National Survey Finds Your Smile is Your Most Attractive Feature

Smile, because America's watching.

The American Dental Association recently conducted a survey and found that most Americans view the smile as the most attractive attribute. Facebook fans everywhere are taking surveys such as "What attracts you most?" with one of the most popular answers being "his/her smile." Unfortunately, with the sagging economy many people are pushing dental visits down their priority list.

Everyone wants a white, healthy smile, but Cosmetic Dentistry is an expensive luxury and do-it-yourself alternatives often cause tooth sensitivity or other problems. There is one way to safely whiten and improve the health of your teeth with over-the-counter products, says Dr. Ellie Phillips, DDS., author of Kiss Your Dentist Goodbye, from Greenleaf Book Group Press (www.KissYourDentistGoodbye.com).

Phillips says xylitol is the key to a healthy smile.

"Xylitol is one of the most effective methods for removing harmful plaque and cavity-forming bacteria from the mouth," said Phillips. "Eating two teaspoons of xylitol each day eliminates harmful mouth germs in a matter of months. Germs that feed on sugar or carbohydrates to produce mouth acidity and cause cavities will die off if you expose them to xylitol three or four times a day - preferably after meals or drinks."

Xylitol is derived from birch wood and granular xylitol is found in most health food stores as a diabetic-safe sugar alternative. Xylitol can be purchased as candies, breath mints, tooth wipes, gels, mouth rinses and even nasal sprays. Small amounts are found in popular chewing gums, but you need sufficient xylitol for it to be effective, so check xylitol is the main ingredient in your gum or candy.

"Harmful bacteria are unable to use xylitol as an energy source, so they are starved and their numbers around teeth gradually reduce," said Phillips. "Bacteria absorb xylitol as they do regular sugar, but their attempt to process it is unsuccessful. The bacteria continue trying, but use up their resources in this futile effort. When these bacteria die out, less adhesive ones take their place. This second-generation of bacteria are easily removed from teeth by brushing and rinsing, which makes your oral care efforts more rewarding."

Phillips recommends a regimen that works with xylitol to make teeth and gums healthier and stronger. Her suggestions include:
• A neutral pre-rinse before brushing
• Tooth brushing with a well-formulated toothpaste
• Two mouth rinses after brushing - the first, a well recognized antiseptic rinse, followed immediately by an alcohol-free sodium fluoride rinse

"If used every twelve hours the effects can be astonishing," Phillips said. "Bad breath will be a thing of the past, bleeding gums heal and dull teeth become shiny and smooth. Even tooth-cleaning fanatics see improvements. I suggest people try this system between dental visits and let their dentist describe what he sees. Don't be surprised when they demand to know what you have been doing!"

Many oral care products cause concern for Phillips; like rinses that contain harmful ingredients or toothpaste that is too abrasive. Some products are only a temporary fix for tooth sensitivity or tartar build up.

"There is an important chemistry between the pastes and rinses I recommend. This is a precise recipe and substitutions or changing the method will alter the outcome" she said. "This regimen allows you to take charge of your oral health and experience a more beautiful, healthy smile using over-the-counter products. Why not amaze your own dentist?"

Rachel Friedman is a Staff Writer at News & Experts.