Gum disease! Ick. We've all seen those pictures-what is that? Is that ground beef? Is that a heavy, bloody chunk o' roast beef that teeth got mixed up in somehow? No, unfortunately, it's not. It's a pair of human gums in the worst stages of gum disease.
    But even the initial stages of gum disease are quite horrid and irritating. Even slightly swollen gums can drive you up the wall. They itch, they're unattractively dark and red, you're constantly licking them, poking at them, scratching at them-it's awful. Gum disease is awful, whatever the stage.
    But let's talk about the awfulness of gum disease just a little further. Gum disease affects the whole face. Gum disease affects the whole face in the sense that it's a very ugly affliction, and it also affects the whole face in the sense that it's a very painful one. When your mouth hurts, you do. People who've suffered from mouth troubles testify to untold agonies. They say that they're in pain all the time, and they can't forget it no matter how they try. With other types of pain you can try to drown yourself in pleasure, but given the fact that so much pleasure comes to us via the mouth, mouth pain means there's almost no escape.
    Gum disease can give you horrible breath. Oh, you can't imagine the levels your breath is capable of sinking to, your breath can go right into the abyss. Clean breath is one of those thing you take for granted until it's gone, but when it's gone you miss it as much as you'd miss air should it disappear all at once. That's a good analogy, in fact, because a faceful of bad breath generally hampers or cripples altogether a person's ability to breathe. You don't want bad breath, you don't want to see your friends and lovers recoil from you as if from a corpse bloating in the sun. Gum disease can make your teeth fall out. Oh yes, it can do that. Gushy, mushy gums are not a stable home for the ol' teeth.
    Now that we've (briefly, oh so briefly) discussed one or two of the horrors of gum disease, let's discuss how gum disease can be prevented. Gum disease, unlike cancer or other types of serious disease, can be prevented by the faithful, daily performance of a few simple tasks. We all know what those tasks are. We've heard them since practically the moment we slithered from the womb. Probably our future dentist was there in the delivery room, solemnly intoning his advice as we screamed bloody murder upside down in the air while getting our bums whacked. And good for him if he was! Our dentist knew how important this stuff is. And our mothers did. But we never seemed to pay sufficient attention to their words, at least if our habits today are any judge. But it's never too late to change. Let's start preventing gum disease-right now!
    More and more dentists will tell you that the chief and supreme way of avoiding gum disease is flossing. Try an experiment for me. Take a piece of chicken and lay it on a shelf in the sun for days. Better yet, lay it in a warm, moist place and see how long it takes to rot. You can bet that chicken stuck between your teeth is rotting even faster. Which takes us right back to bad-literally rotten-breath, but, more importantly, we've got to consider the effect of that rotting meat on our gums. Rotting meat in your mouth will, in time, turn your mouth into rotting meat. We've got to consider what that swarming bacteria is doing to our gums. We can probably take a good guess at what those nasty things are doing, and thus the need for religious flossing, morning, noon, and night.
    And actually brushing your teeth morning, noon, and night is a great soldier in the war against gum disease as well. Take some time with your tooth brush, brush for at least five minutes. And rinse with a good, strong mouthwash afterwards!
    Consider it-we're talking, on the whole, about fifteen minutes' worth of mouth work every day. Fifteen minutes. It doesn't seem too much to ask if you think about those pictures of ground beef long enough.

Yes, why does the dentist ask all those questions about your medical history? You're at the dentist's right? Which means-not at the doctor's. So why should the dentist be so curious about allergies, heart troubles, broken bones, and so forth and so on? He's just a dentist-right?
    WRONG. "Just" a dentist doesn't fit at all. Consider, for a moment, the importance of your mouth. Consider the importance of your gums, teeth, and jaw. Not only do they make up a good deal of your face, giving it its particular structure and in a sense making you you, but they contribute significantly to the greatest pleasures available to mankind. Eating, drinking, laughing, kissing, conversation-you owe all of these lovely things to your mouth. Have you ever had a toothache? Of course you have; either that or you're very, very, very lucky, because there's no pain quite like tooth pain, no pain quite so invasive, annoying, and ever-present. With tooth pain you get terrible headaches, eating's no fun, nothing's fun. And what about gum disease? Even gums that are unhealthy in a minor way can drive a person up the wall. Swollen gums mean itchy gums, constantly itchy gums, once again there's a discomfort in your face of all places that you can't get rid of.
    And so on and so forth. It doesn't take much reflection to realize that your mouth is just like your heart, liver, arms, legs, etc.-that is, something of major importance to your happiness that you take for granted until it starts acting up. But when it starts acting up, boy, then you start acting up, and you can't get any rest until-that's right-you go to that blessed figure, the dentist. That's why the dentist asks you so many questions about your medical history. The dentists asks you questions about your medical history because he or she needs to know about any troubles you've had with the rest of your body, as there's a chance at least that those troubles could be further troubled by the trauma of getting tooth work done.
    And getting tooth work done is traumatic. So long as you've got a cavity to be filled, violence is going to be done to your face. Think about it. All those needles shoved half an inch into your gums, over and over and over if needed, followed by drills and more drills picking their way nimbly around a live nerve-you bleed, you spit, and afterwards it takes hours to recover-if it doesn't feel like a small deal, that's because it isn't, it's a big deal, and anytime any part of your body has a big deal, surgically speaking, to deal with, you can bet that little sirens and bells are going off all over the place, because if trauma affects one part of the body it's sure to affect another.
    For example, let's say you've had heart troubles in the past. Your dentist is asking you about your medical history. He or she says, "Here, fill out this form, it's about your medical history." And you start filling out your medical history and you're thinking what does my heart have to do with anything. Why should this medical history be asking about my heart. I'm here because I have a cavity, and now the dentist is asking me all sorts of questions about my medical history. So what if I've had heart troubles! We're talking about a cavity here for Pete's sake!
    Would you believe me if I told you that people have died from having a cavity filled? It's true, they have. To stick with the example above, your heart trouble means that you're going to have be on antibiotics while your tooth heals. Otherwise, there's a chance-a quite good chance-that the process of having even minor mouth surgery could infect your already weakened heart and then you've got a real problem on your hands.
    So don't grudge the dentist any details about your medical history. Your dentist asks for your medical history with your safety and comfort in mind. You can give your medical history to your dentist with confidence, knowing that your dentist is a doctor too, and like any good doctor wants to know his or her patient well before the violence (healing) begins.

When you're pregnant, obviously, you're not just looking out for Number One anymore. Or, even if you are, you're looking out for her harder than you ever have before. After all, if you're not happy, it's likely that your baby isn't either-and so you take extra precautions with nearly everything you do, whether it be walking, eating, exercising, whatever. If you smoke, you cut back or quit, or you should. Suddenly, the things you put into your body become very, very important. Caffeine, sugar, fat, how much fat, what kind, etc. etc. etc.-all of it gets looked at more closely than ever before.
    And the same kind of caution is applied to things a little less ordinary, but ordinary all the same. Doctor's and dentist's visits, for example. Now, your doctor is one thing, your dentist another. Your doctor is most likely the person you go to see when dealing with the pregnancy directly or indirectly. Your doctor is going to know all the latest details about your condition. Your dentist, on the other hand, is more of a specialist in that he deals with only one part of you-your mouth. But your dentist may take a few extra precautious when dealing with the pregnant you as well.
    The details of those precautions, of course, will be worked out between you and your dentist. He may confer with your doctor before seeing you, he may want to look a little more closely at your medical history than he would otherwise. But you shouldn't be too concerned. Visiting the dentist while pregnant isn't all that different from what you're used to.
    In the first stages of pregnancy, that tender time, you'll want to avoid most really rigorous things, of course, whether it be exercise or dentistry or whatever. Again, you'll want to confer with your doctor and your dentist about how soon you can have, say, a cavity filled once you're pregnant. It may be that your doctor or dentist will have you take certain antibiotics to protect and your child against possible infections. X-rays and such will be handled differently. But these differences aren't going to be of the upsetting or intrusive sort.
    The key thing to remember when considering pregnancy and dental work is simply that you're caring for two people now. Therefore, when you prepare for the dental work, have it done, and go home to heal afterwards, you should make every possible attempt to ease your own discomfort and suffering and thus that of the person inside you. So, confer with your dentist closely about the details of recovery, even when recovering from something as simple as a single, shallow filling. Keep in mind that apparently simple things take on a more serious tone when pregnancy comes into the equation. Keep in mind, furthermore, that if you can feel pain, discomfort, etc., it's likely that your baby can as well. Therefore, the more time you take to heal after having a cavity filled, the better off the both of you will be.
    These simple tips will be expanded upon by your dentist and doctor. But you should do research on your own, as well. The Internet is teeming with information about pregnancy, its special requirements and so on. There are now single stop websites where you can type something like "dentist, pregnancy" and see instantly an entire host of articles spring up for your enlightenment. There are also lots of books out there that deal intimately and complexly with these intimate and complex issues.
    You should rest easy about pregnancy and dental issues. Dentistry has come a long way since the days of whiskey and pliers, and every question you have has been asked and answered by responsible dentists and doctors a hundred, a thousand times over. Combine the fruits of their research with a little research of your own, and you should know all that you need to know and more about having dental work done while pregnant.

The question about white composite fillings versus silver amalgam fillings is asked less often these days than it was formerly when white composite fillings were a relatively new option. Nowadays, some dentists don't even give you a choice: it's white composite fillings or nothing. Many dentists, knowing of the advantages of white composite fillings, have simply switched over, as it were, so that white composite fillings are simply "the" fillings, much as silver amalgam fillings used to be "the" fillings. That said, let's look at five reasons to get white composite fillings.
1.    The first reason to get white composite fillings has to do with your looks. We've all had the experience of being a little too near to a person when they yawn, giving us an eyeful of metaly molars. It's not at attractive sight. You don't want people to think you have black food stuck in your teeth when laughing or yawning etc. White composite fillings, as opposed to their silver counterparts, look natural-most people barely even notice them, if they notice them at all. So, the first reason to get white composite fillings: you'll look nicer than otherwise.
2.    The second reason you want to get white composite fillings has to do with tooth strength. When inserting a white composite filling the dentist is able to drill a much smaller hole than he would with silver amalgam fillings. This means that you're able to keep more of your natural tooth. A natural tooth is a strong tooth, whereas a tooth filled up with foreign objects is prone to crack and break. So, the second reason to choose white composite fillings over silver amalgam fillings is: your tooth will be stronger than otherwise.
3.    The third reason you want to get white composite fillings has to with comfort. Metal, as you know, attracts heat and cold. White composite fillings don't attract heat and cold. This means that for people whose teeth are sensitive to begin with, a silver amalgam filling is going to intensify their sensitivity, and they may not be able to ever eat hot or cold foods without pain. But even if your teeth aren't sensitive, they're more likely to be if you choose against white composite fillings. May as well not start a bad habit by doing so. The third reason to choose white composite fillings over silver amalgam fillings is: comfort; your teeth, and thus your head, will be a lot more comfortable if you do.
4.    The fourth reason you want to get white composite fillings has to do with health. The fact is that silver amalgam fillings contain elements that some would argue are dangerous to humans. Not all humans may be affected by them, of course-your grandma and grandpa probably have some good ol' silver fillings dating back to their childhood, and they're still kicking-but you might as well be cautious. White composite fillings are made from safer stuff than their metal counterparts. The fourth reason to choose white composite fillings over silver amalgam fillings is: you don't want to take any chances with your health.
5.    The fifth reason you want to get white composite fillings has to do with simply being up with the times. When it comes to something as important as your teeth, why settle for old, outdated technology? It won't be too many years before white composite fillings have completely pushed silver amalgam fillings aside. Why not choose the better process now? Why stick with cassette tapes when CDs are obviously the new wave? The fifth reason to choose white composite fillings over silver amalgam fillings is: you want to be current.

Children as well as adults have fears of dentists and dental work. If there is an extreme amount of fear, or a great deal of work that must be completed on a child, it may be possible to use sedation dentistry to resolve some of the problem.

Children with any of these conditions or problems may be candidates for sedative dentistry.

Infants with dental care needs
Children who needs extensive dental work
Children with a very sensitive gag reflex
Children that have suffered a traumatic experience with a dentist
A traumatic experience that happened to their mouth or jaw
Mentally handicapped children
Medically compromised children

The best situation for children's oral health care is to start them off in a positive manner, with building a secure and consistent patter for good oral hygiene.

Doing the following steps does this:

Start with teaching your child about brushing their teeth very early, even before their teeth come through their gums.
You can have your child suck on and play with their toothbrush as long as they are old enough not to choke on the brush.
Next, you can set up your child's first dental appointment with a pediatric dentist at one year old. This will help their comfort level before they ever become afraid.
Create a consistent patter of flossing and brushing early. If their teeth are healthy the chances that a child would need extensive dental work is unlikely.
Give them a healthy diet of food with vitamins and minerals and that are high in fiber.

However, if this does not work, and your child is still afraid, or does need extensive work done due to decay, a fall or some other problem. It is a good idea to talk to the dentists in your area that conduct sedation dentistry for children and get an evaluation of what steps they feel should be taken.

Sedation dentistry is for people with severe phobias, fears, anxieties or health issues that would prevent them from sitting in a normal dental setting for the treatments necessary for healthy teeth and gums. It is better to look into the sedation dentistry than to neglect teeth and gums until the problem becomes more permanent.

When choosing a sedation dentist for your child, it is important to take special care in your selection. Make sure that the dentist you choose is permitted to conduct sedation dentistry.

Usually a local anesthetic is used for dental work. However this is not really sedation. This only numbs the area that the repair is being completed. Sedation is affecting the brain and body in a much different way.

Here are some good questions to ask before you let your child be sedated for their dental work.

1.    What experience has the dentist had?
2.    What affiliations does the dentist have?
3.    What is the plan if something were to go wrong?
4.    Is the dentist a pediatric dentist?
5.    Does your dental insurance cover dental sedation?
6.    What types of sedation are available?
7.    Does the dentist often-sedate children?

With all the answers you need in mind, you can evaluate the choice of sedation. It is scary to take your child in for treatment. You are the one who has to evaluate the anxiety and fear level of your child. Also, you will need to decide if it is not a fear that you can subside with some love and comfort.

Even the best flossing and brushing techniques still can leave some of the tougher plaque behind. Therefore, it is very important to get the semi-annual cleanings from your dentist to make sure your teeth are clean.

The ADA or American Dental Association recommends getting a semi-annual cleaning regularly. This may be increased to a more quarterly cleaning depending on the condition and care of the teeth.

Regular flossing and brushing at home is important, but having the completed cleaning from you dentist office every six months has its benefits.

1.    If decay becomes present, your dentist is more likely to catch it at an early stage and then will be able to correct the problem quickly and painlessly in most cases.
2.    Your smile will be whiter and brighter. Also, if you have cosmetic whitening done, it is a good way to do upkeep on your white teeth so not to lose the glamorous look of clean teeth.
3.    Your gums are healthier because there is not as much build up from the tartar on your teeth and gums.
4.    The bacteria in your mouth do not have as much of a chance to create long lasting decay.
5.    Your dentist can watch your overall oral health process and if he or she sees a problem early on, they can help you to resolve the pattern before it becomes a severe issue. If fillings are lose or if crowns are coming off, the dentist will know.

What to expect at a semi-annual cleaning?

These visits are usually short, around thirty minutes.
The work completed for the cleaning is usually 100% covered by most dental insurances
An oral exam of the teeth, gums and tongue will be completed.
The dentist will evaluate the need for further treatments.
A complete cleaning of each of the teeth, and your gums will occur.
A complete flossing will also occur.
If there are any hard areas that need to be scraped to remove set in plaque or tartar the dentist will usually complete this.
A rinse will likely be given.
If there is a plan for any sealants or repairs that need to be completed, the appointment will be made for a follow up.

There is a little pain involved with a good cleaning. This usually has nothing to do with the dentist or hygenist that is completing the cleaning. The process is one that tends to put some strain on your mouth, teeth and gums.

If there are hard deposits of tartar on your teeth, it is harder to remove these. However for the protection of your tooth, it is required that the plaque and tartar be removed.

A local anesthetic can be used to resolve some of the pain from the cleaning. However in most cases it is just uncomfortable, not unbearable.

If you have anxiety about cleanings, remember there are sedation options to help you maintain the semi-annual cleaning process. Do not let it go due to fear; there are so many options to work around the pain and fear. There is no reason to let your teeth go.

Getting your teeth cleaned every six months is important and easy. Like I said it is usually free with your dental insurance, so there really is no reason not to take care of your mouth. They are your teeth, you need them for your lifetime, give them the fighting chance to chew for you.

Preventing bone loss form tooth and gum disease is very possible. The only things that need to be done are work with your dentist to build a healthy oral hygiene plan and follow it.

Each step in the process to keeping healthy teeth and gums are important. This includes every thing from flossing, brushing, cleanings at the dentist office, check ups and repairs, a healthy diet and finally consistency in all of these.

If you do not have these steps followed, then there is a higher chance that the cavities and decay from the plaque and bacteria in your mouth will cause tooth and gum disease and then bone deterioration of the jaw.

The problem that many times confuse people on how to prevent gum disease, is that most of the population waits until there is a severe problem, before they make an appointment to go into the dentist. Then it is to remove the problem, not to prevent it. In some cases, gum damage and bone damage is already taking place and the repair is expensive.

Often time's people consider the cost of dental work to be a debt they have a hard time wanting to pay. This is a choice that in the long run, there can be a much higher cost to fix an infection, root canal, or much worse instead of cleaning your teeth, and removing small decay.

Most of the time severe decay can be reduced or illimnated with using proper cleaning and care. Here is the steps to follow to take care of your teeth and gums, therefore preventing bone disease in your jaw.

    First make sure to floss your teeth well. This is done in a few minutes every day and is a great way to remove the plaque between your teeth that a brush cannot reach.
    Second be sure to brush your teeth thoroughly. At least for 2 minutes 3 times a day. If you eat snacks, sweets, warm drinks, or carbonated drinks often, it is a good idea to brush a few more times.
    Next be sure to eat a healthy diet. This means foods that are low in sugar, carbohydrates, and carbonation. Include foods in your diet that are high in fiber, vitamins and minerals.
    Make sure to get to your dentist semi-annually for cleanings and check-ups.
    Finally keep all these preventative care tools used consistently. Plaque and bacteria does not take a break and neither should you.
In most cases, tooth and gum disease is caused by not giving enough attention to the base of the tooth and at the gum line. That area is where the bacteria, and plaque will try to work its way down and creating gingivitis.

The worse case is when Pyorrhea becomes apparent. This is a progressed level of gum disease and many more teeth are lost due to pyorrhea than to decay of the teeth. Gum disease is a major problem with many Americans mostly because there is not a good process of oral hygiene taking place.

Take the time to set up a plan for visits, cleaning; repairs and follow-ups as a preventative measure before gum and tooth disease occur resulting in bone loss. It is worth the effort to make it so that your mouth will be happy and healthy.

The ADA recommends having your teeth professionally cleaned semi-annually. There are several reasons this is recommended.

With the amount of tartar that builds up over time on our teeth, even good oral hygiene steps does not always removed all the bacteria, that causes tartar, and then causes the decay and cavities.

Depending on the teeth, the oral hygiene process used, the diet and the overall areas of the teeth like smoking, will dictate if there is a more frequent need for a professional dental cleaning.

At a cleaning your dentist will look for warning signs of dental issues that can be solved easily when they are caught early. There is also a detailed removal of the plaque that has attached itself to your teeth, therefore not giving it as much of a chance to cause decay that is going to be damaging your teeth more greatly.

Here is what you can expect at a dental cleaning.

1.    A full examination of your teeth, gums and tongue
2.    A cleaning of all the areas in your mouth
3.    X-rays may be taken
4.    An oral hygiene plan may be discussed
5.    Depending on the needs of the mouth, a follow up appointment will be planned.
6.    Your dental insurance will likely pay for the visit for the cleaning. However if there is future work that needs to be completed, you can discuss the cost with your dentist.
7.    If your dentist sees a need to work on the steps you take for brushing and flossing this could also be discussed.
8.    Your teeth will also be cleaner and a plan for whitening may occur.
9.    The visit should take roughly thirty minutes
10.    There is some pain, however you can request a local anesthetic if you are concerned about the pain.

Getting your teeth clean is an important step to keeping a great smile. The total process of flossing correctly, brushing thoroughly and eating a healthy diet will help the cleaning process be easier and almost painless.

There are so many options available to maintain a dental cleaning, check up, and follow up repair within reasonable costs, time, and with as little pain as possible, that it is important not to forget or avoid getting it done.

However, there is some pain with a cleaning. Depending on the amount of plaque that has been built up between cleaning visits, will depend on how long the visit will be and how hard of a cleaning job it will be.

Your dentist will do all they can to make you comfortable. If the situation is causing too much anxiety, you can request a pain reliever or sedation before the process is completed.

With the steps you take for good oral hygiene, eating a healthy diet will also help the cleaning process be easier. If you eat foods high in fiber, low in sugar and that have plenty of vitamins and minerals, then you will experience a cleaning at your dentist that is going to be fast, and almost painless.

A healthy diet, proper cleaning, brushing and flossing will resolve many of the issues that would occur to cause cavities and decay. If these cavities and decay are not removed in a timely manner, it will cause more serious issues like tooth, gum and bone decay and disease. This takes a great deal more effort, pain and money to resolve. Therefore going to your cleanings every six months will give you the edge to prevent future problems.

A beautiful smile is an important part of our persona and self esteem. With this in mind there are reason to consider cosmetic dentistry. What are you able and willing to pay for the smile you want?

Here are a few things that you should consider when you are thinking about the options for your dental health and cosmetic surgery.

Benefits

Cosmetic dentistry has the benefits of a healthy set of teeth and gums.
The smile you have will be very beautiful.
Your self-confidence will be higher.
Your teeth will be whiter.
You will have the self-confidence that a bright smile will portray.
No more closed mouth smiles.
No more embarrassment for unsightly teeth.
Long lasting

Concerns

Will it hurt?
How long does it take?
Is it expensive?

Cosmetic dentistry is a benefit to the overall health of your mouth. The reason is that in order to improve the condition of your teeth, all cavities, decay and problems need to be cleared up in order to continue with the beautification process.

The smile you will get from cosmetic dentistry will be brighter, and more beautiful than ever before. The dentist will be able to straighten, whiten and create a healthy smile that people will enjoy looking at.

Your self confidence will be higher because smiling is a natural way of handling emotions of embarrassment, happiness, achievement and much more. If you can smile with confidence, you are more likely to smile more and that in it is a confidence booster.

Your teeth will be many shades lighter. The level of whiteness will depend on the work that is completed. Whitening can be done through a couple different methods. The most common is a bleaching process through your dentist office. If it is only a couple shades lighter you are looking for, your dentist may send a whitening treatment home with you. If there is severe damage, there may be a need for tooth replacement, and crowns used.

There are also options for veneers, oral laser surgery and implants to help create the beautiful smile you are looking for. With these options your overall self-confidence will increase because your smile will portray self-confidence in itself.

There will not be any reason not to smile with a full tooth showing smile, this is because the smile will show the perfect teeth you always wanted.

No more embarrassing moments that you smiled to big, and then you see that look of concern or disgust from the person you are talking to, due to damaged and decayed or discolored teeth.

The length of time that these procedures will keep your teeth in good shape is dependant on many things. How you treat your teeth, what your oral hygiene practices are, what your diet is, etc. However most of the time this is a pretty long lasting solution to dental embarrassments.

There is some pain involved, depending on what you have done. However the dentist will do all they can to make sure you feel as little discomfort as possible. The pain will not be as bad and the smile will be good.

It takes a few visits to complete the work done. Again, this is depending on what work needs to be done to create the smile you are looking for.

The main concern and probably the fairest concern is the cost. One tooth for a porcelain inlay can be around $2000. So plan on $20000 for a full mouth of work. However keep in mind that your dentist will work with you, and your insurance may cover part of the price. When you go on to talk to your dentist discuss the conditions that you would need for the financial arrangements to be able to get the teeth you want. We all have a budget, they are used to working with their patients and their insurances.

The cost will be worth the enjoyment of years of healthy teeth and a beautiful smile.

The rage these days (or, rather, one of the many rages these days) seems to be the procurement and maintenance of whiter and whiter teeth. Everyone wants that Hollywood smile, everyone wants too look like a movie star and have a smile like an unexpected gleam of starlight. It's a perfectly understandable desire, considering how attractive a white smile is. We've all seen those people who are attractive in every single way but one-their teeth. Like those old British film actors who were so gorgeous and suave and then they laughed and everyone left the theatre. The guy they thought was a silver-tongued ladies' man turned out, on closer inspection, to be a werewolf. Etc.!
    OK, we've established the fact that white teeth are attractive. They're like the last, small, crucial element in your ideal image of yourself. To use one more analogy, have you ever been to the opera (or something) and seen one of those guys who's dressed to the nines, I mean he's in this stunning suit, he ripples when he walks, it's like he was born in the suit, it's as natural and smooth and fitted as his tanned skin, and then you look down and see a pair of old scuffy wingtips that curl up at the toes like something an elf would wear? And the whole image collapses, the mirror shatters, the illusion vanishes in a puff of smoke? Suddenly he's this sort of hapless, pathetic guy who got lucky when he decided to overspend on a suit, never realizing that an ensemble, to be effective, has to also be complete?
    These days, people are thinking of their teeth as snazzy dressers think of their shoes.
    Alright, that said, let's consider the question of off the shelf tooth whitening systems. How should you choose an off the shelf tooth whitening system? Which off the shelf tooth whitening systems are safe? Which off the shelf tooth whitening systems will actually damage my teeth? Are expensive off the shelf tooth whitening systems expensive for a reason? Are generic off the shelf teeth whitening systems generic for a reason? Can I use an off the shelf tooth whitening system as often as I'd use one prescribed by my dentist? And so on. The questions whirl around one.
    BECAUSE, of course, your teeth are for more than just beauty. You have to be able to eat. You don't want to whiten your teeth in the name of beauty only to discover later than they're now hypersensitive, brittle, and in danger of falling out altogether. That would be an irony indeed.
    The first thing to know when considering off the shelf tooth whitening systems is that you'll want to get the best and soundest advice possible. And who's the most likely to give you sound advice regarding off the shelf tooth whitening systems? That's right, your dentist, or a dentist. Before buying and using an off the shelf tooth whitening system, try to see a dentist. Get his or her opinion first. Off the shelf tooth whitening systems can be used effectively, but more often than not people misuse them to the detriment of their teeth. They're too eager for a white smile, they use the off the shelf tooth whitening systems too often or too intensely. Or, they use the wrong ones. Some off the shelf tooth whitening systems are about as subtle as acid. So, go see a dentist before spreading that stuff on your teeth. Don't give yourself a homemade facelift, in other words, before conferring with a plastic surgeon.
    The second general tip about choosing off the shelf tooth whitening systems has to do with research. When choosing amongst off the shelf tooth whitening systems, you need to do your homework. Thank heaven, then, for the Internet! The Internet teems with reviews of off the shelf tooth whitening systems. Learn about the experiences of other consumers with Product X before you try to use Product X yourself. Find out which off the shelf tooth whitening systems are most popular, and find out the reasons why.
    This combination, professional advice mixed with the testimonials of fellow consumers, should give you a great foundation on which to start exploring the question of off the shelf tooth whitening systems.