As you enjoy your summer, you may succumb to sunburn at some point. You know you should wear sunscreen, but sometimes a day at the beach turns your mind off with relaxation and maybe you forget to reapply after a long splash in the salty ocean. Or perhaps you think you’ll have the timing just right and stop at a nice brown tan before a burn happens. That evening, when you look as red as a Maine lobster, and your skin feels as raw and tender as you can ever remember, you just want relief. Many people turn to aloe vera for this purpose, as it soothes, moisturizes, and possibly even expedites the healing of sunburns. Your Farmington Hills dentist, Dr. Aziza Askari, will tell you about how this sunburn remedy derived from a plant can actually help your teeth in two different ways.

Aloe Vera for Killing Bacteria

A study was publishing in the journal General Dentistry a few years ago. The research collected showed that brushing teeth with aloe vera proved could kill bacteria responsible for causing certain dental health conditions. In fact, aloe vera was even more effective than two of the most popular brands of toothpaste. It seems that the chemical compound called anthraquinones can have a dual benefit of pain relief and reduction of inflammation. One thing to note is that the study used stabilized gel found from deep within the plant, and not highly processed aloe vera. Commercial aloe vera products that you would use to soothe skin may not have a clinical benefit to teeth. However, in the future it is hoped that aloe vera will be available in a variety of dental products that may reduce gingivitis instances in many people.

Aloe Vera for Teeth Whitening

Meanwhile, aloe vera is thought to have some natural teeth whitening capabilities. There are many do-it-yourself whitening tricks that some people swear by. The skins of oranges, bananas, strawberries, baking soda – many of these can be found right in your kitchen and might offer slight temporary brightening for dull teeth. However, if you want real results, aloe vera and all of these other possibilities will not compare to the multiple shades of long-lasting whitening your Farmington Hills dentist can assist you with.