Oral appeal: Health24: Anti-ageing

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Oral appeal

Your smile may get you noticed, for all the wrong reasons. Get the lowdown on the latest dental enhancement trends.

Denture cream warning

Loading up on denture cream can be hazardous to your health, new research suggests.

Laser technology prevents cavities

Using lasers to spot troubled teeth before cavities form, researchers hope to turn the dentist's drill into a relic of the 20th century.

Tooth loss ups risk of cancer

Researchers have found a strong link between tooth loss and increased risk of oesophageal, head and neck, and lung cancer. They suggest better oral care as a prevention.

Manual toothbrushes

Electric toothbrushes have become very popular in South Africa recently. Those fancy electric toothbrushes are not doing anything you can't do yourself, say experts.

Brackets hardly have to show

Adult orthodontics is fast becoming one of the biggest growth areas in dentistry. We look at why cover all the options.

Get a whiter, brighter smile

Pearly whites gone yellow, green or grey? This can (often) be reversed.

Mouthwashes work but may stain

Over-the-counter mouthwashes really do kill bad breath, although some may stain the tongue and teeth, at least temporarily.

Vampire teeth warning

A fad for vampire teeth, where lovers of spooky Gothic music file their canine teeth into sharp points, may pose problems in the future.

Brushing teeth=bacteria in blood?

Brushing one's teeth is nearly as likely as removing a tooth to temporarily cause bacteria to enter the bloodstream, according to a report in the journal Circulation.

Halitosis cure in your toothbrush

Research shows brushing twice a day with antibacterial toothpaste and using a toothbrush with a built-in tongue scraper can eliminate chronic bad breath.