Tag Archives: dentistry

5 Alternatives To Toothpaste

10 Thursday Jan 2019

Posted by in Bad Breath, General Dentistry, Tooth Paste

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The other morning, I was awoken by my dog licking my face. His hope was to get me to throw his ball at 6 in the morning. He is lucky he’s really cute. What was not cute? His breath. Which, in turn made me realize my breath wasn’t much better. So I moseyed on up to my bathroom sink and found that my wife had used the last of our toothpaste the night before. Sigh… What is a dragon to do?

What did people do before the invention of toothpaste? Well, toothpastes, in one form or another has been used for thousands of years. In fact, ancient Egyptians are believed to have started using a paste to clean their teeth around 5000BC. Well before the first toothbrush was invented.

In 1850 a more traditional paste in a jar was introduced call Crème Dentifrice. Colgate introduced the first toothpaste tub in the 1890’s. Pastes made before 1945 contained soap. I can only imagine kids cursed a lot more back then and this made it easier for their mothers to wash their mouths out. Today’s modern toothpastes are less harsh, have better flavors and are developed to help more specific diseases, such as tooth sensitivity and tartar. Leaving the washing of foul-mouths to bars of soap.

But what is one to do if there is no toothpaste?

Here are 5 alternatives to toothpaste if your significant other has used it all and you want to get rid of the awful breath you have:

  1. Baking Soda

Mix half a teaspoon of baking soda with a few drops of water to make a paste. Spread the paste over your teeth and let it sit for 2 minutes. Then brush your teeth like you normally would. Rinse the baking soda out of your mouth and you’re finished.

  1. Hydrogen Peroxide

Hydrogen Peroxide is used as a natural teeth whitener. You can either use it as a rinse or make a paste by adding it to baking soda.

To make a rinse, mix equal parts hydrogen peroxide with water (½ cup hydrogen peroxide to ½ cup of water) and swish the concoction around your mouth for a minute. Try not to swallow any of the mixture.

To make a paste, mix a couple teaspoons of baking soda with a half-teaspoon of peroxide Mix together to make a paste and brush as normal. Thoroughly rise afterwards.

  1. Salt

Salt has long been used as an antibacterial and is an ingredient in a lot of toothpastes. Just dab your toothbrush in salt and brush. This can be a bit abrasive and is not recommended if you have sensitive teeth. You can also dilute the salt in water and use the solution to brush your teeth for a less abrasive paste.

  1. Coconut Oil

A lot of people think coconut oil is a healthy catchall. Others think it’s poison. Some people use it as an alternative to toothpaste by adding baking soda and essential oils, like mint. Figure out where you stand on coconut oil and then give it a try.

  1. Flossing and Dry Brushing

This is what I ended up doing. Of course I floss every night, as one should do. (And no, I do not mean the dance.) So I just grabbed some floss and got to work. Then I ran my toothbrush under water, brushed my teeth for the mandatory 2 minutes and then brushed my tongue.

My bad breath went away and I felt ready for my day of grocery shopping… for more toothpaste.

The Top 5 New Years Resolutions For A Whiter Smile

28 Wednesday Jan 2015

Posted by in cosmetic dentistry, DentistUSA.com, General Dentistry, Smile

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New Years Resolutions are a tradition at my house. Every December 31st my wife and I sit down and discuss what we would like to accomplish during the New Year. To my surprise one of my wife’s resolutions was to floss more. I suppose ‘surprise’ is a strong word, but she had just rattled off about 15 resolutions before that and I was getting a bit bored.

I asked her why she would want to floss more (obvious reasons aside). She said she wanted to have a brighter smile.

Hello blog idea!

Here are the Top 5 New Years Resolutions that will lead to a brighter smile:

  1. Brush your teeth, CORRECTLY!

Brushing your teeth seems simple, right? Well, most people are doing it wrong. You should brush your teeth 2 to 3 times a day for at least two minutes, each time. Pay attention to the back teeth and brush your tongue. Use a whitening toothpaste to help get an extra shine.

Another tip: if you plan to brush right after a meal, rinse your mouth out with water first. Some foods high in acid will leave a residue on your teeth and brushing without rinsing will scrape enamel away.

  1. Floss

Once again, seems pretty simple. But most people don’t do it enough (including my wife… I hope she doesn’t read this). Flossing will help remove plaque and keep cavities away.

  1. Eat Right

Yes, a brighter smile can be achieved just by choosing the right foods. Eat green veggies high in minerals like broccoli, spinach and kale. This will help strengthen the enamel on your teeth and help protect against stains. Also, stay away from sodas and other high sugar drinks. These beverages contain high levels of acid that can strip teeth of enamel.

If you are a coffee or tea drinker try adding a splash of cream or milk – “It changes the chemistry of the beverage, which makes it much more difficult for stains to adhere to the tooth’s surface.” –10 Natural Ways to Get (or Fake) Whiter Teeth by Amanda Greene

  1. At-Home Whitening

These can include anything from whitening stripes to gels you paint onto your teeth. Most of these whitening kits contain carbamide peroxide, which acts as a bleach to remove stains. It can take two to three weeks to see noticeable results using these products. Of course there can be some side effects to these treatments like, increased tooth sensitivity and irritated gums. You should consult your dentist before starting an at-home whitening regiment.

  1. See Your Dentist

Your dentist will have the strongest whitening products available. Everything from customized gel trays for your mouth to lasers that will whiten your teeth. They can be pricey but you’ll have dramatic results in much less time.

Any way you decide to whiten your teeth, you should talk to your dentist first. They will give you the best plan for your smile!

Oral Cancer Awareness: Symptoms and Risk Factors

12 Thursday Apr 2012

Posted by in Adult Dentistry, General Dentistry

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April is Oral Cancer awareness month, so DentistUSA.com would like to take the time educate our readers about Oral Cancer.  There are many factors that affect the development of oral cancer.  According to WebMD, they include:

  • “Smoking: Cigarette, cigar, or pipe smokers are six times more likely than nonsmokers to develop oral cancers.
  • Smokeless tobacco users. Users of dip, snuff, or chewing tobacco products are 50 times more likely to develop cancers of the cheek, gums, and lining of the lips.
  • Excessive consumption of alcohol. Oral cancers are about six times more common in drinkers than in nondrinkers.
  • Family history of cancer.
  • Excessive sun exposure, especially at a young age.”

Though the majority of oral cancer cases are in individuals who smoke or drink, 27% of the people who get oral cancer have no risk factors at all.  More than 30,000 new cases of oral cancer are diagnosed each year.

Dentists will usually conduct an oral cancer screening exam at your visit.  They will feel for lumps or irregular tissue changes in your neck, head, face and oral cavity.  Some dentists even offer an advanced screening exam called vizilite screening at your checkup to look for symptoms of oral cancer.  Below, you can find a video explaining this screening process:

We highly recommend making twice yearly visits to your dentist as the earlier it is caught, the better chances you have of treating the cancer.