From toothpastes to gels, there seems to be an abundance of teeth whiteners available on the shelves but how safe are they? This article tries to explain the various kinds and the safeness of each.

We all want a sparkling, white smile. In fact, many people spend hundreds of dollars a year in search of the perfect shade of white for their teeth. You can get toothpaste, paints, gels, strips, and even light treatments to take the ugly stains off your teeth. With all the options available today, you have to wonder if they’re safe. Many will advocate that whitening ruins the enamel and root of the tooth and leaves it damaged and vulnerable, but what really is the truth?

Most tray based whitening gel systems on the market today have a 10 percent carbamide peroxide solution as their active ingredient. Many studies have been conducted and they’ve shown that, at these concentrations, there is no damage to the enamel of the tooth. You may want to consider using a fluoride toothpaste if you’re concerned about enamel damage. This will help strengthen teeth and repair any possible damage. A disadvantage of these methods is that, because they use lower, safer levels of chemicals; they’re not as effective at whitening teeth as the products a dentist uses. They are; however, a lot cheaper.

There are other home based systems for teeth whitening including toothpastes, strips, and paints. These use the same or less abrasive materials than gel trays, so they are safe to use without damaging enamel. Remember that the less whitening solution a product has, the less effective it will be.

Dentist offices use the same type of solution as over the counter methods; however, they tend to offer higher concentrations so the whitening is more effective. Studies have shown that these concentrations may harm tooth enamel. Most of these treatments not contain fluoride or are offered with a fluoride treatment to strengthen enamel and reverse or prevent the damage from the whitening agent. Because of the safety issues, you should always express you concerns to the dentist and ask what options are available to protect your precious smile.

There has been some concern raised that these types of treatments may be considered carcinogens because they break down into free radicals. They also have suggested that teeth whitening may cause root damage to teeth. There have been extensive research studies and there is no evidence to support either of these claims

The problem with many whitening products, even very weak ones such as toothpastes, is that they can cause a problem for people with sensitive teeth. The treatments tend to worsen the level of sensitivity to hot and cold. If you have sensitive teeth, you should discuss treatment options with your dentist. They may be able to suggest whitening treatments that aren’t as harsh on sensitive teeth. You may experience pain when using at-home whitening trays, or gum pain after treatment, even if you don’t have sensitive teeth. If this occurs, you should talk to your doctor.

The bottom line is, as long as you use the treatments properly and follow your dentist’s instructions, teeth whitening is a safe and easy way to brighten up your smile.

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With spring just around the corner; now is the time to clear your flower beds of Winter rubbish and give your yard a facelift. Here are some tips on what to do.

Old man winter leaves much behind with leaves, sticks and other dead foliage. In fact, this has probably been one of the worst winters ever so you may have your work cut out for you as you prepare to clear your flower beds of debris. Here’s how to get started.

What you’ll need:

• Rake
• Clippers
• Shovel
• Garden Gloves
• Mulch

Now you are ready to begin:

• Take away any debris such as branches or leaves.
• Get rid of all the dead foliage from your perennials by cutting them back just near ground level.
• Rake the flower bed clean.
• Pile up the debris in a compost pile.
• Remove the mulch off the bed and replace it with a fresh layer of compost.
• Toss the compost with a shovel.
• Rake the compost as you spread it over the flower bed.
• Replace a fresh layer of mulch.

Winter has not been kind to us, in fact, every forecast you listen to describes this winter as the worst in America. Therefore, you may not be able to clear your flower beds just yet, but in case you do – may your garden spring cleaning be a successful one.

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It’s not just woman who suffer from menopause, men experience symptoms too.

Some women take great lengths to protect their bodies or just to make themselves feel better while they’re going through menopause. There are products, therapies, and specific diets all designed to help women cope with this change, but there’s little mention of the fact that men can go through the same type of change. This change, called Andropause, includes annoying physical symptoms and the increased risk of serious problems, just like menopause. It’s time we paid a little more attention to this common problem.

Andropause occurs about the same time as menopause, between the ages of 40 and 55. It is caused by a drop in testosterone; the male hormone. Like women, all men experience a drop in hormone levels; however not all men experience the same rate of decrease and few have symptoms that are severe enough to seek treatment. Common symptoms of andropause include:

• Fatigue and general loss of energy
• Decreased sex drive
• Loss of physical abilities (decreased strength and muscle mass)
• Change in mood and disposition
• Increased body fat in the upper body and midsection

Women are generally aware they are menopausal symptoms because they begin to have fluctuations in their menstrual cycle. Andropause is different, the symptoms come one slowly and there isn’t one surefire indicator to show onset. That’s why it’s important to be able to recognize the symptoms so treatment can be started as soon as possible.

Just like menopause, andropause not only presents with annoying symptoms, it also comes with an increased risk for developing serious problems. Men with decreased testosterone levels are at an increased risk for osteoporosis and cardiovascular disease.

Severe andropause can be treated through hormone replacement therapy just as menopause is in women. Replacing lost testosterone can cause a remarkable improvement in the symptoms of many men and has been shown to decrease the risk of heart disease as well; however, it is not for everyone. You should not have this therapy if you have had breast or prostate cancer. Your doctor may also not want you to use testosterone replacement therapy if you have liver, heart, or kidney disease, edema, an enlarged prostate, or diabetes. You may also not be able to have this therapy if you wish to have children, have had an allergic reaction to certain medications, or if you are on certain medications. Your doctor should discuss your medical history with you and determine if you might benefit from this treatment.

While andropause is a very common problem in men, it has gone unnoticed in the general public for a long time. If you have these symptoms, you should seek treatment and see if their may be help for you.

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