My Beauty Space

Did you know that there are things you can do that are relatively simple and not such a huge pain in the butt, even if you happen to be a smoker, that can help you maintain white, clean looking teeth and add a ton to your appearance and smile?  The first tip is actually focused for coffee and tea drinkers and some may not like the idea, but it definitely reduces the contact of the staining factor to the teeth, which is what is needed for stain avoidance.

Try drinking staining beverages through a straw.  This way, the drink passes by the teeth and goes straight down the throat, minimizing contact and therefore also minimizing it’s potential to stain the teeth.

The reason that teeth absorb deeply colored foods and beverages is that they have a degree of porosity to them, just like every bone in the body, and because of their porous quality, they do absorb and take on deep colors, making them appear brown or yellow instead of their natural white.

As we age, you see this process compound, since our teeth have absorbed thousands of staining foods and beverages as we get older and consume more and more over time.  Plus, the aging process alone can leave teeth duller and tinted.  Drinking damaging beverages through a straw will help with the introduction of these substances that speed the staining process up.

The problem is that the stronger you drink your tea or coffee, the more staining potential it has since it takes on a deeper “stain”, and has more ability to stain your teeth because it is more concentrated.  Similarly if you eat darkly colors fruits, esepecially blueberries or grape juice or lots of dark wines, you will notice that they have strong staining factors that sometimes are almost immediately visible. 

If you are a smoker, you really can’t avoid the tar that emits from smoke from clinging to your teeth and sinking in to create a darker appearance, but there are some products you can try that help to take the tar off, but they must be used once every night at least, especially after a day of smoking.

One is a mouthwash called Targon which is used prior to brushing the teeth.  It helps to pull tar stains out of the teeth, and loosening them up so that when you brush your teeth you are actually brushing tar stains out.  Many smokers swear by this one.

Strawberries are actually a natural tooth whitener, especially when eaten raw and by themselves.  Not only are they a natural teeth whitener, but they are also high in antioxidants and tasty, so noshing on strawberries daily can help to whiten teeth naturally.

There are several tooth whitening chewing gums available now that claim to help combat stains and keep teeth white and bright.  If you pop a piece of this gum after you’re eaten a meal with staining foods or a beverages that is dark in color, this may help to offset the effects of the food or beverage consumed.

Also there are some quality teeth whitening toothpastes that can be purchased at your local drugstore that have teeth whitening capabilities, especially if they’re used right after consuming something that may stain the teeth and take away the whiteness even more. 

I bought a tube of a Colgate whitening toothpaste, hoping that it would polish my dull teeth back to a bright white after I’ve been having breakfasts of blueberries and yogurt for weeks now, in an effort to eat healthier.  I’ve also added in a lot of other teeth staining foods and drinks as of late, and my teeth, although they are still a shade of white, are definitely showing a bit of the dulling and staining effects of the foods and drinks I’ve been choosing.

So this Colgate Simply White toothpaste that is supposed to dramatically brighten and whiten teeth pretty quickly according to the advertisement looked like a genuine bargain at two for five bucks at Giant Eagle, undoubtedly a promotional price to get the newer teeth whitening product off the ground.  I only bought one tube though, just in case I didn’t like it or my teeth were made too sensitive by using it, which has been known to happen with my finicky teeth.

The problem with a lot of the whitening products is that they do create teeth sensitivity.  While I can say this Colgate Simply White doesn’t promote sensitivity, it doesn’t really seem to be doing much of a job at whitening or getting the stains out after about one week of use.  And, I’m not sure what the deal is with the tube, but it’s built so that it comes out of two chambers, one if a blue gel and the other is a white paste, which I think is the “whitening” part of the concoction. 

Problem is, I’m not sure if I got a defective tube or not, but hardly any of the white paste comes out and all I get is a big glob of the blue gel pretty much.  This might mean I’m totally missing out on the whitening action of the paste, but every time I squeeze it’s barely any paste. 

I’m hoping that as the tube dwindles in size, the paste will come out naturally more on its own and I will get more whitening action.  As for right now, Colgate Simply White seems to be just an ordinary toothpaste, it does not appear to be whitening my teeth any more than any other run of the mill “whitening” toothpaste.  My money’s on the treatments at this point, like Crest White Strips or the trays - you just have to be really careful with the trays because they do create a sensitivity sometimes in those with sensitive teeth or gums. 

This is not really a beauty product, per se, but it is a whitening toothpaste that is all natural and organic which also happens to be really good for sensitive gums and gums that may have a disease or have issues, such as mine (I have receding gums and have had them operated on several times).  I bought it at a local grocery store to where I work, which carries a lot of the more of the less known brands and also a lot of the organic and natural lines, for a premium, of course.

It is a natural toothpaste, as I said, and it’s so natural in fact, that it comes out a light brown color.  Admittedly not the most appetizing or appealing color, but if something has no artificial colorings, then that is how it’s bound to look.  There is no sodium laureth or lauryl sulfate, which has gotten tons of negative press for being corosive to the skin, hair, and mouth, so it doesn’t froth up like other toothpastes do, which may throw some people off.

As far as whitening, I can’t say that I’ve seen a huge difference.  I’m still an advocate of whitening treatments for the purposed of whitening, as I don’t believe that a toothpaste itself can whiten to most people’s liking.  I love the toothpaste though because my mouth does not seem to dry out as easily since I’ve been using it, and my gums indeed are not as sensitive.  The taste of the paste could be better, but I’m not complaining too bad as I think some regular toothpastes are a little too flavored for my taste. 

Many of us experience tooth darkening in our adult life due to coffee or tea drinking, smoking or just time itself.  The yellowing and darkening of our teeth detracts from personal appearance and often people don’t smile as readily as they are self conscious of their teeth.
Teeth whitening systems vary in affordability and effectiveness.  Professional teeth whitening treatments done by dentists are the most effective means of restoring the white gleam to your teeth.  The estimated cost of this method of teeth whitening is $300.00 to $800.00. 
Dentists use a light therapy together with hydrogen peroxide to lighten teeth signifigantly, up to 10 shades in about an hour.  At the dentist’s office, you can purchase a bleaching kit custom fitted to your mouth to use for 1 to 2 hours per day or at night.
Over the counter teeth whitening products are affordable for the most part for the general public to purchase.  One of the better home teeth whitening products if the Crest Whitestrips Premium at a cost of about $35.00.  The Crest Whitestrips need to be worn for 30 minutes 2 times a day for one week and usually whiten your teeth about 3 shades. 
The Go Smile Advanced Formula B1 sells for approximately $90.00 and is tubes of gel that come with a small brush.  It is the most convenient home teeth whitening product as you can use it anywhere and you don’t have to remove the Go Smile.
The effectiveness of your teeth whitening option will depend on the amount of peroxide and the duration of time the product is on your teeth.  Other choices in the teeth whitening products are pastes, chewing gums and liquids that you paint on your teeth. 
Certainly, get your dental cleaning done regularly and try to avoid habits like smoking, drinking coffee and tea and other teeth staining beverages.  Then try some of the teeth whitening systems that are available over the counter and see how they work for you.  The home teeth whiteners are convenient and affordable today.

I recently started using a toothpaste that is supposed to help restore the enamel on your teeth from years of acid wear and tear. Believe it or not, enamel wear and not enough enamel on the teeth are very common problems, and most likely a big part of the reason our teeth get stained more easily and tend to look duller and be more sensitive to heats, cold, and sweets.  I thought that I really needed to start to help replenishing the enamel on my teeth, because I did start to have the sensitivities described, and I also felt that my teeth were starting to look dull.

I have been an overzealous teeth-brusher ever since I can remember.  I thought, well, I’m scrubbing really hard, so I’m doing a good, thorough job, and that’s what I should be doing.  Turns out, I’ve been scrubbing too hard all these years, and not only does that hurt the enamel on your teeth by wearing it away faster than it should naturally, but brushing too hard can also contribute to gum recession.

Receding gums happens to also be a problem of mine that’s required two oral surgeries to repair so far, and will require more in the future (unfortunately, because to be honest gum surgery is one of the most unpleasant experiences I’ve ever had!)  The Pronamel toothpaste is supposed to be used for no longer than 4 week periods at a time per the labeling, although I’m not sure why, and is said to help protect against acid wear and tear (we all eat acidy foods, including coffee and some highly acidic foods like tomatoes and some fruits, vinegars and other acid based foods), and also to help replenish your enamel.

Now, I’m not sure how a toothpaste can actually help to replenish the enamel that’s worn off, but every time I used this stuff, I feel like my teeth are stronger.  They are squeaky clean every time you finish brushing, so much so that you can actually hear and feel the toothbrush squeaking against your teeth, so it does feel like it’s doing something, perhaps coating the teeth in a protective layer?

Overall, I like Pronamel toothpaste so far, and will continue to use it for as long as the label indicates.  I will probably use it periodically for the rest of my life, to help protect my teeth against further enamel erosion. 

There is nothing as flattering to a person’s appearance as a clean, white smile with sparkling teeth shining through it.  Due to factors such as time itself, coffee drinking, and assorted vices like smoking, often teeth become darkened and discolored. Bleaching and whitening agents can be used to try to restore the white color, but sometimes these alone are not enough to get rid of unsightly discolorations.
 One solution to the discolorations or worn or misshapened teeth that mar your smile is the use of Cerinate Lumineers from your dentist.  Cerinate Lumineers are as thin as a contact lens and can be done without grinding or shaving your teeth prior to application. 

Despite being as thin as a contact lens, Lumineers by Cerinate are tough and strong.  Lumineers are made of a patented Cerinate porcelain and have been clinically tested to show they should last up to 20 years.  One of the biggest reasons people have been hesitant to get veneers for their teeth is the prospect of having their own teeth painfully ground down.
 Since there is no grinding down of your teeth, the process is reversible with Cerinate Lumineers. On the average, Lumineers can give you a custom made smile with two to three visits to the dentist.  For your first visit, the dentist makes an impression for fitting the Lumineers.  With the second visit, your dentist fits and bonds the Lumineers over your own teeth.
 For maintenance of your Lumineers, you should still do oral hygiene as usual, but use a low abrasion toothpaste.  With Lumineers, you may still eat or drink your favorite foods as usual, but make sure you visit your dentist every 6 months.  For longevity of Lumineers, you can ask your dentist about a 5 year warranty plan where they’ll be replaced at no charge if there would be a problem.

I was just reading about how toiletries giant Procter and Gamble are planning to release a super fast teeth whitening system soon.  I’ve tried a few teeth whitening systems, and the problem is that usually they do take a while, and more than a few uses, to even lighten your teeth a few shades.  The new whitening product is just an enhanced version of the immensely popular tooth whitener by P&G Crest White Strips - advertised extensively by Britney Spears, when she was still famous for the right reasons. 

The new Crest White Strips will be improved in that people who want whiter teeth but hate spending a half hour or more a night on getting them every so often, will be able to whiten their teeth with the new White Strips in just five minutes a day.  The newer and improved version of the whitening strips will be advertised as a multifunctional strip, and will be able to take away stains like coffee and other dark drinks as well as other staining foods like blueberries and the like in just five minutes a night for busy folks like you and me. 

P&G got the idea after a lot of feedback from customers said they like the effects of whitening strips, they just don’t have the 30 minutes in their day to devote to them or even think about it.  Crest apparently lays claim to a huge percentage of the tooth whitening market, and they have their sights set even higher with this new product release of an older product with improved qualities for the busy people (how about the whole world nowadays?)

Look for the new improved White Strips on your shelves soon, and you’ll probably be seeing tons of commercials for them, would be my guess!

I’ve noticed a new trend the past few times I’ve purchased a new toothbrush : there seems to be quite a few toothbrushes that claim to not only clean the teeth and prevent gum disease and dental disease, but also they claim they can help whiten and polish your teeth.  But is there any real truth to that claim? 

The automatic toothbrushes have always said that they can help whiten and polish the teeth better than the manual toothbrushes, so the claim is really nothing new, but now manual toothbrushes are also advertising the fact that they are a little better at cosmetically whitening as well. 

They have a slightly unique design that we are not used to seeing, in that they have a few different indents and grooves in them that we don’t typically see in regular toothbrushes, which tend to just have a straight edge on the part that actually scrubs the teeth.  You may notice that your teeth seem to look a bit more polished when using these types of toothbrushes, simply because they scrub the surface a little more agressively and at a slightly advantageous angle, but as far as real whitening power, that usually comes from the toothpaste you use. 

I usually just use a good whitening toothpaste to reverse the effects of drinking coffee tea and pop, which all tend to leave unglamorous stains on the tooth surface, and I also pair it with a tooth whitening gel every so often when I feel they need a little “facelift”. 

This product is definitely one of the most genuine, bonified, effective bargains in tooth whitening that I’ve ever used.  For a mere $5 at Wal-Mart, or Target I believe, I picked up this tube of Plus White tooth whitening gel when my teeth were starting to not have so much luster to them, and were taking on a dull color, thanks to me drinking coffee just a couple days in a row (yes, that’s apparently all it takes for me to need a tooth whitening). 

It’s just a clear gel that has a slightly minty taste to it.  The way I use it that I find most effective is I brush my teeth, wipe my teeth off so that they are as dry as possible, and swab some of the gel over each tooth.  I let my mouth stay open for as long as I can stand it, so the gel has time to “air out” and adhere and oxygenate a little more so it can work better. 

Then I close my mouth, and usually just let it sit in there while I’m doing other things for anywhere from five to ten minutes.  I must confess, sometimes I let it stay in for ten minutes, and it’s only supposed to be five, but I haven’t noticed any sensitivity or anything from doing that. 

I then rinse my mouth out with warm water, and brush my teeth again.  My teeth come out “shinier” looking, and I swear it does lighten one shade just from one use.  Usually after just a couple days of use of the Plus White tooth whitening gel, my tooth are back to a nice, bright, gleaming shade.

I have to add this side note on Listerine Whitening Mouthwash.  I do like the product, don’t get me wrong, but this product is not for use by people with sensitive teeth.  I’ve reduced my gargling with the mouthwash to once every two days, instead of the recommended twice daily by the Listerine label. 

Why?

Because my teeth are incredibly sensitive, and seem to only be getting worse.  I noticed that I started getting shooting pain when rinsing with it too often.  This is especially due to the fact that I have receding gums.  SO, if you are very sensitive, you may want to modify your rinsing habits with it, and cut it down.  Some people with extreme sensitivity may even want to avoid it.  It might be due to the peroxide in the product, but I’m not sure.