Toothpaste is a very common compound that we put in our mouths every day, yet many people don’t know what exactly is inside of toothpaste, or even what it does. Here’s a little primer on toothpaste that will help you understand and appreciate what you put in your mouth each day. Toothpaste serves a number of functions when it comes to oral hygiene. Certain components in toothpaste are actually a little abrasive and they’re designed to remove the soft plaque and food particles that accumulate on your teeth. These abrasive agents actually make up about 50% of what’s in your toothpaste. The word “abrasive” may be alarming to some people because it conjures up images of sandpaper, grit and other harsh materials. Although the action of the abrasives in toothpaste operates on the same principle that sandpaper does, the degree of abrasion is relatively small. Students in a dental hygienist program learn that any surface abrasion to the enamel that occurs is quickly repaired through a process known as remineralization. Remineralization is the process by which your body naturally adds new minerals to the tooth surface to protect, rebuild and restore the enamel. Remineralization won’t be sufficient to repair serious gouges, chips or cracks in the surface of the enamel, but it will rebuild any damage a mild abrasive might possibly cause. Some toothpastes may also include ingredients in addition to fluoride that promote remineralization of the enamel. To avoid long-term damage from brushing, use a soft bristled toothbrush only (unless your dentist recommends otherwise), and change your toothbrush every three months, or sooner if the bristles show signs of wear or damage. If your toothbrush bristles are crushed and splayed by the time you change toothbrushes, you’re probably applying too much pressure to your teeth when brushing. After the abrasives, your toothpaste contains fluorides that can aid in the process of remineralization and cut down on the incidence of tooth decay. Your dentist will recommend the use of fluoridated toothpaste in most circumstances, and not all toothpastes have fluoride. If your dentist has recommended fluoride toothpaste, check the label of your paste carefully to ensure that it contains fluoride. The fluoride in the toothpaste should offer sufficient protection against tooth decay, provided that you brush your teeth regularly and you take good care of your teeth. Your toothpaste also probably contains a surfactant, which is a foaming agent. The foaming agent helps distribute the toothpaste more evenly around your mouth. Some people don’t like the foaminess of certain toothpastes. If this describes you, try different toothpastes to see if you can find one that doesn’t produce quite as much foam. Other ingredients that are commonly found in toothpastes include antibacterial agents that help to reduce bacterial colonization in the mouth. These anti-bacterial agents will provide a temporary reduction in the bacteria population, and will contribute to better breath and a cleaner mouth. Keep in mind, however, that there are more than 600 different kinds of bacteria in your mouth, and no anti-bacterial agent is universal. In other words, the anti-bacterial ingredients in toothpaste won’t be effective against all kinds of bacteria that grow in your mouth! More recently, toothpaste manufacturers have begun to include tartar control agents and whiteners in toothpastes. Whitening toothpastes often contain peroxide, which will kill some types of bacteria, but it has only a mild whitening effect in the concentrations used in toothpaste. Whiteners usually contain extra abrasives that are designed to penetrate stains on the surface of tooth enamel. These are generally not more effective than regular dental cleaning, and will not change the natural color of tooth enamel the way a bleaching agent can. Last but not least, you’ll find flavoring and coloring agents that are designed to make the toothpaste palatable to the tongue and pleasing to the eye.   Read more »

What is Depression? Anyone who has suffered from a bout of depression knows that the word entails more than just “getting the blues.” Suffering from serious depression can be like floating aimlessly in a vacuous, dark abyss with absolutely no grounding in reality. Even normally active, creative and reasonable people can become depressed, and for a number of reasons, including imbalanced brain chemicals, trauma or major life episodes. Studies show that more than 15% of the American population experiences some episode of major depression in their lifetimes. Depression is more than just a few bad days in a row; it’s a long stretch of time wherein the person may feel severely sad, hopeless, meaningless, numb or worthless. How can pets help? You’ve had a bad day, bad week or bad month, and all you want to do is lie in bed with the blinds closed, sinking into a weightless space. This, however, is much harder to do if an eager puppy is licking your hand in the morning and begging you to throw a ball for him, or if you’ve got the soft purring of a kitten softly waking you to the world. Caring for a pet reaps all sort of mental and physical benefits, like lifting mood, increasing social activity and encouraging exercise, all things that go a long way to decreasing feelings of depression. Pet ownership may not be ideal for some extremely severe cases of depression, in which a person is unable to care for him or herself, but having a little creature around can be greatly beneficial for those with mild or moderate depression. Love & Self-Worth People who are depressed often feel sad, down and listless. A pet’s loving devotion easily quells these feelings. Your dog isn’t going to judge you for your eating habits or anxiety, and will always be excited to see you. Even when you leave the house for fifteen minutes, your loyal pooch will be wagging his tail and greeting you with loving eyes when you return. How could this kind of companion not make someone feel special, important and loved? Simply having a pet that relies on you for its survival and well-being can greatly increase a sense of self-worth and purpose. Having a pet also helps shift focus away from the depression toward the care of the animal. A famous saying defines happiness as having “something to do, someone to love and something to look forward to.” Having a pet takes care of all three, providing activity, unconditional love and a reason to get out of bed tomorrow. Companionship & Social Interaction Isolation and loneliness are two common factors and symptoms of depression. Not feeling good often makes you want to stay indoors, away from the harsh glare of other people, and this tends to be a self-perpetuating cycle. However, keeping a pet automatically means you will rarely be alone, and pets provide great reprieve from getting too lost in your own head. There’s a reason why dogs are man’s best friend. Wherever you are, your pet, especially your dog, will want to be, too. Just simply being constantly around another living creature, be it cat, guinea pig or parrot, can provide immense comfort and feelings of well-being. Furthermore, studies show that people who have pets tend to interact more with their neighbors; pets can be a safe, easy way to foster conversation around unfamiliar people. Exercise & Activity It’s a widely held scientific belief that exercise is the best natural mood lifter possible. Exercising releases endorphins, which are hormones that make you feel good, help regulate bodily activity and reduce stress and pain. Woody Allen one said, “Eighty percent of life is showing up.” Just getting outside, moving around, buying pet food or otherwise letting your pet lead you into an active lifestyle goes a long way to reducing depression. Just as your pet needs exercise, her owner does, too. Having a pet can prompt a person being dragged down into immobility to stay active, a key ingredient of warding off depression. Commitment & Happiness One of the most important things about having a pet is your prolonged commitment to taking care of it. You don’t just get a cat to let it starve to death, and usually people who have pets intend to keep them their whole lives. For people who have a tendency to become depressed, it’s easy to lose sight of the regular rhythm of life, though there may be bright spots amid the dark clouds. Having a pet helps keep mood levels steady, and provides a reason for continuing with daily activities, even when the blues hit hard. On those days when it seems like a better idea to shun the world, it won’t seem that way to your pet, who still depends on your for food, water, love and exercise. Likewise, when your buddy gets sick, it’s up to you to have your veterinary technician cure his ills and restore him to his full, loving capacity. Committing to a pet is committing to keeping yourself and your companion moving forward through the hard times. Of course, having a pet won’t solve all of life’s problems or prevent the curveballs, but the feelings of love, worth, well-being and happiness that arise from constant interaction with an animal can sure make the dreadful times a little easier to bear. In general, people with pets tend to be happier and healthier. Pet Therapy And if you don’t have any pets, or you’re not sure you can take on the full responsibility of pet ownership, you probably know someone who will need a pet sitter from time to time. Most pet owners love sharing their pets, and would be happy to let you come over to play with the puppy or take the dog for a walk. If not, there are different types of pet therapy opportunities offered by organizations like the American Humane Association and Delta Society. The simple act of petting a furry coat or playing with a small animal can often provide the much-needed connection, love and inspiration for those with depression. Getting a regular dose of innocent animal attention can truly work wonders in lifting mood. Nancy Woo is a freelance writer covering various topics from art and music to health, media and technology. Read more »