starts to dissolve your tooth's enamel. It can also damage the enamels calcium, which can lead to tooth decay. Tooth decay can cause a variety of issues including pain, tooth loss, infection, chewing problems, and serious infection that can travel to other parts ofyour body and make you very ill. Check also our related article: "Neem toothpaste: The healty solution for your teeth & gums."
Also, it is very important to remember that bleaching products are fairly new on the market. We still don't know any of the long-term side effects that may occur.But if you would like to get a more dazzling smile, why not give some natural alternative a try:
1. Strawberries: mashup strawberries into a pulp with your regular chemical free herbal toothpaste
2. Baking soda: put a little bit on your toothe brush with your regular herbal toothpaste that has no harsh chemical ingredients
3. Crunchy vegetables: celery, carrots, broccoli, and cucumbers are natural abraisives and can help scrub away stains
4. And remember: if you don't have health teeth, you are not a healthy person either
Words of Wisdom
Health is not everything, but without health, everything is nothing!
If a man values anything more than health, he will eventually lose his health. The irony is that if it is comfort or wealth he values more, he will evenually lose these too.
References:
The tooth book, Edward Miller
Healthy teeth & gums, Eward Miller
Take care of your teeth, Don L. Curyy
Healthy teeth, Dr. Marvin J. Schissel, Dr. John Dodes
Food for your healthy teeth, Helen Frost
Brushing well, Helen Frost
Klaus Ferlow, HMH, innovator, lecturer, researcher, founder, President and co-owner of FERLOW BOTANICALS, Div. of Ferlow Brothers Ltd., Vancouver, B.C., founded 1975, manufacturer of organic chemical-free, zero harm herbal medicinal and personal care products to professional health and wellness practitioners and selected stores with holistic practitioners on staff across Canada and parts of USA since 1993, Board member of the Health Action Network Society, Burnaby, B.C, www.hans.org, Associated member of the Canadian Herbalist's Association of B.C., Surrey, www.chaofbc.ca, President of the Hearts to Health Foundation and member of the NEEM Foundation, Bombay, India, www.neemfoundation.org
MHM = Honorary Master Herbalist, Dominion Herbal College, Burnaby, B.C., est. 1926
His educational articles have been published in Health & Women's Magazines, Newspapers, Newsletters in Canada, United Kingdom, United States of America and on numerous websites around the world.
This information is offered for its educational value only and should not be used in diagnosis, treatment or prevention of disease, please contact your local health care practitioner.
