What You Were Born With...(part 2)

Also on a microscopic level, our bodies have a skin junction that blocks any bacteria from getting past it into the bone around our teeth:  our gums.  In this case, the best scenario is to prevent any damage to the gums.  Just like water pipes, barnacles of bacterial deposits can build up on our teeth, causing our gums to be unhealthy.  Ultimately, the tartar can cause us to lose bone around our teeth.  Regular dental office visits to get 'cleanings' are needed.  Although 'cleanings' is what we call them, really the dentist or dental hygienist is cleaning deep down around the teeth where we don't reach when we brush or floss.  This regular maintenance is necessary to prevent problems later on.  Think about what a wonderful machine we have in the human body, and find out how you can best take care of yours.

What You Were Born With...

Part 1:  It can be easy to nitpick everything we don't like about our bodies:  too fat, too thin, not enough hair, too much hair, etc.  There is something to be said about being happy with ourselves, especially when we consider what a wonder the human body is!  The human hand is one example of great complexity and functional ability.  Also, our bodies have the best sickness fighting mechanism as a machinery that copies the virus or bacteria, then specifically attacks it.

On a microscopic level, our teeth have a fascinating structure that is inherently very strong, and that isn't completely replaced by dental restorations.  It is better to avoid drilling more away from a tooth any more than needed so that there is more of that natural structure left.  Teeth are very strong, relatively speaking:  we basically have gemstones in our mouths! It bears repeating that prevention is our best ally for lifelong dental health.

When Whitening...

Everybody wants to look great, and we all want to feel great about the way we look.  People notice our teeth, and nowadays, we want our teeth to look white.  White teeth make us look younger, healthier, and more vibrant.  Did you know that you can over-whiten your teeth?  A good rule of thumb to make your teeth white and still natural-looking is to compare the whites of your eyes with your teeth.  If your teeth are whiter, especially if you notice a blue hue to your teeth, then they may not look natural.  Another thing to remember is that crowns and fillings and veneers don't transmit light the same way that natural teeth do, so your teeth may be different hues in different lighting:  teeth look different on a sunny day as compared to the inside of your home.  Keep in mind that the best way to keep your teeth looking good is to take care of them, including seeing your dentist regularly for prevention and cleaning the spots you may not be reaching when you clean your own teeth.