How to take care of your teeth during Christmas?

Some Christmas meals may badly affect our teeth and gums. Which foods should be avoided and how to take care of oral hygiene at the Christmas table?

Chipped dead teeth, falling out fillings and tooth pain are the most common dental problems with which  patients come to dentists in Poland after Christmas. There are also those rare patients who want to take care of the health and aesthetics of their teeth as one of the New Year's resolutions.

Christmas meals and teeth

Due to the frequent consumption of sweets during the holiday season, there is a greater risk of developing caries. In addition, teeth with cavities are hypersensitive to sweet and cold food. So do you have to give up sweets for the holiday time? Not necessarily! Sweets can be eaten, but make sure to choose those that do not stick to the teeth. The prolonged contact with sugar promotes tooth caries. It is better to eat a lot of sweets at a time and then brush your teeth, than to eat a piece from time to time.

Poppy and fishbones as the enemies of dentures 

All foods with poppy seeds are a problem for people who wear different types of removable dentures in Poland. Poppy gets between the prosthesis and the mucous membranes, which in turn leads to irritation of the oral mucosa. Bones from fish also can irritate the mucous membranes or stuck in a cavity in a tooth.

How to take care of your teeth when you cannot brush them?

If you do not have a the toothbrush at hand, rinse your mouth with water. This will remove about 80 percent of bacteria. An attempt to clean the teeth with a chewing gum (which is so recommended in TV commercials) often ends up with falling out of an old filling.

To make sure you will avoid any problems with teeth during Christmas, and you will cherish this unique atmosphere without any pain, visit your dentist and decide on dental treatment in Poland before Christmas.

More about teeth whitening

A beautiful smile is more and more important during business- depending on the dental appearance you may gain a new job or get excluded from circle of candidates. The best for the superficial self-assessment of your teeth is a mirror in your own bathroom. However, your dentist in Poland always decides about what you need to do to have a perfect smile. Healthy teeth need only a few things: daily and thoroughly cleaning preferably after every meal, a balanced diet and regular visits to the dentist abroad. Teeth whitening is recommended but in moderation.

The natural color of teeth is not the perfect white. Healthiest teeth are similar to the color of ivory - they are respectively highly saturated with minerals, and thus they possess strength and resistance to decay. You should be worried with discolouration of your teeth. The discolouration that appeared under the influence of the excessive consumption of stimulants: coffee or tea, or smoking, can be easily removed using a bleaching paste that usually contains silica. Silica purifies the enamel without damaging its structure. You should avoid pastes with abrasive particles of diamond and other substances causing friction. These additives are much harder than the enamel and lead to tooth mineral structure damage. Teeth treated with such pastes are becoming thinner and easier to fracture and prone to crashing. Teeth can be also brushed from time to time with a toothbrush with baking soda.
Before using stronger bleaching preparations, such as gels used for night, it is necessary to consult a dentist. Before the dentist recommends teeth whitening in Poland, she/he will perform  dental treatment and eliminate periodontal inflammation.

Teeth whitening should not be performed too often - it can weaken the enamel, and even lead to yellowing of teeth. This applies both to professional and home methods of whitening.

To ease the tooth pain

Toothache makes a patient visit a dentist in Poland. The idea of having a dental procedure performed still causes fear of the dental office in case of many people, even though it allows to get rid of the pain. Pain is a subjective phenomenon - everyone has a different sensitivity to pain, each individual responds to specific pain stimuli. That's not all: the same person can feel the pain of the same intensity and the same type differently on different days or times of the day - depending on your mental and physical state. The research shows that pain during dental treatment abroad can be reduced by:

- performing dental treatment late in the afternoon - we are less likely to feel pain stimuli then;

- the use of hypnosis and autosuggestion - in hypnosis you have to deal with the phenomenon of the so-called gates control, which manages to significantly reduce the activity of neurons

linking the pain with something unpleasant; autosuggestion allows us to divert attention from the unpleasant and promotes a positive attitude towards the treatment, which causes an equally positive response from the nerve tissue;

- focusing on something other than the pain and the performed surgery - a distraction from the unpleasant stimulus is sometimes just as effective as the use of painkillers, the ideal solution is to either listen to an interesting dentist speaking, or listen to music or watch movies during the surgery. You can also try to think intensively about a wonderful holiday and a successful first date;

- causing pain or unpleasant sensations in other parts of the body the those which are subject to the treatment, for instance clenching fists.

Dentists in Poland provide employment

Dentistry abroad, even in difficult times, underpins the economy - the field is growing nicely and gives employment to many people also unrelated to the dental treatment branch. Dentists in Poland employ specialists such as marketers, decorators, and even florists. A job for such professionals is offered primarily in dental clinics that have lots of patients, but also small offices are increasingly choosing to employ specialists or improving the company's image.

Due to the ever-growing popularity of dental tourism, clinics also employ customer service professionals, travel agnts, activity guides and translators.

Due to the fact that the dental industry, is subject to the law of the market, the proper management of the clinic is necessary as well as the properly organized staff and financial management of the company. For this reason, dental offices and clinics tend to employ more and more managers and directors. A manager organizes most of the office matters, takes care of  finances and marketing, and is responsible for personnel policy. 

Offices also use the support of PR specialists, spokespersons and professionals such as massage therapist, a psychologist, educator. Thanks to this, in some offices, patients with panic anxiety can talk with a psychologist before the surgery in order to calm down and feel relaxed.

Mona Lisa without teeth?

Does Mona Lisa from the famous painting of Leonardo da Vinci smile gently because she knows a hidden secret unknown to us, or becasue she did not have teeth? For years scientists has been wondering about the mysteries of Leonardo's genius. Mona Lisa's Smile seems to us intriguing, some argue, however, that the great model's smile could not be different beacause her teeth may have been damaged or she did not have all the teeth.

At the beginning of the sixteenth century, when da Vinci painted his most famous painting, oral hygiene was not properly taken care of by the people of those times. Tooth decay - although present in humans' life for millions of years - started to be classified as a dental disease only in Leonardo's times. Renaissance models posing for paintings probably did not want their descendants to know that their teeth deprived the of beauty or that their teeth were usally completly or partly extracted. The fresh breath of the models was for sure also abad experience. It is not surprise that the paintings from the Renaissance and earlier present weak smiles, which are discreet and intriguing rather than broad with all its glory.

Even though it was in the Renaissance that many discoveries and inventions were created which allowed for oral health care (the Chinese invented the toothbrush and amalgam fillings), it may be that Mona Lisa had no luck to keep a beautiful smile at the time when she was painted by Leonardo.

Take care of propoer oral hygiene and visit your dentist in Poland.

Teeth loss and breast cancer

Recent studies have shown that women who have cavities in their teeth or suffer from periodontal disease, are 11 times more likely to develop breast cancer. Therefore, it is especially important for them to take care of their teeth and visit their dentist in Poland or start any other dental treatment abroad. 

The survey was conducted in Sweden on a group of three thousand patients. It showed that among the 41 people who were diagnosed with breast cancer, cancer risk was 11 times higher in patients with periodontitis and cavities in teeth. Since this is the first such study, the chairman of the British Dental Health Foundation, Dr Nigel Carter said that in order to confirm this information more research in this area should be caried out.

Periodontitis is caused by bacteria in plaque. As a result of this condition the teeth start to move, and then fall out. Many of the research carried out so far, showed that oral infections often have an impact on the overall health. It is believed that in case of people with periodontitis, bacteria causing the disease get into into the bloodstream, increasing the risk of heart disease.

Because periodontal disease develops painlessly, you should pay special attention to the symptoms, such as gum inflammation and redness, swelling, and bleeding, halitosis, 'loose' teeth and mouth infections. According to dr. Carter, the best and easiest way to prevent periodontitis is plaque removal, especially in the interdental spaces. He recommends brushing your teeth at least 2 times a day with fluoride toothpaste and using dental floss. Regular visits to the dentist can also help diagnose the emerging problem of periodontitis.

The influence of smoking and sleep on oral health

Recent studies have shown that smoking is the most important lifestyle-related factor in the progress of periodontal disease. Smoking is then followed by another important factor: lack of sleep ... Studies show that the state of the health of the oral cavity, in addition to brushing your teeth and using dental floss, is significantly influenced by other factors. Changes, such as a little more sleep, give the patient a better chance of improving the health of the oral cavity. It is also important to remember about the relationship between oral disease with systemic diseases.

It is believed that periodontal disease, which affects the teeth and gums, and can ultimately lead to the loss of
teeth can be caused by an imbalance of bacteria in the oral cavity. However, recent studies prove that also other factors play a major role. Researchers analyzed the impact of various factors related to the mode of life of various workers on the progress of periodontal disease, such as regular exercises, alcohol use, smoking, hours of sleep, hours of work, diet, stress, and eating breakfast. Of all the factors associated with the style of life of patients, scientists pointed to smoking as having the biggest influence on the development of periodontal diseases. The results, published in the Journal of Periodontology has also shown that 41% of those who experienced deterioration of periodontitis are smokers. Second largest factor associated with lifestyle and causing periodontal disease is the lack of sleep. The difference is visible already in case of people sleeping 7-8 hours per day compared with those who sleep only 6 hours or less. A definite impact on the development of periodontal disease is also living in stress and alcohol abuse.

If you have problems with periodontal diseases, visit your dentist abroad.

Dentistry in Greece

Greece has been at the top of the most common tourist destinations list for many years. No surprise, cause the country has a lot to offer even to the most demanding visitors. Just have a look at agancies' offers of trips to Greece and you will immediately know why people choose this country for their vacations. Not only the most beautiful weather, but also a lot of history can be found in the region. It is worth mentioning that only few countries can boast themselves about their ancient history! In Greece you can find its signs almost everywhere.

But it is not only tourist attractions that draw attantion of the visitors all over the world. Greece can also boast about their high quality of dental treatment abroad. Recently, it has become one of the most common destinations on the dental tourism market. Dentists in Greece are world famous specialists who offer effective and comprehensive dental treatment in Thessaloniki and other cities. Although, its prices are not the cheapest in the world, they are still very affordable as compared to dentistry abroad in for instance UK. Even if you combine the dentistry in Greece prices with travel costs and vacations, you can still save a lot of money. So next time you plan your vacations, have a look at offers from Greece and spend a wonderful time, maybe even combined with taking care of your dental health. 

Tidbits about dental crowns

How are super strong dental crowns in Poland created?

Full-ceramic crowns abroad are the absolute "Mercedes" among dental restorations. Ceramic mass is fired in a kiln at high temperature and pressure. Under these conditions, the components of ceramics are connected better and a strong, compact mass, ideal for crowns is produced. Ceramic crowns are very durable and strong, and at the same time highly aesthetic, since their colour can be adjusted to the enamel.

How are dental crowns put on?

A dental crown is only one way to fill the absence of teeth. The first stage of their establishment is grinding of all sides of the tooth or teeth adjacent to the gap. Another - getting impressions and determining the color of the future crowns and bridges in Poland. On the basis of the impressions the crown/bridge is performed, which is fixed to the tooth roots previously prepared and fixed with dental cement.

How do I keep the crowns stable on the teeth? 

Crowns stick to the teeth by the strength of adhesion. It depends on the size and surface area of contact between the tooth and the complement. If your teeth provide the steep and tall pillars, the crown will stick well. For this reason, the dentist must grind the tooth to the correct size and shape. If damage to the tooth disqualify the use of the crown, the dentist will inform you of this and propose a different solution.

Read more about Polish dentists on our website: dentistry abroad 

Fatal effects of smoking, so how to quickly lose your teeth.

Specialists in periodontitis has long been aware of the danger of smoking. Smokers are more at risk of periodontal disease than non-smokers. The result is mainly the compromised immune system.

Tobacco inhibits resistance, thanks to which bacteria have effective access to periodontitis. Therefore, researchers are hopeful that these results will contribute to the awakening of social consciousness.

The researchers, having examined more than 12 thousands of people, found that people who smoke more than and and a half pack of cigarettes a day are six times more likely to develop periodontal disease than nonsmokers, and those who smoke less than half of pack a day - almost three times.

The survey of U.S. scientists shows that in the United States periodontal disease is typical of African Americans and people with low income. The scientists, however, have reassuring news for ex-smokers: 11 years after quitting smoking the risk of periodontal disease is the same as in case of people who have never smoked.

How, then, is the situation of smokers in Poland? Smokers in Poland compose a relatively large number comparing to other European countries. 34% of Poles above 15 years of age smoke. The number of smokers decreases slowly. In 1997, there were 36% of smokers.

Every fifth smoker (21%) started smoking cigarettes before the age of 15. Almost twice as many men (44%) than women (24%) smoke. Most smokers are among 40-49-year-olds - 46%. More likely to smoke are people with secondary or vocational education (42%), manual workers (51%) and the unemployed (52%).

The largest group (59%) are the ones who smoke up to one pack a day (11-20 cigarettes). Every tenth person smokes over 20 cigarettes a day. A quarter of smokers smokes from 6 to 10 cigarettes a day. 5% smokes up to five cigarettes. Almost two fifths of smokers want to quit, but nearly half has not intended to abandon it.

The study was conducted between 12 and 15 on Poles above 15 years of age.

Smokers should take proper oral hygiene and visit dental office for hygiene cleaning aborad more often than non-smokers.

Facts and myths concerning chewing gum

There are many legends concerning chewing gum- some claim that they have salutary effects, other say the opposite. How is it in reality?

Well, dentists recommend chewing gum after meals, but it should be noted that this needs to be done when it is not possible to wash the teeth. Another important piece of information is that the gum should be sugar-free, as any fruit or sweetened gums have a devastating impact on tooth enamel and support the development of caries. Chewing gum should be controlled, ie it should be done in moderation. Chew gum for no more than 15 minutes, because this is the optimal time to restore a neutral pH in the mouth. Moreover, it is worth noting that chewing gum stimulates saliva production, which in turn has a neutralizing effect on acid in the mouth. Saliva also washes away food remains and, at the same time, cleans the teeth. Another aspect in favor of sugar-free chewing gum is that is reduces the risk of tooth decay - even though the composition of the gum does not contain sugar, there are some components of sweeteners, which show slight antibacterial activity.

We can also observe some psychological aspects of chewing gum, namely the facial muscles are relaxed, and the accompanying stress is minimized or completely resolved. People suffering from bad breath should also form a habit of chewing gum, but it is worth noting that this is not a cure, because the bad smell coming from the mouth always has its basis in a disease (including untreated caries, xerostomia - dry mouth, throat diseases, digestive system or stomach ulcers).

Other advantages of sugar-free gums:

• increase the concentrations

• reduce tension through stimulation of specific regions of the brain

• help weight loss

• an important factor in anti-smoking therapy

• to a moderate extent, prevent the occurrence of heartburn

• neutralize stomach acids

Disadvantages:

People with an unhealthy habit of chewing gum for a few hours are exposed to the overload of the temporal-mandibular joint. What is more, it may even lead to hypertrophy of the masseters and unesthetic look of the face- asymmetry of the jaws. Besides, the long and passionate chewing can also lead to the occurrence of another disease, which is bruxism.

Also, you should not also overdo the amount of the gums, because each leaf contains sweeteners, which in excess use, can cause disturbances of the gastrointestinal tract.

Gum should be chewed only after meals, because only then their action is justified and beneficial - chewing gum between meals can cause damage to mucous membranes of the stomach, and in extreme cases lead to ulcers. It is worth mentioning that the users of fixed braces should completely avoid chewing gum.

Facts and myths about chewing gum:

• Fact - gum freshens the breath

• Fact - gum can lead to falling of the dental fillings

• Myth - gum does not whiten the teeth, it can be complementary to other, effective ways of whitening or used prophylactically to prevent discoloration

• Myth - gum will not cure visible cavities 

• Fact - frequent and long-lasting chewing may be the cause of bruxism

• Fact - chewing gum calms down, reduces stress and tension

Biting items at work and bruxism

We tend to eat; our teeth at work, but the free dental treatment in Poland funded by the employer is still a great rarity. Meanwhile, bruxism (nervous and involuntary clenching of teeth) is a problem of a growing number of employees. The reason, very often, is stress - not only in the work place. The most common effects of bruxism are: damaged enamel, headaches and irregularities in the operation of the temporomandibular joints, but in extreme cases even occlusal curvature.

Another serious problem is biting items in stressful, tense situations. We bite virtually all thigs: spoons, cups, paper, pens, pencils. It can cause not only serious fractures, but also infections. A study conducted on the subject in a group of 1000 employees revealed a rather pesimistic results:

- 93 % of Poles feel stressed at work;

- 21 % bite pencils out of anger, and 44 % grinds their teeth;

- 71 % clench their teeth out of rage, and 44 % do it at work;

- 93 % drink coffee during work, 67 % drink cola and other sweetened beverages, and 35 % drink energy drinks;

- 43 % eat sweet snacks at work, 35 % eat fast food dishes;

- 32 % smoke cigarettes.

... and only 8 % clean their teeth after meals. We usually spend 8-10 hours at work and the teeth should be cleaned twice during this time, not to mention about the flossing...

Sweeteners - what you should know

- Sweeteners substitute sugar added to food in order to achieve a sweet taste. These are also substances used in table sweeteners. They are a few to several thousand times sweeter than sucrose. The intensity of the sweetness of a particular sweetener can be enhanced by the addition of other sweetening substances- the synergism phenomenon is used here.

- Sweeteners used synergistically do not only give food a sweet taste but are also used to mask the taste of other sweeteners defects. The property of strengthening and reinforcing certain flavors and aromas of certain sweeteners is used here.

- In order to regard a particular substance as sweetener, it should meet at least one of the following purposes: replacing sugar in food of low caloric value, in food not causing tooth decay, in food without sugar, substituting sugar, if it enables to extend the expiry date of a product.

- Ill people should carefully read the leaflets informing about the composition of the product. In the case of certain diseases, using sweeteners is not recommended. 

- Due to the intense sweetness, these substances are added to foods in very small quantities - so they do not modify the energy value of food product.

- Despite the intensely sweet taste, sweeteners do not affect the development of caries, because pathogenic bacteria do not decompose the sweeteners and they do not produce any organic acids damaging to the enamel.

- The table sweeteners are preparations of permitted sweeteners, which may contain other additives to foods or food ingredients and which are intended for sale to the ultimate consumer as a substitute for sugar.

- For intensive sweeteners are classified: synthetic substances obtained by chemical synthesis and natural intensive sweeteners.

Men's fear of the dentist

Fear of the dentist and dentofobia are phenomena, which relate more often to men than to women. Why do tough men  turn into frightened lambs, when they need to visit a dentist? 

The reason is the original fear of pain and deformity of the body. Men are afraid of all the treatments, "manipulation" in the body, they have a deeply rooted fear of interference in their powerful body. They could be weakened, deprived of their power. Fear of a visit to the dentist is associated with loss of macho image - says psychologists.

The loss of the image of a true man is real - you never know what can happen during a meeting with the dentist and it is uncertain how a man will react to pain and discomfort during the treatment.The fear of the dentist  appear in men, regardless of whether the doctor is a man or a woman.

- What is worse - to show weakness in front of a woman or another man, who in addition is the "executioner"? This is an individual matter, but the situation seems to be a stalemate - explains psychologist.

Men, despite their strength, are less resilient to pain than the women . Female gender is accustomed to endure prolonged and severe pain even every month - during menstruation. Women endure the strongest pain during childbirth. They are also more familiar with their body, its reactions and the sight of blood. Men, since childhood, are made aware that they have to be strong, but they are not told about about the physiology and reactions of the organism. This means that when a man is to meet with a dentist, most of them will run away from potential pain. They imagine that they will suffer in the dental chair. They assume that it will hurt - the phenomenon known as anticipation of pain.

Fortunately, younger men have less and less fear of meeting with the dentist - they know that a great progress has been made in this field, they also know that white teeth and beautiful smile opens the door to a career and human sympathy.

What you should know about dental fillings abroad

- A filling may be installed once and for all - at least in theory. A well-established filling may stay in the carefully purified from decay tooth even for decades. But these are rare cases, because most fillings must be replaced by a new one after five - ten years. It is due mainly to the fact that the material from which they are made, rubs off, crushes and washes. This creates leaks that lead to a loosening of the filling. The unmatched filling must be replaced - otherwise it will fall out itself, and decay will develop in the tissues of the tooth.

- A filling must be replaced, when caries appears again. The delay in the exchange can lead to a considerable damage of the tooth and to the development of hypersensitivity. When the tooth begins to respond to stimuli such as temperature, or taste, that is a sign it is high time to replace the filling, because tooth decay has led to the unveiling of a sensitive nerve. If the tooth hurts when biting, there may be a disease of the nerve. The replacement of a filling should not be delaied if the tooth is chipped. Unfortunately, you will not avoid drilling during the procedure. Regardless of whether the filling is replaced because of secondary caries development or just for aesthetic reasons, a dentist must clean the walls of the tooth in each case in order to avoid the risk of caries development and to ensure good adhesion of the new filling. An alternative to drilling may be purification by air abrasion. It is possible, however, only when the caries is not big and the patient is terrified of dentist's drill.

- A very durable filling material is amalgam, but dentists are moving away from the use of such fillings because of aesthetic reasons. One of the most enduring are modern-type fillings: inlay, onlay and overlay -  special fillings prepared by a dental technician from ceramic, based on impression taken from an individual patient on a particular tooth. This allows for the perfect adherence of the filling to the tooth surface. A filling of this type can withstand up to 30 years. Most composite fillings are not very durable and if they are leaking, they should be replaced every three - five years. But not only the material of the filling determins for how long it will last, but also the extent and accuracy of the purification of the tooth and regularity in maintaining oral hygiene. To maintain a filling as long as possible, you need to take care of your teeth thoroughly: regular cleaning, control visits at the dentist's every half year. 

- After teeht whitening, fillings should be replaced - mainly for aesthetic reasons. It is very often the case that the color of the whitened teeth differ from the color of the fillings. Fillings that do not need to be exchanged, can be covered with a layer of composite, whose color would match the current shade of teeth.

When diet is not good for oral health

We eat too much saturated fat, salt and sugar. Such a diet is not conducive to maintaining health. Although most of us are aware that an unhealthy diet leads to the development of cardiovascular disease, it's only a few who know that it may also contribute to the formation of dental health problems and problems with periodontal tissues.

Excessive consumption of unhealthy nutrients: saturated fat, trans fatty acids, salt (sodium) and sugar may increase the risk of incidence of lifestyle diseases, such as overweight and obesity, atherosclerosis, hypertension, diabetes, and diseases such as dental caries.

Oral disease and tooth decay develops mainly due to the excess of sugar in the diet, but not only - these disorders occur when the diet lacks essential for health ingredients:

- vegetable oil - a rich source of polyunsaturated fatty acids, which are essential to maintain the correct state of the oral mucosa;

- vitamins - especially valuable for oral health are vitamins C, A and D - vitamin C ensures healthy gums, and vitamins A and D are responsible for maintaining healthy mouth and good condition of the mineral layer of teeth;

- minerals - to preserve the health of your teeth, it is essential to find a sufficient amount of calcium, phosphate and fluoride in the diet.

The WHO (World Health Organization) statistics indicate that by 2015 approximately 2.3 billion adults worldwide will be overweight, more than 700 million of those will be obese. Obesity and overweight contribute to the emergence of diabetes. People with diabetes are more susceptible to the infection and the development of inflammation of the mouth, damages heal slower and may exacerbate the negative impact of diabetes on the system.

Your teeth suffer in the cinema

Chips, popcorn, sweets, jellies, fizzy drinks - such a diet dominated cinemas. The fact that it is not healthy for your teeth, is theoretically obvious, but as it turns out, many moviegoers do not see anything wrong with eating sweets and drinking carbonated drinks. Meanwhile, the bacteria, which convert sugar into acids harmful to the enamel, just waiting for so "valuable" menu. If it happens during a long film session, lasting even two hours, excellent conditions for the development of caries are created.

Statistics confirm that Poles love biting candies at the movies. According to the studies, 54 % of the Poles admit that they eat sweets in the cinema, as much as 87 % eat popcorn or potato chips, and a little more than 20 %  drink sweet drinks. Only 7 % of moviegoers focus exclusively on the film.

The most damaging type of the sweets are the hard candies and all the stretching sweets: jelly beans, fudge, toffee. The first ones, hit your teeth and can cause fracture of enamel. The next ones in turn stick to the tooth surface so successfully and for so long that the bacteria inhabiting the oral cavity can safely carry out the destruction of the enamel. Jellies represent a challenge for the entire stomatognathic system - eating a whole pack of sweets is a serious effort for muscles and temporomandibular joints.

Popcorn can also be dangerous. Hard popcorn shells often get between teeth, irritating the gums. This applies mostly to the back teeth. The hard piece of popcorn stuck between the teeth can cause not only a normal discomfort but also serious problems and infections and, consequently, the creation of a painful gumboil, if the stuck piece is not removed. Cinema is one of those places where the tooth decay is fed. Childer are especially vulnerable to the bad influence of the fashionable cinematic diet. They eat the biggest amounts of sweets and are the amateurs of the "junk" snacks.

Home methods of teeth whitening in Poland

Why do teeth turn yellow?

There are many reasons for yellow teeth, however, the most common and well proven are: smoking, and drinking the world's most famous drug, which is coffee. Studies show that frequent drinking of tea also may change the color of our teeth. Another factor that leads to yellowing of teeth is frequent use of antibiotics (tetracycline) in adolescence, and in spite of appearances, too frequent use of fluoride.

Nowadays, there are numerous advanced methods of teeth whitening in Poland in the dental office, where we have professional care and safe whitening effects provided, but the biggest drawback of these treatments is their very high cost (from a few hundred PLN to as much as 1.500 PLN). Many people are asking whether there are effective yet safe ways of teeth whitening at home. Yes there are, although not everyone is aware of the fact that many of these methods may harm our teeth. Let's enlist all the commonly used domestic methods and refer to their effects on our teeth.

Soda, salt, lemon and coal - the components available in every home

Probably many people who today are already elderly, used to whiten their teeth with baking soda. Soda has the effect of bleaching, although it is short-term and additionally it destroies tooth enamel. Decades ago, in fact there were no other methods, but at the moment instead of soda teeth whitening we should rather buy a toothpaste, which contains soda concentration, and at the same time it is much safer, and the whitening effect is the same.

Another danger caused by teeth whitening is using lemon juice and salt. Cleaning your teeth with salt will have no whitening effect and will only irritate your gums, and damage the enamel. The excess of acid contained in the so-called lemons may cause tooth erosion so the loss of hard tissue of teeth and their demineralization.

The last commonly used method of tooth whitening, which, like the other three, is not safe, is brushing your teeth with food coal. You have to know that despite the elaborate effects (gentle removing of sediment) this can seriously harm your teeth, because carbon just rubs enamel.

Widely available products

Both pharmacy and well-equipped shops have a variety of products that will help us to get snow white smile.

First of - toothpaste

On the market there are many toothpastes that will help restore the whiteness of our teeth and prevent the formation of sludge. These pastes usually contain fluorine oxide and abrasives, which typically cope with minor yellowish spots but never restore the snow white smile in case of heavily discolored teeth.

Whitening strips and gels

Whitening strips is a widely used product, but its composition contains a much lower concentration of active bleaching substances than those used in professional dental offices. The total duration of using whitening strips usually takes several days and the effects persist for several months. Individuals with sensitive teeth should consult the dentist before applying the treatment.

Whitening gels are recommended for people with mild discoloration of teeth, because their ability to bleach is usually 2-3 tones. The gel is usually applied 2-3 times a day and the whole treatment period does not exceed 14 days. The concentration of whitening substances contained in the gels, as in the case of whitening strips, is much lower than those used at the dentist's.

Note traps!

On the Internet, television or newspaper ads we often see "miraculous means" that whiten your teeth in a few days up to 8-10 tones. A kind of incentive to buy them is their incredibly low price, which makes these products often bought.

In 99% of these means simply do not work and, in addition, they lead to the ruin of tooth enamel and irritate gums, and therefore you should not expose the health of your teeth.

Coffee prevents tooth decay?

Coffee has antibacterial properties, and effectively prevents the bacteria from appearing on the teeth and causing tooth decay - Italian scientists have reached such a conclusion.

Coffee prevents bacteria from sticking to the teeth thanks to some particles contained in natural coffee. Gabrielaa Gazani from the University of Pavia has reached the conclusion. Together with her colleagues, she has analzyed samples of fresh roasted coffee from different countries for several months.

During testing it turned out that instant coffee, combats the bacteria that cause tooth decay stronger than ground coffee. The results of decaffeinated coffee and caffeine one seem to indicate that the antibacterial properties do not depend on the presence of caffeine in this popular beverage, the researchers have stated. They argue that the most responsible for such properties of coffee can be a water soluble coffee component, determining also smell and taste of the drink. 

Although the results seem encouraging, the researchers themselves approach them cautiously, stressing that the antibacterial activity of coffee requires further study. However, it can be hypothesized that coffee can be effective in fighting tooth decay, which has become a disease of our civilization.

Artificial tooth dosing drugs

An artificial tooth is going to cure us! The profession of dentistry is facing new challenges. Soon, we will deal with setting up artificial teeth releasing a medicine. The new device is called "Intellidrug" and was developed by a team of European researchers from 15 different centers.

The artificial tooth with cure will be installed by a dentist during a normal procedure. The drug inside - with a special membrane - will dissolve in the saliva and penetrate into the body. The mechanism will release the precisely matched amount of medicines prescribed by a doctor: depending on the age, weight and sex of the patient.

But that's not all. A miniature sensor in the tooth will inform in advance that the dose of medication must be completed. The second sensor checks how much medicine is used, and the remote control will allow the physician to change the dose if needed.