Saturday, 28 March 2009

Natural Solutions to Common Dental Problems

There are so many people out there who have a natural fear of the dentist, and that fear is understandable. The dentist is never a pleasant experience for anyone. It brings more pain and discomfort for some than for others, but all in all it is the type of thing that nobody ever wants to have to deal with unless it is absolutely necessary.

Luckily, every little dental problem does not have to send you to the feared dentist. While the dentist is a good idea for every six months, toothaches, persistent bad breath, whitening, and other such dental issues can all be taken care of at home. Here are a few natural dental care remedies that you can employ in the comfort of your own home, to save you the pain and the cost of having to go to the dentist.

Bad Breath

Put one teaspoon of rosemary, one teaspoon of peppermint, and one teaspoon of lavender into a cup. Shake well and place one teaspoon of that concoction into boiling water. About one cup of boiling water should be fine. Strain that mixture and put in the refrigerator for three to four hours. You have just made your own mouthwash, great for killing nasty oral bacteria and bad breath in the process.

Teeth Whitening

There are great deals of home remedies for those who are looking to whiten their teeth without having to invest in some fancy strips or trays. Orange or lemon peels work well for this purpose. Peel the fruit and rub the light side against your teeth to make a brilliant shine! It doesn't taste too bad, either.

Canker Sores

If you have ever had a canker sore, you know how thoroughly irritating and inconvenient they can be, not to mention extremely painful. There are a few ways to ease the discomfort of canker sores from the comfort of your home.

A simple one is to warm a tea bag and hold it on the sore spot for five minutes. It will feel instantly better. It won't cure it, but it can make it feel a great deal better.

A thyme mouthwash can also help to relieve the discomfort of canker sores. Just mix one teaspoon of thyme and a cup of water together and let it warm for ten minutes. It makes a great mouthwash for canker sores!

Toothache

Toothaches are something that people very commonly experience. They can be caused by poor dental health or just a piece of food stuck in the wrong place for too long. One of the most longstanding remedies for toothaches is to dip a Q-tip in clove oil and hold it on the tooth. Try not to swallow it. It will help ease the pain nearly instantly, and the relief can last for quite a while.

Ammonia also works well for this purpose. Soak a cotton ball in ammonia and hold it over your tooth for a few minutes, and it should feel better soon. Just remember not to swallow it as ammonia can be highly toxic. If your toothache persists for more than a day, you should probably make a dentists appointment as soon as possible.

It is okay to be afraid of the dentist. Whether in secret or not, many people are. For those times when you can't bring yourself to go see a dentist, here are some remedies you can employ at home to bring yourself a little bit of comfort.



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Sunday, 8 March 2009

How to Use Supplements

Most dietary supplements are designed to provide our daily requirements of vitamins and minerals, expressed on packaging as a percentage of the Reference Nutrient Intake (RNI). This is the amount that is thought to be enough for virtually everyone, including those with particularly high requirements.

Other measurements used are Estimated Average Requirement (EAR), set for average needs but recognizing that some people need more (see RNI), and that others need less, which is expressed as Lower Reference Nutrient Intake (LRNI), the amount needed by Supplements are usually those with low needs. However if you habitual eat (or take) less than LRNI you are likely to find that you are deficient.

When taking food supplements it is important to follow the doses stated on the package in order to prevent any dangers of overdose and to avoid imbalances. All nutrients work in conjunction with others, and with substances in the body, so taking too much of one vitamin, mineral, or other food supplement could upset the balance of delicate mechanisms within the body such as enzyme production. Minerals that could be harmful, however, are rarely sold except on prescription.

As a general rule, vitamins and minerals work "synergistically." That means they both need each other to work properly and that neither works as effectively on its own. A classic example is the combined effect of vitamin C and the mineral zinc, which is used in the treatment of the common cold and influenza.

In most cases food supplements should be taken with or just after meals (exceptions are amino acids, which are most effective taken on an empty stomach).

You should avoid taking iron pills with certain antibiotics. Check with your supplier about the suitability of taking supplements with medication you are taking.

Based on the findings, published in today's issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA), the researchers warned that consumers should be cautious about taking supplements containing the nutrients. At least 150 million Americans regularly take dietary supplements that often include antioxidants.

Hot Coffee, Tea and Spices

Habitual drinking of liquids that are too hot, or consuming an excess of irritants such as coffee, tea or pickles and spices can cause inflammation of the digestive linings, resulting in a drop of secretion of digestive fluids and poorer extraction of vitamins and minerals from food.

hose Over 50 Years of Age

Those over 50 should take multivitamin supplements without iron, Pleuss says. These are often marketed as "senior supplements."

To strengthen their bones and prevent osteoporosis, Pleuss recommends this group add two vitamins, B12 and D, as well as the mineral calcium. According to the National Institute on Aging, more than 10 million Americans have osteoporosis, and another 18 million more have lost enough bone to make them more likely to develop it. Although most of these 28 million are women, 5 million men are at risk, too, and they suffer one-third of all hip fractures, as well as spine and wrist fractures.



Resource: http://www.ArticleBiz.com