Hello ladies, sorry for not posting so long. I was unwell and under went surgery, but now I have fully recovered. A small little harmless lump on the underside of my tongue had bothered me too much but now its gone and I am safe and happy again.

                    Today I am going to talk about another embarrassing oral problem- Stained Teeth.  Stained teeth are not a pleasant sight. It adds to your source of worry and can deflate your self confidence.

Causes:- Constant Smoking, Beetle-nut/Pan chewing, drinking too much tea/coffee, improper brushing of the teeth contribute to the yellow stains on teeth.

Treatment:- A professional polishing is inevitable. However, here are some homemade/diy tooth cleansers you may try if staining is not of serious nature.

* Mix half a tspn of soda bicarb with a little water to form a paste consistency. Rub onto your teeth with your finger for a couple of minutes. This brings out the pearly whiteness of your teeth.

* Take a tspn of lemon juice and combine with salt to make a paste. Now massage/rub this paste onto your teeth. This paste helps to get rid of the yellowish tint of your teeth.

* Lemon or orange peel powdered may be used as a teeth whitener.

* Dried and powdered bay leaves combined with dried powdered orange peel is an excellent whitener.

Prevention:-

* Brush teeth after every meal :P

* Avoid too much tea/coffee.

* Chew crunchy carrots and celery leaves.

* Fruits like apples, strawberries bring out the sparkling, pearly whiteness of teeth. Munch on them or simply use a slice to rub your teeth.

* During the orange season, use the inner white part of an orange peel to rub teeth for a lovely white shine.

             Halitosis or Bad Breath is an unpleasant odour of the mouth. Halitosis diminishes your self-confidence and is an embarrassing condition.

Cause:- It is caused by poor mouth hygiene, extensive tooth decay, gum disease, excessive smoking or improper diet.

Treatment:- Mouthwashes and rinses keep your breath only for short durations and do not provide a permanent solution. It is advisable that a dentist attends on you immediately. Any manufactured, chemically based mouth washes and rinses may be used only after consulting your dentist.

Some safe, excellent mouth washes and rinses:-

* To a glass of water, add the juice of a lemon and use as a rinse

* Chew a couple of cloves

* Gargle with mint juice

* Chew on a fresh orange peel for half an hour

* A little tamarind combined with salt cleans your tongue and reduces bad breath

* Mix equal quantities of vinegar and water and use as a rinse

* Gargle with rose water or the juice of rose petals

Prevention:- Proper oral hygiene including regular brushing with dental floss is the only way to prevent Halitosis.

Diet:- A varied diet of fresh fruits, Green Leafy Vegetables, Whole grain bread and meat will provide your teeth and gums with vitamins and minerals essential for dental health.

Treat yourself with juicy Pears, Apples, Carrots and Strawberries at the end of your meal. Vitamin 'A' is necessary for overall health of gums and teeth. Cut down on diets that are high in sugary contents. Remember to drink a glass of milk before brushing at night.