If you have decided to work on improving the health and appearance of your teeth, you may be a bit overwhelmed by the number of dental products that are available on grocery store shelves. However, you can get good results without buying tons of different items by looking for products that offer multiple oral health benefits at once. Here are a few examples:
Whitening Gum
Whitening gum uses substances, such as sodium bicarbonate and malic acid, to gently whiten the teeth. However, the gentle stain removal is not the only benefit of the product. As you chew whitening gum, your mouth secretes large amounts of saliva, which rinses away food particles, plaque, and oral bacteria. The saliva also helps dilute the acid in your mouth.
Oral acids are largely produced by bacteria in the mouth. The acid is a byproduct of the bacteria's process of digestion. Due to its corrosive nature, bacterial acid is quite damaging to the teeth. It dissolves tooth enamel and causes cavities to develop. But as the acid is diluted by the saliva produced as you chew gum, it becomes less corrosive and, consequently, less damaging.
Some whitening gum even has additional benefits. Substances such as xylitol and cinnamon are often included to provide the gum with added sweetness or flavor. These substances have antibacterial properties that can reduce the amount of harmful bacteria in your mouth.
To enjoy the benefits of whitening gum, chew it periodically throughout the day, especially after eating.
Hydrogen Peroxide-based Mouth Rinses
Mouth rinses can also provide multiple oral health benefits, especially if they contain hydrogen peroxide. Hydrogen peroxide is a natural bleaching agent, and it is also antibacterial. As you rinse with a peroxide-based mouth rinse, stains that have been absorbed by the pores of your teeth may become lighter in color, resulting in a gradual whitening effect. Additionally, the hydrogen peroxide helps kill the germs in your mouth.
There are two types of bacteria that reside in the mouth: aerobic and anaerobic bacteria. The aerobic bacteria can survive in the presence of oxygen, but anaerobic bacteria cannot. Since hydrogen peroxide releases oxygen when applied to the mouth, it can kill significant numbers of anaerobic bacteria. Anaerobic bacterial reside largely on the tongue and cause bad breath as they release volatile sulfur compounds.
Peroxide-based mouth rinses can be used immediately after you brush your teeth.
To learn more about products that improve your oral health in multiple ways, schedule a consultation with a dentist in your area.
Share27 October 2016
Do you have "bad teeth"? I do. Ever since I was a kid, every checkup turns up a number of issues ranging from cavities to dental fractures. It has always been frustrating to keep my smile in decent shape, which is one of the reasons I started focusing on understanding different dental problems. I wanted to know what I was getting into when I visited the doctor, so I began focusing on learning as much as I could. I wanted to create this blog all about dentistry so that other people could find out what to expect when they head to the dentist. Check it out!
