6 Ways to Avoid Yellow Teeth

Sharing bacteria can spread tooth decay

(NEWSER) - Candy and cookies aren’t the only cavity culprits: tooth decay can actually be contagious, scientists have found. That’s because cavities result from bacteria hanging around in your mouth—and these germs can be passed from person to person, the New York Times reports. It’s a noted problem in young children; they can pick up cavities when, for example, their mothers taste their food to check if it’s cooled. More»

How can honey, black pepper, and egg shells help you?

(NEWSER) - Need to disinfect a wound? Use honey, not hydrogen peroxide. While hydrogen peroxide can prevent healing, honey is a good alternative because it's quite antibacterial. That's just one of the weird health tips rounded Listverse:

• To stop bleeding: Clean your cut, then sprinkle black pepper on it and apply pressure. Nope, it won't sting, but pepper has antiseptic, analgesic, and antibacterial properties.
• To lower your cholesterol: Take Metamucil—one study found it will work to decrease bad cholesterol, at least in men. Bonus: It also helps to lower blood sugar and blood pressure.

Finally, relief for those who dread the dentist

(NEWSER) - If the thought of the dentist’s drill has you squirming in your chair, some good news: Soon, the dreaded instrument may no longer be needed to fill certain cavities. Dentists are experimenting with a new treatment called Icon, which can stop the progress of cavities that are not too advanced. Icon involves cleaning out decayed enamel with mild acid, then filling the open pores with clear resin. More»

If you must, brush afterward

(NEWSER) - Beware, night eaters: indulging in midnight snacks may make your teeth fall out. Researchers analyzed data from 2,436 people and found a strong correlation between a preference for night eating and missing teeth some years down the road, LiveScience reports. In fact, midnight snackers lost 4 times as many teeth. More»

Fewer new grads, more real teeth mean spiking costs could drill consumers

(NEWSER) - The number of dentists graduating from dental school is plummeting just as the first generation of Americans with their full set of real teeth hit their golden years. And those graduates are much more likely now than in the past to be specialists in things like orthodontics and oral surgery. And did June Thomas, writing on Slate, mention that tooth doctors are also working fewer hours? All in all, it’s a recipe for a toothache… More»