Follow these tips for a gorgeous grin…
1. Get a perfect paste
Aloe Vera is a good ingredient to have in your toothpaste and mouthwash, thanks to its healing and soothing properties on gums. Other ingredients to look for include silica for whitening, vitamin K to keep your gums in tip top condition and tea tree oil, which is a natural antiseptic.
2. Be happy with herbs
For a caffeine free lift, drink herbal teas. They are a great substitute for colas, coffee and tea, which if taken with sugar, harm the teeth and undermine the immune system. If you’re tired try peppermint, dandelion or detox blends. Unlike regular tea they won’t stain your teeth.
3. Curb your sweet tooth
To beat sugar cravings, its essential to keep your blood sugar levels steady. Always eat breakfast, avoid sugary drinks (including alcohol) and dilute fruit juice. Finally eat small meals each day no longer than 3 hours apart.
4. Whiten up
Help your teeth get whiter by following a white teeth diet. Just swap red wine for white, black coffee for the white variety and finish every meal with a swig of milk to neutralize the acid in your mouth.
5. Go holistic
Some dentists offer homeopathy as an alternative to drugs. Its supposed to be safe, has no side effects and can be used to treat body and mind.(Dr Nyerges).
6. Chew, chew, chew
Keep a packet of sugar free chewing gum in your bag for those after dinner moments.
Chewing thoroughly promotes the production of saliva, which combats bacteria in the mouth, thereby reducing the risk of gum disease and tooth decay.
7. Love liquorice (I haven’t heard of this one..)
Not the type wrapped in sugary coconut and candy coatings! Used in Chinese medicine liquorice contains flavanoids that help combat bacteria responsible for mouth and stomach ulcers.
8. Drink up
Aside from keeping us adequately hydrated, drinking at least 2.5 ltrs of water everyday ensures adequate saliva production, thus healthier teeth and gums.
9. Combat cold sores
Taking a lysine supplement (again I don’t know what this is) helps to tackle cold sores. This amino acid which cannot be made by the body has been found to prevent the recurrence of cold sores and can be found in beans, dairy, fish and meat.
10. Get fresh with floss
We all know that brushing teeth helps to ward off plaque-causing bacteria, but oral hygiene shouldn’t begin and end with the brush. A deceptively low-tech but much neglected technique for achieving healthy teeth and gums, floss cleans parts the humble brush cannot reach removing hard to shift plaque and food particles lodged between teeth. Floss every time you brush and you’ll minimize the chance of developing gum disease.
This was taken from an article published in 'Ahlan' mag issue 161.
10 ways to a beautiful smile....
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