Should I Whiten My Teeth?

You look in the mirror and smile nice and big - "Oh no! My teeth look so yellow! How did this happen? I really want to bleach them but it's so expensive. I wonder if those over-the-counter bleaching strips actually work or not." It's safe to say, the majority of us have thought this at one time or another. If you're like me and drink lots of coffee, you tend to be a bit more concerned about the color of your teeth. Well, what can be done? Are there any natural remedies? Hopefully, I can help to answer some of your questions and concerns.


When is whitening my teeth recommended?

Whitening your teeth can make a world of difference in the appearance of not only your smile but your entire face; lifting off years of discoloration. However, bleaching your teeth is not recommended for everyone. Such as:
                 - Women who are pregnant or lactating
                 - Those who have braces or other orthodontic appliances
                 - Children under the age of 16 (unless consulting with a dentist first)
                 - Those with sensitive teeth, allergies, cavities, exposed roots, worn enamel, or dental      
                    restorations
                 - Those with unrealistic expectations

           So, who is bleaching recommended for? Here are a few ways to tell if you and your
           smile are good candidates for teeth whitening:
                 - Those with healthy, unrestored teeth and gums
                 - People who have more of a yellow tone/staining to their teeth
                 - Those with realistic expectations


Different Types of Whitening Available:

There are several ways to whiten and brighten your smile; here are a few:
     - Whitening Toothpastes, if you are looking for a fast, cost-effective way to      
       whiten your smile, toothpaste is your best bet. Though, the toothpaste will
       only whiten the surface of your tooth and usually only up to 1 shade, it is a
       very simple and inexpensive way to lighten some of those coffee stains.
   
     - Over-the-Counter (OTC), these products include gels, strips, rinses, and
       trays. Unlike whitening toothpastes, OTC whitening products contain  
       bleaching agents like carbamide peroxide and hydrogen peroxide. Peroxide
       helps to bleach below the surface of the teeth allowing for a much whiter
       appearance and a longer lasting result (usually about 4 months).

     - In-Office Bleaching at Your Dentist's Office, hands-down this is the fastest,  
       most effective, and lasting way to bleach your teeth. Each session takes  
       about 30-60 minutes and in many cases you only will need to be treated
       one time and will see your tooth shade lighten, sometimes even up to
       4 shades. Unlike toothpastes and OTC whitening, in-office whitening can
       be extremely costly.


How Long Will The Results Last?
 
              These results are not permanent but the longevity of them greatly depends on
              what types of foods you eat and the things you drink. If you avoid staining
              foods and beverages, your results could last up to a year but if you continue to
              eat and drink things that cause staining, your results could last as little as one
              month.

What Are Some At-Home/Natural Options?

              There are a couple of ways to help whiten your teeth at home with natural
              remedies. However, just like the toothpastes, these will only whiten the surface
              of your teeth and the results do not last as long as those at your dentist's office.
                      - Mix a cap full of hydrogen peroxide with a "Dixie-sized-cup" of water and
                        swish in your mouth for 30 seconds. *You want to be very careful to
                        dilute the hydrogen peroxide so that it will not irritate your gums*
                      - Brush with baking soda once a month *You also need to be very 
                        careful when brushing with baking soda, as it can be extremely 
                        abrasive to the enamel and surrounding tissue*

Some Possible Side Effects:
 
              The most common side effects from whitening is sensitivity to your teeth and
              the surrounding tissue. Usually, this sensitivity goes away 2-3 days after
              treatment is stopped. One way to help alleviate this sensitivity is to start using a
              toothpaste made especially for sensitive teeth and to rinse with a fluoride rinse.


Many of us strive to achieve that beautiful Hollywood Smile and whitening your teeth is just one way in which you can get a little closer. Whichever remedy you choose, be sure to always follow the directions and if sensitivity lasts more than a week you may need to consult with your dentist.

Chalice, RDA
www.smileteam4u.com

Don’t Forget

            Shopping, decorating, cooking, cleaning; Christmas season at its finest. With Christmas just days away, it’s easy to get caught up in the hustle and bustle of the holidays. You’re busy making sure this Christmas is going to be the best one yet, but at what cost? Are you neglecting to remember the true meaning of Christmas? We’re celebrating the miraculous birth of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ! Our focus shouldn’t be on buying expensive presents for people and making sure our house is decorated better than our neighbors.  We should be praising God for the gift of His Son!

            Why not use this time as a season of spiritual growth? We are instructed to be constantly growing in our faith and knowledge daily, but I hope this time of year brings extra excitement of growing closer to our loving God. We have all read the passages of Christ’s birth, but why not use this time to sit down with your family and read them together? Discuss them and pray about them. Christmas was truly a miracle and we should be praising God for that!

Throughout the year we often neglect to spend enough time with our own families because we’re “too busy”. I also challenge you this Christmas to make this a holiday of family growth. Start a tradition of reading the Christmas story as a family (Luke 2:1-20 for example), decorate the tree together, make Christmas cookies and don’t worry about the mess you might be making. Pinterest has great ideas for family activities and fun crafts to make. For me, the Christmas memories I cherish the most are when we piled up in the car with hot chocolate and drove around looking at Christmas lights, or all the times my family sat around and just talked. I can’t remember the gifts I got that year, but I’ll always remember the good conversations and memories made with my family.

So this Christmas don’t forget the real reason we celebrate. Let’s praise God for the gift of Christ and our chance at new life through Him!

Luke 2:11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior who is Christ the Lord.

Luke 2:14 Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is     

pleased.

Allie Todd, RDA, CDA
www.smileteam4u.com

Truth and Absolute Truth

I remember hearing a speech concerning the constitution.  The speaker was making the point that the founding fathers could not possibly foresee all of the future changes coming to our country and our society.  I totally agreed with this basic assumption, but he continued and in essence said that the constitution had to be interrupted different at different times depending on how society changed.  Being a good ole country boy I started thinking – what?  You see I thought changes to laws or the constitution was supposed to be made by the legislative branch or the system set up to make amendments to the constitution. 

In my opinion the constitution deals with basic truths. That is the reason it doesn’t need to be changed often and our wise founding fathers made it so difficult to change.  The assumption the speaker made was that there are no absolute truths.  There are absolute truths!  If you fall out of bed, 100 out of 100 times, you are going to go down.  Gravity is an absolute truth.  The sun rises in the east 100 out of 100 times. 

I submit that there are many more absolute truths, but one that my mom always told me was, “somebody has got to pay.”  A variation of this is, “there ain’t no free lunch.” 

According to a study done by George Mason University, approximately 49% of households in the U.S. receive some type of government benefits.

When there are more people receiving than paying, we are eventually doomed.  A few more absolute truths come to mind:

Just because you might choose not to believe these truths, does not make them any less true.  You don’t have to believe in gravity.  But to not believe in gravity you do so at your own peril.

We have become a society that worships at the altar of relativism and/or tolerance.  Tolerance of different thoughts or ideas is a good thing and has always been part of our great society.  Our current problem is we are confusing tolerance of ideas, with the concept of all ideas are equal.  Obviously, all ideas are not equal.  (When I first wrote this last paragraph, I didn’t have the last sentence in it.  It seems ludicrous to have to write it.  But then, I thought I better write it down because I think some people might actually question it.) 

Over the history of mankind, not observing moral and economic truths has always been followed by dire consequences.  Pray for our country.

David

www.smileteam4u.com

                       

Revolution or Revival

Free Stuff or Freedom