Does anyone out there like to visit to dentist? Wow, you do? Because I absolutely HATE visiting the dentist! If I can, I’ll avoid. But for the sake of my teeth, I do try to visit at least once a year. And that, is not good dental care, I was told. Well, better than not going I say. So even though I really like the idea of having a set of pristine white teeth, I cannot bring myself to visit a dentist for that purpose.
The closest I’ve done is to try this DIY home whitening for teeth but that was an absolute nightmare! I’m not talking about using baking soda but this is an equivalent of a dental whitening process. My teeth did get whitened but the sheer inconvenience was just too much for me to bear.
Anyway, I’m interested to know how you ladies care for your teeth. How often do you visit the dentist? Do you visit the dentist for aesthetic reasons? Like teeth straightening, teeth whitening, or some other procedures? Because besides the usual brushing and when-I-can-remember-to-floss, I try to avoid the dentist. Just to give you an idea: my dental appointment was due six months ago but I’m only going this week.
Yeah, I need some inspirations and encouraging stories. So tell me!
Arthi
5 Sep 2012 at 12:02 pmHi Sesame,
I have tried some DIY recipes for teeth whitening like lemon juice + salt which
helps in removing dirt and help in teeth whitening…but i am not diligent in that because of laziness…so i go once in a year for cleaning my teeth… i have also heard from one of my friend that every day sprinkling some salt in our tooth paste and if we brush at-least thrice in a week…there wont be any need for going to any dentist for cleaning our teeth… i have tried this too but again not followed religiously….
Sesame
5 Sep 2012 at 4:40 pmI was told it’s not great to use lemon on the teeth so I avoid. I kind of like the effects from baking soda but I concede the effects are limited especially if your teeth are inherently yellowish. Sprinkle salt on our toothpaste? Hmmm…a bit intrigued by the idea.
Nellz
5 Sep 2012 at 12:30 pmHmm actually dentists do freak me out, but not as much as docs with needles. I’d still go at least once a year, but if a filling chipped or i sense something is not so right, i wouldn’t hesitate going.
I thought getting it fixed is way better than extraction when its beyond hope.
Extraction includes injections… needles, so I avoid at all cost hehe.
Daily brushing, and couple of salt water rinse weekly does it for me 🙂
I don’t go for whitening, I heard its bad?
Sesame
5 Sep 2012 at 4:38 pmI think whitening sort of “erodes” the teeth? So it shouldn’t be done often. Btw, why do you do salt water rinse? Is that anti-bacterial?
Sera
6 Sep 2012 at 12:58 pmSalt water rinses- sea salt, mainly- are sometimes done after oral piercings and the like. After eating and etc; At least, that’s what I use salt water rinses for ;;;;
Sesame
6 Sep 2012 at 8:46 pmI see…we use that for anti-bacteria purposes too. And sometimes we drink it after taking some food that is too “heaty”.
Nellz
7 Sep 2012 at 11:57 pmYeps, I do the salt water rinse for anti bacteria purpose. In case of those hard to reach by brushing area, and also because I’m very prone to heatiness. So sore throats visit pretty easily; hence as prevention 🙂
With the rinse, I scrapped my tongue after that. Feels cleaner too.
Nellz last post is: Crabtree & Evelyn Aromatherapy Distillations Revitalizing – Cleansing Body Polisher
Sesame
8 Sep 2012 at 10:02 amOk, I might give this a try for a season…I don’t mind the taste of salt. 😛
Jyoan
5 Sep 2012 at 12:46 pmI love visiting the dentist! Nothing beats that feeling of clean teeth.
Jyoan last post is: FOTD: No Mirror Makeup Challenge TAG
Sesame
5 Sep 2012 at 4:35 pmWakow…I kowtow to you. 😛
Kay
5 Sep 2012 at 12:53 pmI love to visit dentist but haven’t been coming around to see one after my last dental appointment in school which is almost 4 years ago. But I pay a lot attention to my teeth, keeping them nicely cleaned after every meal and before I sleep. I don’t floss my teeth, but I brush them for half an hour at home in the morning and night. I also use whitening strips that dissolves while I sleep. And when I eat fruits like kiwi and strawberry I let the juices stay in my mouth longer because they have whitening properties.
Sesame
5 Sep 2012 at 4:35 pmYou brush your teeth for half an hour??? 😯
EcoBeauty
5 Sep 2012 at 1:14 pmI hate the dentist! My first dentist, that was when I was 6-9, I suspected, was a closet torture freak. LOL! So bad experience and memories carried through adulthood.
However, I’ve had too many encounters with dentists and other dental professionals and that’s because I’ve worn teeth braces 3X in my life. Since I was always too lazy to wear the retainers or go back to my ortho for check-ups and adjustments which led me to NOT fully complete any treatment, I had to wear braces almost my entire life.
EcoBeauty last post is: Sleep in Total Darkness to Stay Young and Lose the Bulges!
Sesame
5 Sep 2012 at 4:34 pmYou don’t wear them now do you? But yeah, I don’t enjoy going to the dentist because the one I went to when I was young freaked me out a bit. These days, the dentists are much nicer.
Maaren
5 Sep 2012 at 1:57 pmIt’s a nice post and have much information…
Pranali
5 Sep 2012 at 3:31 pmdentists freak me out! i find it way too gross to open up my mouth and let someone stare into it..
Sesame
5 Sep 2012 at 4:32 pmHaha…it feels vulnerable, doesn’t it? But I often wonder about the receiving end of staring at those mouths – how do dentists feel? But I guess they’re numb to the thought after awhile.
ChuiShia
5 Sep 2012 at 9:15 pmAs much as I hate the dentist, I hate the idea of losing my teeth even more!! Lol…so I brush my teeth diligently (3 times a day) and I use mouth rinse. I’m not too bothered with the whitening bit tho – to me that’s just aesthetic. I have friends that go to Bangkok to get their teeth whitened coz it much cheaper.
BUT, that aside, this post just made me google for ways to whiten my teeth naturally. LOL…
ChuiShia last post is: Banana Cake
Sesame
5 Sep 2012 at 10:23 pmOh they head to BKK? Seems that a lot of people are heading there for aesthetic treatments.
Haha…hope you’ll find some good recipes to whiten teeth. I think natural methods have a limitation though.
fatima
5 Sep 2012 at 11:53 pmi wear braces, have to visit the orthadontist every 2 months, i cant whiten my teeth with baking soda cos it softens the glue.
Sesame
6 Sep 2012 at 8:41 pmOh I see…I didn’t know baking soda can do that.
Destiny7
6 Sep 2012 at 12:02 amVery interesting! In the US, dentists encourage (pressure?) clients to come every six months! I don’t like the x rays and sometimes refuse them. Its important that the x ray guard cover your thyroid.
I recently found a great dentist who explained how acidity was causing problems for me.
Sesame
6 Sep 2012 at 8:43 pmI suppose as opposed to doctors, most people don’t have dental issues so often? Over here, they do try to set appointments for us to return every six months too…sometimes lesser. But usually done without asserting pressure. And it’s certainly good to come across a dentist who cares.
Beauty Conscious
7 Sep 2012 at 9:52 amIt is really recommended to visit the dentist at least once a year for our oral check-up. I even remember that I always seek the dentist even just for a loose tooth. Not brave enough to pull it. Waah! I just remember the pain again. But if you wanted a whiter teeth off the dentist’s chair, I agree that baking soda can help lighten teeth and at the same time neutralize breath. There is a baking soda toothpaste in Watsons where you can use everyday, so it means, it’s whitening for you everyday!
Sesame
7 Sep 2012 at 10:04 pmI use Jason’s Powersmile and it has baking soda. Seems to be good cos my dentist just told me I don’t need tooth polishing as my teeth looks good.
stella
7 Sep 2012 at 11:00 amever since a horror cavity fill experience when i was 7, i’ve been zealous about oral care and so haven’t had major issues since then, except for another cavity about 20 years later
i still hate going to the dentist coz they cost a bomb (almost $100 for basic scaling and polishing at a neighbourhood clinic? seriously???), i’ve seen a few who are not so gentle ones (group practice) and even worse, try to sell me other services like teeth whitening…when i have teeth that while not pristine white are maybe of the second whitest shade in the cavity fill color chart. i also have teeth that are naturally very straight, except for a very slight protrusion, and i’ve had a dentist try to sell me straightening services?! and one filled a ‘soft spot’ for me; i realized something was wrong when it took all of 2 seconds and the next dentist i saw half a year later told me it wasn’t all that necessary. thankfully, i’ve employer insurance for dentistry services. still.
no offense to the medical professionals in all areas including those in dentistry, but the trade has become so profit-driven that i don’t trust most of these people. thankfully, i’ve finally managed to find a good family GP and dentist who do not over-prescribe
Sesame
7 Sep 2012 at 10:07 pmThe one I go to isn’t bad…they don’t push. Another place to go to is the polyclinic. Surprisingly, they provide good service and no pushing whatsoever. But of course, the trade off is, appointments must be booked ahead.
stella
8 Sep 2012 at 2:05 pmi would go the polyclinics, but they take appointments only months ahead and for people like us who work regular hours, it can be tough fix a good time that doesn’t require us to take leave
Sesame
8 Sep 2012 at 6:08 pmIt’s true. I used to go when my timing was more flexible but now it’s hard. I had to cancel the appointments and then reschedule, which is like months later.
Gennifer
3 Oct 2012 at 4:40 amI personally LOVE going to the dentist. I grew up without any insurance (still don’t have any) I went to the dentist twice when I was a child. As a result I have terrible teeth. I brush my teeth twice a day with a Sonicare floss, swish etc. Still with no dental care for years they’re very brittle and I currently have 7 broken teeth, including 3 wisdoms. I have two ongoing abscessed teeth that hurt a LOT. It’s incredibly expensive to pay out of pocket, but when I have saved enough money I’m so grateful to be sitting in that “scary chair”. So far I’ve gotten 3 taken care of, 2 root canals and an extraction. People complain about the pain and I ask myself “What pain?” Imagine having that “after-dentist pain” for a few years as it slowly intensifies. I’d much rather have a shot of Novocaine and and a few hours worth of minimal discomfort. Plus, the dentists are always so nice and often willing to work out payment plans. I had an extraction without being completely knocked out and it was scary, but after it was over I felt so much better. It’s worth it, and there are much worse things you could hear from a doctor than “Now spit”.
Sesame
4 Oct 2012 at 9:12 amWow, your dentist must have been very gentle and kind. I had an awful one when I was young and so I guess, that left an impression and turned me off the treatments.