Are you worried about the dangers of fluoride in your drinking water and dental care products? What can you do? Some of the natural brands are fluoride free. Unfortunately, they still contain our old friend sodium laurel sulfate. What can you do? We all know about brushing with baking soda. Unfortunately, it leaves a lot to be desired in the flavor dept. So, here’s some other inexpensive kitchen ingredients that keep teeth white, bright and healthy.

Non-fluoride baking soda brushing alternative

Did you know coconut oil works just as well for cleaning teeth as baking soda? The taste is much easier to take, though. Coconut oil is solid, not runny. It’s about the same texture as toothpaste. It seems expensive at around 8.00-20.00 for a 16 oz. jar. Then you realize that jar is going to last you longer than several tubes of toothpaste with a lot left over for cooking and such. Simply put some in a separate jar for the bathroom. Add a drop or two of peppermint extract to freshen breath and you’re good to go.

Note: Add a bit of hydrogen peroxide for whitening power.

Salt scrubs plaque clean.

I do a routine salt scrub once a week to keep my teeth plaque free. It makes an incredible difference in appearance. If you have issues with plaque build-up, why not give it a try? Simply pour about a teaspoon of salt into your hand. Wet a soft bristled toothbrush. Dip it in the salt. Now, brush away all that nasty plaque without fluoride dense rinses or strong gels.

Caution: Using salt daily may scrub away tooth enamel along with the plaque. This is a weekly or monthly treatment.

Strawberry/banana peel whitener really works!

Who knew a couple pieces of fruit could whiten teeth so well? We’ve all heard that rubbing the inside of a banana peel on your teeth whitens like magic. Does it work? You bet. I’ve tried it myself. I also heard that strawberries whiten teeth. My teeth were dingy from my old soda pop drinking habit. So, I decided to try them together. I mashed a strawberry, spread it on the banana peel and rubbed it on my teeth daily for a couple weeks. Sure enough, by the end of the two weeks, my pop stained teeth were replaced by pearly whites.

Lemon juice for teeth?

We’ve all heard that citrus is bad for your teeth. You wouldn’t want to leave it lingering for long. Still, my grand-daughter says she has a marvelous fluoride free way of keeping her teeth super white. She brushes them weekly with a mixture of baking soda and lemon juice. I know. I said no baking soda. She does admit it tastes awful. But, since the lemon juice is the active ingredient, why not mix it with coconut oil instead? It’ll be fluoride free and taste good too.

Please note: The author is not a licensed medical professional. This article is not intended to replace professional dental advice.

We’ve all seen the products and infomercials on television expounding the benefits of having whiter teeth. Sure, everyone wants their smile to be the whitest and brightest it can be, until you walk into the grocery store, pharmacy or drug store and see those hefty prices on the teeth whitening products sitting on the shelf – ouch!

Having white teeth is simple

So let’s talk a bit about how you can have whiter and brighter teeth, without buying expensive whitening products or visiting your dentist and spending an hour in the chair and shelling out hundreds of dollars for laser or tray bleaching.

First, let’s talk about prevention and then we’ll move on to how to brighten up an already dull smile. Prevention is really the key to keeping teeth healthy looking and white.

Genetics play crucial role in this

I was surprised to learn that genetics played a role in determining the color of your teeth. From birth, some people will just have darker teeth and some people will have whiter teeth than others. After genetics, things such as the type of water we had as babies, while our teeth were still forming, can play a role in the base color of our teeth. Fluoride in American public water systems used to be found in too high of quantities. While those exposed to the high quantity fluoride in the public water have very healthy teeth, the fluoride was found to darken and even stain the natural color of the teeth – usually permanently. Today, fluoride is used in much smaller concentrations in public water, and more and more people are using bottled water without additives to feed their babies.

As a child, the biggest concern isn’t whiter teeth, but rather healthier ones. Most of the foods young children eat do not stain teeth and as long as a child properly brushes and cleans their teeth after meals, a child should have no problem with keeping whiter teeth, provided genetics gave them whiter teeth to begin.

Watch what you eat, what you drink and when

Yet, as we get older, we consume foods and beverages that are bad for the color of our teeth, no matter how much we brush. Coffee is a big culprit in preventing whiter teeth. Coffee stains. Just leave a white cup filled with coffee overnight and you’ll see how quickly and sometimes permanently coffee stains. Teeth aren’t smooth, they are porous and therefore will absorb things such as coffee and can be permanently stained from them.

“What!” you ask. “You are telling me to give up my coffee?” Well, if you want the whitest teeth possible, yes, I am. However, if you absolutely can’t live without coffee, then I suggest that you learn to drink it a bit differently. First, drink the weakest coffee you can manage. The stronger the brew, the darker the color, and the more likely the coffee is to stain your teeth.

Secondly, don’t hold the coffee in your mouth or swish it around. Swallow it as quickly as you can so that it doesn’t come in contact with your teeth for as long a period of time. When sipping coffee, if you will wait until it cools a bit and drink it with your mouth more open, you will avoid sipping coffee through the front teeth, which can stain them over time.

Next, if you can, brush your teeth after each cup of coffee. If this is not something you can do, then at the very least drink some water and swish it around your teeth after a cup of coffee to help keep your teeth whiter and prevent the coffee from sitting on your teeth and staining them. The same can be said for dark sodas and other dark drinks like teas. Red wine is also a culprit in causing duller and darker teeth.

Tobacco products are really bad at preventing whiter teeth

Cigarette smoke turns teeth yellow – there’s no way to prevent it except to quite smoking. Chewing tobacco and snuff will stain your teeth yellow or brown, and will do so more quickly than smoking because the brownish liquid from the tobacco stays in your mouth and in direct contact with your teeth. For whiter teeth, don’t smoke or use tobacco products.

If you must use tobacco products, then try to brush your teeth after each dip or chew or after each cigarette. Using a smoker’s toothpaste, which is only slightly more expensive than a regular toothpaste, can help brighten your smile and protect your teeth somewhat against future stains.

In fact, for those who want whiter teeth, even if you do not smoke, a smoker’s toothpaste or a whitening toothpaste is a lower cost alternative to expensive whitening products. Brushing two to three times per day or more, brushing after every meal or snack, and after every drink or use of tobacco products with a whitening or smoker’s toothpaste not only can promote good oral hygiene but will help having whiter teeth.

There are a lot of over the counter products that vary in price and effectiveness for whitening teeth, and while they do work to some extent, you have to use them regularly and consistently to see any results, and if you don’t change your eating and drinking habits, teeth can become stained again and lose any whiteness they had gained. Some of these products whiten teeth by polishing them and removing the surface layers, and this can actually cause your teeth to become sensitive and to stain more easily if you continue to drink and eat things that stain teeth.

If you really want a more permanent solution, you can pay between $500-1200 to go to your dentist and have laser or tray bleaching, have your teeth bonded or veneered, or choose other teeth whitening options. These last much longer than other over the counter products and some of them actually help protect your teeth from decay and cavities too, but this is a very expensive option for a whiter smile.

Your best bet is to really change your lifestyle habits or start out with good ones from the beginning. To sum it up, the best way to have the whitest teeth without costing a fortune is to do the following:

• *Don’t eat foods that will stain your teeth
• *Avoid coffee, teas, red wines, and dark sugary sodas.
• *Don’t use tobacco products
• *Brush and clean your teeth regularly

If you follow these simple instructions for having whiter teeth, and especially if you do this from an early age, your teeth will stay whiter longer and your smile will be brighter and healthier. If you’ve already had some bad habits that have dulled your smile, you can reverse some of the damage by changing these habits now, and using a good whitening toothpaste or over the counter whitening product to get your smile back to it’s whitest.

Cancer is a diagnosis that no one wants to hear. The news of cancer is never good, but the prognosis and survival rate has improved wildly over the years.

Once a diagnosis is received, the doctors will probably need to make a treatment plan. Often the treatments won’t be starting immediately. The doctors will arrange tests and design a specific treatment plan.

Cancer treatments may include surgery, radiation and chemotherapy. The treatment may consist of one of these, two of these or all three. Cancer treatments can have unpleasant side effects One of the side effects is soreness and/or dryness of the mouth. Chemotherapy, in particular, can cause dry mouth and mouth sores. These conditions make eating and taking in necessary nutrients difficult.

It’s a good idea to go into cancer treatment with your mouth and teeth in as good a shape as possible. If there is time, arrange to get a professional cleaning by your dentist’s hygienist. A clean mouth gives bacteria and fungi less places to hide.

Make sure your dentist is informed about all health problems

Many dentists ask for updated information of a regular basis as a matter of routine. Any major dental work, extractions or other oral surgeries must be done at least a month before cancer therapy begins. Once cancer therapy states, the healing and tissue regeneration will stop. This can result in increased risk of infection and permanent dental problems.

Make sure that the dentist or oral surgeon has an up-to-date list of your oncologist and family doctor, as well as an up-to-date list of medications and supplements used.

Dentures must fit properly so they don’t cause irritation. Use of removable mouth appliances may need to be discontinued during times of soreness.

While undergoing treatment for cancer, a strict regimen of dental health must be followed. A daily oral health routine should include the following:

1. Brush teeth gently, with a soft bristle toothbrush and a non-abrasive toothpaste. Brush teeth three times a day. When brushing, rinse frequently.
2. Floss daily to remove trapped food and tartar, unless instructed otherwise by the doctor. Some doctors may instruct the patient to discontinue flossing while going through treatment. If this is the case, follow the doctor’s instructions.
3. Gums may become too sore to brush. if this happens, clean around gums with a soft cloth. Use a non-irritating toothpaste. A gentle cleaner can be made with a paste of baking soda and water. A mild saline solution can also be used instead of toothpaste.
4. Uses alcohol-free mouthwashes. Mouthwashes that contain alcohol can dry the mouth, which causes irritation.
5. Rinse mouth with water after drinking sweet foods or juices.
6. Mouth irritations and sores can be relieved by topical applications of vitamin E or tea tree oil.
7. Keep toothbrush clean so it doesn’t become a breeding place for germs. Replace the brush often. After using the brush, rinse it well and let it air dry.

Oncologists and their staff’s are experienced with the side effects of cancer treatments. If you have any questions about oral hygiene, or need product recommendations, be sure to consult with your medical professional.