5 common myths about teeth-whitening busted

A sparkling white smile not only helps to enhance confidence and self-esteem but also improves one’s appearance dramatically. As a result, teeth-whitening treatments are among the most popular aesthetic dental procedures, in demand today. However, there still exists a plethora of myths and misconceptions about teeth-whitening, which can play a role in causing severe, often irreparable damage, to one’s teeth, not to mention wastage of money. To separate fact from fiction, the following are the 5 most common myths regarding teeth whitening!
1. Myth: Over-the-counter teeth-whitening products are as effective as treatments at a dental officeA number of scientific studies have found that sodium chlorite, an active ingredient in most over-the-counter teeth-whitening products, could significantly reduce the hardness of teeth in the presence of an acid, and make them susceptible to surface abrasions in the future. While hydrogen peroxide is the standard chemical used in dental practices, the obscurity regarding the chemical composition of most over-the-counter and online products, make them extremely risky. Several of these products have, in fact, contain dangerous chemicals, including toxic or banned substances, which can severely burn gums, or irreparably damage the teeth. On the other hand, a certified dentist is trained specifically to take into account potential or existing health problems and side effects, including gum disease, and the impact that a teeth-whitening procedure can have, to select a product that is as effective as it is safe.


2. Myth: You can never drink coffee or wine again after a teeth-whitening procedureWhile patients are always advised to avoid foods and beverages that cause staining, such as red wine and coffee, it is not permanent at all! Dentists recommend avoiding them only for the first few days following the treatment, as the pores in one’s teeth remain open during the period, with the chemical reaction taking place for the next few days.

3. Myth: In-office teeth whitening takes a long time (1-2 Hours)When it comes to teeth whitening, the time needed for the procedure depends on the process being used. In fact, procedures like the Biolase eZlase teeth whitening system and Diode Laser-activated Bleaching system allow one to have a healthy, white smile, in a matter of just 20 minutes!

4. Myth: Teeth-whitening is guaranteed to give you the whitest teeth
The effectiveness of a teeth-whitening procedure actually varies from patient to patient, depending on the type of stains, the thickness of the enamel, the tooth structure, and the age of the patient. Hence, in order to have clarity regarding the expected results, one should always consult a dentist first, to have realistic expectations and choose the most appropriate procedure.

5. Myth: Teeth-whitening makes teeth weak and sensitive
The truth is that like any medical procedure, teeth-whitening is also accompanied by a number of potential risks, including sensitivity, gum irritation, or even nerve damage. However, having the procedure carried out by a licensed professional dental health provider can help avoid or minimize those risks significantly. In addition, studies have also shown that the latest teeth-whitening technology, such as whitening gels activated by diode lasers; shows little to no surface alterations, damage, or sensitivity, in comparison to most conventional whitening products.

Teeth-whitening continues to be one of the easiest, quickest, and simplest ways of enhancing one’s smile. However, in order to ensure the most effective and least harmful results, it is always best to consult one’s dentist, to understand the potential side-effects, if any, and decide upon the procedure that is most suitable for the individual.

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What's the Best Seasonal Allergy Med for Your Kid?

Choosing an over-the-counter allergy medicine for a child sounds easy enough.
 

But a new survey finds that the wide range of allergy medications, along with dosing and labeling differences, can make it a challenge to select the right medicine for kids.

"Parents often face an overwhelming selection of allergy medicine without clear guidelines on how to choose the right one for their child," said pediatrician Dr. Gary Freed.

Freed is co-director of the C.S. Mott Children's Hospital National Poll on Children's Health at the University of Michigan.

"If parents are unsure how to navigate allergy medication choices, they should always check with their child's health-care provider," Freed said in a university news release.

Freed's group surveyed more than 1,000 parents of children aged 6 to 12 across the United States.

More than half of the parents had given allergy medicines to their children in the past year, the survey found. Of those, 85 percent used medications they already had in the house, and 18 percent of them did not check the expiration date.

"While outdated medicines are unlikely to be dangerous, they may have lost some of their effectiveness," Freed noted.

More than one in five parents said they've had trouble determining the right dose of allergy medicine for their child. Most used allergy medicines labeled for children, but 15 percent gave their child medicines labeled for adults. One-third of those who used adult medications gave their child the dose recommended for adults while two-thirds gave a partial adult dose.

Adult medicines often contain the same ingredients as those for children but do not always have dosing instructions for youngsters, the researchers pointed out.

"If taken as directed, over-the-counter allergy medicines are safe and effective for children, but parents should be very careful to give their child the correct dose. Doses greater than recommended for children can result in more severe side effects," Freed explained.

When shopping for an allergy medicine for kids, Freed recommends checking the ingredients to help select the best-priced option for your child's needs. Try to match your child's symptoms to the medicine included in the product. For example, antihistamines can help with a runny nose and itchy eyes, while decongestants help with a stuffy nose.

"Some parents may be picking allergy medication based on their interpretation of different advice they've heard, which may not always be accurate," Freed said.

Doctors are the number one source for advice about allergy medicine for kids (61 percent), but 38 percent of parents ask a pharmacist, and nearly one-third (32 percent) ask a friend or family member, the survey found.

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5 Problems With Over-the-Counter Painkillers

Aspirin is hailed as a miracle drug, and there's not a person among us who hasn't popped an ibuprofen or acetaminophen to deal with achy joints or a crushing headache.

But if you're doing that every day, you could be causing long-term damage to your health, says Gary Kaplan, DO, medical director of the Kaplan Center for Integrative Medicine and author of a new book called Total Recovery: Solving the Mystery of Chronic Pain and Depression.

"The biggest misconception people have about over-the-counter painkillers is that they're completely safe and harmless," says Dr. Kaplan. "They are neither of the above." In fact, most over-the-counter painkillers started out as prescription drugs but now are sold at lower doses without your needing to talk to a doctor.

And they're all bad in their own way. While Dr. Kaplan does contend that low doses of aspirin (81 milligrams) do have some benefits for people with risk factors for stroke, heart disease and some forms of cancer, larger doses taken daily to deal with the pains of daily living do not. "People pop these things like it's no big deal," he says. "If you do this every day, in the majority of people, you're doing real damage."

Before getting into what that damage is, it helps to understand how these medications work. Aspirin, ibuprofen (sold as Advil and Motrin), and naproxen sodium (sold as Aleve) all fall into a class of drugs called nonsteroidal anti-inflammatories, or NSAIDs. They work by inhibiting prostaglandin, a hormone that can produce pain and inflammation in response to an infection or injury. Acetaminophen (or Tylenol) falls into a different category and seems to interrupt the pain messages your brain receives.

#1: Gut ulcerations
NSAIDs, particularly ibuprofen and aspirin, are rough on your stomach, and they're just as rough on the lining of your gut. They create ulcerations and inflammation in the gut lining, damage that causes something known as a "leaky gut." When your gut is leaky, it doesn't absorb nutrients, which can lead to deficiencies (which can also contribute to pain problems), and problematic proteins and allergens, such as gluten, soy, or egg proteins, can escape, triggering food sensitivities. "Your gut is a very sophisticated filter," Dr. Kaplan says. "It's a very complex organ that's not one to disrupt, but one that we disrupt all the time."

Furthermore, NSAIDs disrupt the gut bacteria that control your immune system. As a result, you get sick more frequently and you might develop more chronic ailments.

Sixty to 80 percent of people develop gut inflammation within 24 hours of taking an NSAID, Dr. Kaplan says, and 50 to 70 percent of people who take them long term will develop chronic small intestine inflammation. And initially that might present as just feelings of bloating, gas or changes in your bowel movements, but over time, you might start experiencing chronic fatigue or develop food intolerances.

#2: Liver damage
Acetaminophen doesn't cause those gut ulcerations, Dr. Kaplan says. Rather, its problem is that it will damage your liver—sometimes, in unexpected ways. Things like alcohol can interfere with the way your body breaks down acetaminophen, even if you're taking a normal dose. "That leads to the potential to get a toxic level of acetaminophen in your system, which leads to liver damage," Dr. Kaplan says. He's also found that taking too many painkillers that contain caffeine can stress out your liver and interfere with sleep.

#3: Kidney damage
Along with your stomach, your kidneys are a major production site of prostaglandins, the hormones that NSAIDs are designed to silence. In addition to controlling the acid secretions in your stomach, prostaglandins help the kidneys fulfill their function of removing proteins and waste from your blood. Too many prostaglandin-inhibiting NSAIDs can interfere with that process, leading to kidney damage and a buildup of toxic waste by-products in your bloodstream. "As soon as we start seeing damage to kidneys, we tell people to get off all anti-inflammatory medications," Dr. Kaplan says.

Furthermore, prostaglandin produces inflammation in response to damage your body is experiencing. "Inflammation is not always a bad thing," he adds. "It's critical for repair—inflammation cleans up damaged tissue and brings in new cells to repair it. When inflammation gets disrupted, the normal healing process gets disrupted."

#4: Heart disease
You may remember a prescription painkiller called Vioxx that was pulled from the market a few years ago. The reason? It caused heart attacks, and it's not the only one. "It's a lower risk than with Vioxx, but all NSAIDs pose a risk," says Dr. Kaplan. NSAIDs block an enzyme called COX-2, which works with prostaglandin to protect your arteries. When both are silenced by chronic use of over-the-counter painkillers, your risk of heart disease increases.

#5: Hypersensitization
Here's an ironic fact: Painkillers can heighten your susceptibility to pain. While this phenomenon has been seen mostly with prescription opiods (such as Vicodin or Oxycontin), studies have shown that acetaminophen and NSAIDs can have the same effect on headaches. "It's called a rebound headache," Dr. Kaplan says. "They dull your response to pain, so you need more medications to get to the same place. And you end up developing increased sensitivity to pain."

So are we all supposed to just grin and bear it if we have a headache or a sore knee? "The occasional use is fine, less than once a week," Dr. Kaplan advises. "But if you have pain that requires that you take over-the-counter pain medication on a regular basis, you need to seek medical attention."

Ultimately, Dr. Kaplan's beef with painkillers is that they aren't dealing with deeper health issues. "Doctors have to start looking at pain as a symptom and not the disease," he says. "We're better off addressing the problem. We need to understand where the pain is coming from."

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