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Natural Mouth Care

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If you think you’re a little crazy about dental health, you aren’t alone. Americans spent nearly four million dollars on natural oral hygiene products in 2002 according to Nutrition Business Magazine — and that was a fifteen percent increase from 2001 spending. So why the increase in natural dental care products? People are more label-conscious these days. Not only do they read the labels, they worry about what’s on the label. Some people are choosing natural ingredients in their toothpaste and mouthwash because it’s tried and true. Herbal concoctions and essential oils have been used in health and beauty for … Continue reading →

Reading Beauty Labels: What is Glycerin?

I’m a reader; always have been, always will be. You put something with words on it in front of me and I’ll end up reading it. I was reading the ingredients on a bottle of lotion (usually I’m looking to see what kind of fragrance it has — natural or synthetic) when I noticed that the second ingredient was glycerin. I’ve you’ve tried making your own soap at home, you may already be familiar with glycerin (or glycerol). It’s popular in soap because it acts as a humectant — it attracts moisture to the skin. Check your labels — glycerin … Continue reading →

The Fluoride Debate

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Fluoride is good for your teeth, right? Right… most of the time. What is fluoride, anyway? Fluoride is a mineral that occurs naturally in soil and in many sources of water. It is used to fight cavities topically (as toothpaste or mouth wash, for example) and systemically (in drinking water or lozenges, for example). Topical fluoride is very effective in protecting teeth from cavities by helping repair damaged areas. Systemic fluoride may provide protection because it is absorbed into the body itself. There are lots of big health organizations that believe in the positive impact of fluoride on children and … Continue reading →

Treating Mild and Severe Gum Disease

If you have early-stage gum disease (also known as gingivitis), early treatment can save your teeth! In the early stages, gingivitis is a bacterial infection of the tissues and bones that support the teeth. As the disease progresses, it becomes periodontitis — a more serious form of gum disease that can permanently damage tissue and lead to tooth loss. Treating gingivitis early gives you a chance to reverse the damage done to your mouth. Brush your teeth twice daily (morning and night). Floss your teeth once daily. Use an antiseptic or antiplaque mouthwash. Visit your dentist more frequently (every three … Continue reading →

Anise

Anise looks a lot like Queen Anne’s lace with one important difference. Anise has some popularity as a folk remedy through the ages. Pythagoras — the mathematician who came up with the well-known Pythagorean Theorem — believed that anise could prevent seizures in epileptics. He thought that all a person had to do was hold an anise plant to prevent seizures. (Math was obviously more of a strong suit for Pythagoras.) Legendary healer Hippocrates suggested anise seed tea for cough; Roman scholar Pliny recommended chewing anise seeds for fresh breath. Pliny also thought anise could ward off bad dreams and … Continue reading →

Body Piercing Care and Safety Tips

Most people with body piercings don’t have any problem healing. The ears are a common piercing site; earlobe piercing often heals without any problems. Each piercing site has a different healing time, but you keep things clean and healthy with a little home treatment. Keep things clean and prevent infection: Wash the piercing site several times each day with warm water and an antibacterial soap. Soak the piercing site in warm water several times each day. This will increase blood flow to the area to promote healing and help reduce the risk of infection. Use an antibacterial mouthwash several times … Continue reading →

All About Tooth Whitening

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A recent survey found that nearly half of consumers would feel better if their teeth were whiter. Check your choppers in the mirror — are you thinking about tooth whitening? Bleaching won’t harm your teeth, as long as there’s no sort of acid in the ingredients. Hydrogen or carbomide peroxide are whitening agents that help maintain the protective enamel on your teeth; acids like citric acid can strip the enamel away and leave your teeth sensitive. Be sure to read the label if you’re using an over the counter product. A home whitening kit can save you the big bucks … Continue reading →

Help for Canker Sores

Canker sores are small ulcers that appear inside our mouths. They begin as a small red dot that will form a white head and eventually rupture and leave an open sore. These are slightly different from the also common cold sore. Cold sores are caused by a herpes virus, appear outside of the mouth, and are highly contagious. Studies have yet to prove just exactly why we get canker sores. Some scientists suggest they are inflammatory/stress response, the result of an injury, something that is hereditary, or caused by bacteria or viruses. Junk food, stress, acids, tobacco, dehydration or the … Continue reading →