Review: Teeth Whitening Products
What Works & What Doesn't
For many people who want to look more attractive, more confident, or even look younger, teeth whitening has become a very popular cosmetic procedure. Whitening is not recommended for people with cracked teeth or cavities in the area to be whitened. People suffering from gum disease or are pregnant or nursing are not advised to use whitening procedures. Natural teeth get the best results, while veneers, crowns and fillings don't whiten as well.
The undertone shade of teeth determines the degree of improvement. People with yellow undertones on their teeth have the highest degree of success. Brown undertones whiten with less success. Natural gray undertones are the least responsive to bleaching techniques.
If tea, coffee, cola or wine is the cause of stains and discoloration of your teeth, you may be an excellent candidate for whitening techniques. Other causes of discoloration have a less favorable result possibility.
Teeth whitening toothpaste purchased over-the-counter are the most popular. Results vary according to the concentration of the bleaching agent and the amount of time the whitener is in contact with the teeth. Due to the small amount of time people spend brushing their teeth, the visible change is very slow.
Whitening toothpaste works with the use of hydrogen peroxide or other whitening agents in small quantities in order to work gently. Crest Extra Whitening Toothpaste, Colgate Whitening Toothpaste and Rembrandt Whitening Toothpaste are a few available brands. Some people have reported improvement by using whitening toothpastes, but the results are minimal.
Over the counter mouth trays, whitening strips and paint on applications are available to use at home. These items are available nationwide at grocery, discount and drug stores. Typically a low-concentration bleaching gel is used with these techniques suggesting application for thirty to sixty minutes a day for one to two weeks.
Mouth trays, whitening strips and paint on applications are designed to be economical and easy to use at home. Those with simple surface stains find varied degrees of improvement. However, many have found the instructions difficult to follow. Whitening on front teeth is much easier than on back teeth.
Whitening Kiosks are currently available in malls. Claims of professional results at a fraction of dental office costs are the biggest draw. Most of the work is done by the client with guided staff instruction. Often the kiosk operating staff do not have the professional training required in a dentist office, so they are unqualified to determine the best whitening candidates. The kiosk procedures are legal, but some argue they may not be safe for particular clients.
Professional take home trays are available from the dentist office. The dentist will make a mold of your teeth, prepare a tray and send you home with whitening gel and instructions. Trays are worn for thirty to ninety minutes for up to two weeks, while dentists check for sensitivity during this time. Results sometimes last for years with this procedure.
In office, dentist-administered bleaching is the quickest, easiest and least painful method of teeth whitening. While many find dramatic improvement, this method is the most expensive. Read More»
The Best Shampoos for Curly Hair
Shampoo Choice Important For Curly-Haired Women
Women with curly hair have been advised to be more selective with their shampoo products to achieve the best look.
New guidance from leading style firm TONI&GUY, said choosing a product which matches a certain hair type can be particularly important for girls with curly locks.
Indira Schauwecker, TONI&GUY international artistic director, said selecting a special product is "definitely well worth the investment".
"Every hair type needs the right shampoo and this is especially integral for curly hair, which is prone to friziness," she explained.
The hair expert advised those with wispy locks to use a "good nourishing shampoo" and singled out Label.m Intensive Repair as an example of a good choice.
"It will help cleanse the hair and introduce elasticity and protein, which is vital for curly tresses," she added.
TONI&GUY is a market leader in the style world and has 402 salons in 41 countries employing more than 7,000 stylists.
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New Look – Jeggings
Leggings Are 'Great' For the Older Woman
Leggings are the ideal garment for older ladies to ensure they can stay fashionable for longer, according to one style expert.
Lizanne Harris, fashion director at Stylist magazine, said the skin-tight pants are great as an undergarment.
The fashionista's comments follow the recent revelation that 'jeggings' - leggings with a denim appearance - are one of the biggest turn-offs for men.
Ugg boots and neon clothing were also highlighted as fashion faux-pas by the respondents of a For more entertaining articles on celebs and much more please visit the MyCelebrityFashion.co.uk poll.
"Leggings; you can definitely get away with it as an undergarment, so under a skirt," she explained.
"Gladiator sandals and leggings under a full skirt are great," she added.
Ms Harris continued that US fashion house DKNY had recently used knee-length shorts under garments such as shirt dresses.
"They are really for when you can't bear your legs and you don't want to flash anything. I think they are going to be great for that, but I think 'jeggings' are absolutely dire."
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Bone Drugs Could Help Prevent Cancer
Doctors say Bone Drugs Could Prevent Breast Cancer
Bone-building drugs such as Fosamax and Actonel may help prevent breast cancer, a new study has suggested.
Research at the University of Texas Health Science Center in San Antonio revealed that women who were already using the medicines were about one-third less likely to develop invasive breast cancer over the next seven years.
Doctors said the study did not provide enough evidence to prove that the drugs, known as bisphosphonates, actually prevent cancer but said the results raise an "exciting possibility".
A more definitive response is expected after further research is conducted over the next two years.
It was reported last year that the drugs reduced the chances of cancer coming back in women already treated for the disease.
Doctor Peter Ravdin, who reviewed the research for the San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium (SABCS), said: "Now we're actually looking at this in the general population - healthy women who have never had breast cancer. And it looks like it's protective in those women as well." Read More»
Home Remedies That Can Help Whiten Teeth
Whitening your teeth at home
There are many ways you can whiten your teeth with a few simple items you probably already have around the house. If you have baking soda and hydrogen peroxide you could make a simple, yet effective paste for a little at home do it yourself whitening. Take two teaspoons of baking soda and two teaspoons of hydrogen peroxide. You then mix these two simple ingredients together in a small bowl creating a paste. You are looking for the consistency of toothpaste so continue to add a bit of peroxide until you reach the desired consistency. Once you have the consistency right, simply brush with this homemade paste for two minutes, being careful not to swallow.
After two minutes rinse your mouth well and then brush with your regular toothpaste which will not only get rid of the taste but will remove all of the peroxide residue. If you want to skip mixing you can simply use peroxide as a mouthwash and swish with it for a minute following brushing. You will probably feel some burning, which is normal, but you will be left with whiter teeth. Be sure not to swallow any and rinse thoroughly with water afterwards.
If you want something a little tastier try strawberries! For a quick fix you can simply rub the strawberry across your teeth. You can also mash the strawberry and use it as a paste. The secret to this inexpensive home whitening method is malic acid, which acts as an astringent to remove surface discoloration. Because of the sugars and acid also found in strawberries it is important to brush immediately following using the strawberry trick to keep the sugars from damaging your white smile. It is recommended to brush with a fluoride toothpaste and then floss to make sure you didn't miss any seeds. To help protect your enamel it is important not to use this remedy too often. Every couple of weeks should be safe and sufficient.
There are some foods that can help whiten your teeth just by eating them. Foods like celery, apples, pears and carrots trigger lots of saliva which helps to scrub away stains on your teeth. Chewing sugarless gum also triggers saliva, which helps to eliminate teeth stains. The trick with saliva is that it neutralizes acid that causes tooth decay.
You may have heard that lemon juice is good for whitening your teeth. This is not true. The acidity in the lemon juice actually causes your teeth to lose calcium which mean irreparable damage. Calcium is a major component of healthy teeth, and once it is lost, your teeth become very susceptible to decay. So as you can see with some simple homemade recipes it is easier than ever to brighten your smile.
Read More»Fall Fingertips
Nothing completes an outfit like perfectly groomed and manicured nails and it is fall again and time to wave goodbye to the bright, flashy hues of summer. Those fun neon colors by the swimming pool are a thing of the past and it is time to start brushing on darker hues. The colors for fall get their inspiration from the runway and you will see new looks in the stores for those dainty digits.
Blue is a top hue for fall this season. Dark blue tints were all over Paris' fashion week and in stores now for you to experiment with. From indigo to midnight, the darker shades of blue are a hit for you. You might also consider a sheer sky blue if you like the lighter tones.
Deep purple is a go this year and if you can do dark, then do it matte. Lavender looks amazing, but make sure your skin tone matches or it could wash you out considerably.
Jet black has made a return to the runway, but to avoid that total goth girl look you will want to wear your black completely matte, and with classic, preppy pieces like oxford heels and button down blouses. You can get away with the metallic mode this season by sticking to chrome.
For those who prefer a more natural look, why not go with the same colors as the leaves as they turn? Chestnut is right in line this season as well as rust, amber, mocha and chocolate. If you like a more neutral tone, there is a fantasy of colors waiting for you in almost every designer collection. Opalescent shades make a refined statement in tints of champagne, tweed, cappuccino, and sheer taupe.
If you are stepping out, red is rarely wrong. But instead of flashy cherry, opt for sophistication in crimson, wine, berry and burgundy. Don't cage the tiger of night time, but if keep her refined with the darker reds of the season.
Pink is always pretty and it is has not been overlooked this year. Sheer pinks were all over the runway in Paris, so feel free to explore the softer side of pink in shades of petal, tea rose, mother of pearl, carnation, salmon, cherry blossom and blush. Read More»