Saturday, April 25, 2009

White Teeth - Go Get Them !

by Janice Kumar

Many people have stained front teeth and they look bad when they smile or laugh. They stains may give the impression of bad oral hygiene but the cause may be somewhere else. It is important to understand the cause of the problem and try to find a long term or cosmetic cure. White teeth always look good and they enhance confidence levels and also one's personality. So let us strive for them.

Some possible causes of these dirty brown stains on the pearly white teeth may be identified as below. These are some common cause and your problem may be due to some totally other reason. In that case you are requested to consult a professional dentist.

More than two cups of coffee a day can cause your white teeth to stain quickly. These brown stains manifest on the front teeth and are difficult to get rid of.

Another common cause is, red wine. This red wine can quickly stain your teeth and the cosmetic cure can be really expensive .

Smoking is another common cause of brown teeth. Look around , most long term smokers will have stained yellow teeth. Tobacco cause quick staining which is again very difficult to remove.

Gum disease , infections and bad oral hygiene can also cause white teeth to turn yellow.

I suggest the following home remedies and basic dental care . If this does not work or the condition is chronic then you definitely need to consult a dentist. Or try a cosmetic dental treatment.

Reduce coffee and red wine intake and reduce smoking. This is common sense and also good for your body.

Try chewing raw vegetables , once a day . Raw vegetables are a healthy snack and they will also help in cleaning your teeth.

Strawberries have a natural bleaching effect and are high on Vitamin 'C'. So have some every day . This is a 'tasty' healthy solution to the yellow teeth problem. Of course make sure, you are not allergic to them.

Floss everyday. Stains form easily between teeth and flossing is an easy solution.

Brush your teeth everyday, every 12 hours. Do ensue the bristles are not worn out. Change your brush regularly. Old worn out brushes just cannot brush away plaque forming bacteria and are useless.

Try a natural herbal cure :

Rub some burnt almond shell powder lightly on your front teeth , twice a day and check the results after a fortnight. You may be surprised!

Try putting some raw common salt on your tooth paste before brushing. The fine grains of the salt will remove and reduce yellow stains and bring a white shine back to your teeth.

Another home remedy that works with many kind of stains is to rub the teeth with a bay leaf , thrice a week. This seems to work for many people and is inexpensive.

If nothing works then:

Get your teeth professionally cleaned and polished by a dentist.

Go for professional bleaching job after studying the pros and cons of the process.

You may also try various bleaching packs and home teeth whitening systems. You may require these to maintain the white shine, especially if you cannot control smoking, coffee and red wine intake. Do read and understand the 'patented' process before rushing to buy some. A comparison between various options available in the market will definitely be beneficial.

White shiny pearly teeth are within reach.. Go get them now.

Disclaimer: The article and tips are for guidance only. Use them at your own risk and discretion. We take no responsibility for any suggestion given above. We strongly urge you consult a qualified professional doctor to find a lasting cure for any problem. The views expressed are the personal views of the author. We take no responsibility for same. Please consult a professional, before using any information on this site. No liability of any kind is accepted by us.

Friday, April 10, 2009

Herbal Hair Care

by Janice Kumar

Hair care is important in summers and especially so when you have to brave the sun outdoors whether for recreation or work. Our hair needs special care when the sun is out and sizzling. This is the time when the hair turns brittle, dry and loses shine.

Hair cannot technically 'burn' in the sun because it is not 'alive' but the exposure to the sun can and will damage the natural protective film on the hair strands. This will make the hair dry, dull, fragile, brittle and almost 'dead'. Dyed and highlighted hair , exposed to the sun is especially prone to damage. The UV rays destroy the cells and film covering the hair strands and the hair becomes fragile and dried out.

The hair that will be exposed to sun has to be protected. Products that contain Shea butter and sunscreens and which moisturize the hair are recommended.

Phytoplage oils contain Acron extract oil which shields the hair from the harmful UV rays. Look for hair care products that contain this product. They will benefit the hair especially when it is exposed to the sun.

In the newer hair care products, sunflower oil is used as a sun filter. These products also contain jojoba wax which give a protective coating to the hair and protect it.

Instead of going in for synthetic hair dyes, to give color to your hair, you may like to try these herbal natural products. These herbal products protect the hair strands against sun damage and also add color and shine.

Some recommended herbal natural alternatives are given below:

To get dark brown colored hair, Soak a mixture of Henna powder and Indian Gooseberry powder ( Amla / Phyllanthus Emblica ) overnight in a metal container. The thick mixture may be applied to the hair strands with a brush. Cover with a plastic cap and leave on for at least 2 hours. Wash with soft water to find dark brown, soft and silky hair. This natural color will stay on for at least a month and will protect the hair. This is a good conditioner and natural moisturizer for the hair and will thus protect against sun damage also. The ratio of the Indian Gooseberry powder and henna will determine the degree of the color. More the berry powder, darker the hair.

To get dark copper color, add a few drops of eucalyptus oil to the henna mixture before applying it on the hair. Avoid the Indian Gooseberry powder. The dark copper color will add luster and shine and moisturize and protect the hair the natural way.

To get reddish hair , simply add nothing to the henna-water mixture prepared overnight. Apply the thick paste directly to the hair strands with a brush, wait for two - three hours, wash the hair and find a beautiful reddish color on the hair.

A natural hair tonic providing much needed moisturizing and nutrients to the hair follicles is relatively easy to prepare at home. Simply mix , almond oil, olive oil and castor oil in equal proportions and apply to the hair once a week. Massage and wash off with a mild herbal shampoo to find new life in the hair. This will also protect the hair against sun damage in summers and damage due to extreme cold in winters. This is an all the year tonic for the hair.

If you find it cumbersome to prepare these mixtures at home, you may take the help of a hair care specialist, specifying what you want. Many products available in the market also contain these natural ingredients and provide much needed protection. Go ahead and choose with care. After all your hair is worth the effort.

Disclaimer: The article and tips are for guidance only. Use them at your own risk and discretion. We take no responsibility for any suggestion given above. We strongly urge you consult a qualified professional doctor to find a lasting cure for any problem. The views expressed are the personal views of the author. We take no responsibility for same. Please consult a professional, before using any information on this site. No liability of any kind is accepted by us.