How to Correctly Use Teeth Whitening Products

Lyle Hurd: It’s great to have Dr. Flora Stay, author to the — author of The Secret Gateway to Health back with us. Over the period of our discussions we have talked about virtually everything that has to do… with oral health. The one thing that we really haven’t attacked is something that lots of people suffer from. That is, that for one reason or another, whether their teeth may be crooked, their teeth may be deteriorating, they may have lost some teeth for one reason or another; we talked about that. But people that are interested in a nice smile, what can someone do that will help take care of the problems? How do we have a great smile at 65 years old when we’ve suffered through all of these problems? Flora Stay: Well, Lyle, with today’s dentistry, just about anything is possible, very, very safely, easily, with no pain — virtually no pain. Cosmetic dentistry has come such a long way; it’s truly amazing. With the materials that are available through – whether they’re veneers or luminary — Lyle Hurd: Yes. Flora Stay: Yes. There are just so many different implants… for replacing teeth. There are just so many… options. The way to start is to find a dentist you can relate with, you can partner with, and let the dentist give you a lot of options. In fact, nowadays, some dentists have these machines that will actually allow you to see how you can look… Lyle Hurd: Is that right? Flora Stay: Yes! What your smile can look like if you do certain things. For example, if you have broken teeth or cracked teeth or spaces or crooked teeth, they can actually simulate on the screen what it would look like — what you would look like with this new smile. Or if it’s just whitening your teeth… there’s just so many options that you just need to find a dentist that is up to date with all the different cosmetic dental procedures and just hear your options. Lyle Hurd: You mentioned whitening your teeth… There are all sorts of teeth whitening agents that are offered through the toothpaste companies, and through… Is there a difference in what – I mean, we’ve talked about toxicity before. Are there, are there differences in the materials that go into these, or how they are applied. Are they toxic? Flora Stay: Most of them are some form of hydrogen peroxide. I am totally against using hydrogen peroxide if you are using it on a daily basis; which for awhile there it was like a big fad, hydrogen peroxide in everything. It was in toothpaste, mouthwash, use it straight, and that is not a good thing because it does tend to release free radicals. However, in bleaching, since you’re using it for certain periods of time, limited amount of time, and it’s just on a topical… sits on top of the teeth, then you rinse it off. It really should be fine. Now, some people tend to get over-zealous and they almost get addicted to whitening. It’s never white enough, and so they keep going back every month, every other month, and that can be harmful. Lyle Hurd: Just one final comment, I mentioned the age 65 and whatever. Basically, anyone who has a problem, that can’t be corrected some other way, that can be corrected with something like luminaries, which you motioned, really should have the opportunity to be able to experience that shouldn’t they? Flora Stay: Absolutely. Lyle Hurd: Absolutely wonderful — Flora Stay: Yes. Lyle Hurd: To be able to smile at somebody and say how are ya, rather than have to — Flora Stay: Yes. There’s no excuse these days. If you think that it will make a difference, in… how you feel about yourself, how you smile, how you appear to others. I’ve had patients that were in their seventies, even eighties believe it or not, who wanted to improve their smile and by golly, they did. And it was great, they loved it… Lyle Hurd: Let me see your smile (Flora Stay smiles). Thank you. We appreciate you. Flora Stay: Thank you Lyle.