Pune Times ( Times wellness -23/10/09) Tips for healthy teeth & hair.

Ten tips to keep your teeth healthy

And you can do it right at home...

Taking care of your teeth can prevent expensive dental procedures in the future. And while regular dental visits do play an important role in overall care, small at home remedies can help you get that million-dollar smile. Dr Shantanu Jaradi offers a few tips...
Drink plenty of water. It is a natural mouthwash that can help reduce stains left by coffee, soda and red wine.
Ensure that you include a lot of fruits and vegetables in your diet. By eating crisp fruits and vegetables such as apples, celery, cucumbers and carrots, your mouth is naturally cleaned. Plaque and food particles between your teeth and gums are removed during this process.
Grab a piece of cheese. After
dinner, munch on some cheddar - it can help neutralise acids in your mouth.
Chew sugar free gum. Chewing gum increases saliva production, which helps to wash away plaque acid and bathe teeth in needed minerals to strengthen tooth enamel. Don’t forget to brush after consuming acidic drinks. But after drinking orange juice and soda pop, don’t reach for the toothbrush right away. Wait at least 20 minutes to reduce the chance of enamel wear.
Rinse with hydrogen peroxide. A small amount of this mixed with water makes a great antibacterial and whitening rinse after brushing. But remember not to swallow! Brush with baking soda, a gentle abrasive that can clean like toothpaste.
Use a straw. Might feel awkward to drink coffee or red wine through a straw, but doing so can help minimise direct contact between your pearly whites and these staining liquids. Sensitive teeth can find relief from rough bristles by running the toothbrush under hot water before brushing.
Tongue cleaning is very important. It helps reduce bad breath and improve oral hygiene
status because a large number of bacteria reside in the rough corrugated surface of tongue. Most dental professionals advise that poor oral hygiene, such as not brushing, not flossing, or not rinsing enough is the leading cause of gum disease and tooth decay.
Avoid sugar and starches. Both sugar and carbs can feed bacteria that cause tooth decay. It’s just not the sweet stuff - a handful of crackers can have the same effect as a candy bar at feeding bacteria. Try these healthy snacks that don’t attack your teeth — celery and carrot snacks with hummus or avocado dip, vegemite crackers with cheese or plain yogurt, fresh fruit and nuts Brush and floss. A regular visit to a dentist for a clean up or a cavity check will incur minimum expenditure but would save you from maximum expenditure in the future.

Care for your hair


The dry and cold weather can be very damaging to your hair as it tends to steal away the necessary moisture. Proper preventive steps need to be taken during this season to ensure that your hair stays healthy. Ideally before stepping out in the cold, dry air, wear a scarf to protect your hair against the cold breeze. But make sure it is not so tight that it restricts blood circulation in your scalp. Follow these tips...
Use a conditioner every time you wash your hair. Once your hair is moist, lock in the moisture with a last rinse of cold water. This will also give your hair that extra shine! Don’t step outdoors if your hair is still wet. Limit the use of a hair dryer. It will dry out your scalp. Avoid washing your hair with very hot water. Use lukewarm water instead.