![Quantcast](http://pixel.quantserve.com/pixel/p-GS-HF4BKvzCmv.gif)
![Black-woman-grinning-with-her-eyes-closed-showing-brilliant-white-smile](https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy81MTAzMzI1Ni9vcmlnaW4uanBnIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTcyNzYzNDM5Mn0.YSDmC3E9MTY6fFrymmLa3pXedkjy2NBLLE4JlqMOKZY/img.jpg?width=1200&height=600&quality=90&coordinates=0%2C106%2C0%2C248)
All-Natural Ways To Restore Enamel, Heal Cavities And More
My mother says that the reason why she didn’t send us to the dentist as consistently as she should have was because she had her own fear of seeing them. Hmph. I think that her stuff ended up getting projected onto me because if there is one thing that I loathe, it’s making a dental appointment. Still, it really is an unnecessary evil, especially as you age, because the reality is that, over time, enamel gets thinner, teeth become weaker, and all kinds of oral-issue-hell can break loose if you’re not proactive about your oral health needs.
Okay, but what do you do if you know that you’ve been a bit more negligent when it comes to your teeth than you care to admit? Are there proven, all-natural things that you can do to restore your enamel, heal your cavities, and even remineralize your teeth?
Listen, you need to see your dentist on an annual basis; there’s no way around that. At the same time, the dental industry is still a business, so it’s important you know that there are things that you can do to make seeing your dentist less painful when it comes to your mouth and your wallet.
Read on for 10 ways that you can get your teeth back into the condition that you’d like with a bit of know-how, patience, and consistency.
1. Eat Calcium-Enriched Foods
Getty Images
Something that you probably learned in elementary school is that if you want your teeth to remain healthy and strong, you need to get some calcium into your diet. However, what you may not be aware of is the fact that calcium is a nutrient that your body does not naturally produce, which is why you have to be proactive and intentional about getting it into your diet.
Otherwise, not only could the enamel of your teeth weaken, but you could also end up experiencing muscle aches and cramps, fatigue, brittle nails, extreme PMS, and depression symptoms. That’s why it’s a good idea to consume foods that are rich in calcium, like lentils, dark leafy greens, canned salmon (salmon croquettes, anyone?), yogurt, cheese, and chia seeds.
2. Consume Some Bone Broth Too
Getty Images
Another food that I’ve been getting into more and more often over the past several years is bone broth. It’s pretty much what it sounds like broth made from meat bones that have simmered for many hours.
Some of the benefits that come from bone broth include its ability to promote gut health, boost immunity, reduce joint stiffness, and even promote a good night’s rest. Since bone broth also helps your system to produce more collagen and collagen not only fights signs of aging but also helps to prevent tooth decay — if you’ve never tried bone broth before, now is just as good a time as any, right?
By the way, if you happen to be vegan, there are alternative recipes like mushroom bone broth that you can try. One of them is here.
3. Drink Mineral-Rich Water
Getty Images
If you’re looking for the kind of water that can help lower your blood pressure, prevent heart disease, and relieve constipation, mineral water can make that happen for you. Between the natural carbonation that it oftentimes provides (because mineral water typically comes from springs) and the minerals like calcium and fluoride that are in it, I’m pretty sure you get how it can help with your overall oral health and well-being.
In fact, there are studies to support that women who drink mineral water on a fairly consistent basis end up with higher bone mass density than those who don’t. Just something to think about next time you’re at the grocery store, and you’re considering picking up some sort of bottled water. Mineral water is beneficial on a few levels.
4. Also, Drink Juice Through a Straw
Getty Images
Acids and teeth enamel are not exactly the best of friends — and that’s putting it mildly. The reality is that a lot of people end up experiencing tooth decay because they underestimate what the acidic levels of soda, coffee, and even juice can do to their teeth over time. Now, no one is saying that you should only drink water for the rest of your life. However, if you do want to get a leg up on keeping your enamel nice and strong, try to drink acidic stuff through a straw as much as possible. It’s a small move that can make a big difference over time.
5. Take a Vitamin D Supplement
Getty Images
Vitamin D is essential to your overall health and well-being for a few different reasons and on a few different levels. It supports your immune system. It helps to regulate your moods. Studies reveal that those who struggle with weight loss tend to have less vitamin D in their system than they should. During cold and flu season, it can reduce your chances of coming down with either one. And as you probably already know, vitamin D helps to keep your bones healthy — as well as your teeth.
To take it a step further, the dentin that helps to support your teeth’s enamel can sometimes repair itself if you’ve got enough vitamin D in your body. So, since we, as Black women, tend to have a lower amount of vitamin D in our system than other demographics, aside from being intentional about eating vitamin D-rich foods like mushrooms, eggs, and fatty fish, it can never hurt to take a vitamin D supplement on the side too.
6. Brush with “Artificial Enamel”
Getty Images
As far as toothpaste goes, the kind that seems to be gaining quite a bit of traction these days has the technical name of “biomimetic hydroxyapatite.” Its nickname? Artificial enamel. From what I’ve briefly read and researched, artificial enamel is slowly yet surely becoming a favorite over fluoride because it is able to “mimic” enamel which helps with strengthening weak teeth. If you’re interested in giving this type of toothpaste a shot, a brand that appears to be pretty well-liked on Amazon is Bioniq. You can look more into it here.
7. Or DIY a Remineralizing Toothpaste
Getty Images
Your teeth have minerals like calcium and phosphate in them. However, as you eat and drink throughout the day and if you don’t take care of your teeth daily, that can cause your teeth to lose minerals — and that can ultimately lead to weakened enamel and tooth decay. That’s the bad news. The good news is you can actually remineralize your teeth. No, it doesn’t happen overnight, yet it can indeed happen with the help of eating less sugar, chewing more gum (saliva carries some of the minerals that your teeth need), drinking more water (to remove acid from your teeth), brushing and flossing consistently — and using a homemade remineralizing toothpaste. Two recipes that are relatively simple to follow are found here and here.
8. Do Some Oil Pulling
Getty Images
If you’re familiar with the term “oil pulling,” yet you’ve always wondered where it came from, it’s most popular in Ayurvedic medicine. Basically, what you do is put some oil in your mouth and swish it around in order to “pull out toxins” from your teeth. Although coconut is probably the most popular oil that’s used, sesame, peppermint, and extra virgin olive oil are good options, too.
Simply put a teaspoon of the oil of your choice into your mouth and swish it around for 10-20 minutes. Then rinse. Even though you’ve been using an oil, you’ll be amazed by how squeaky clean your teeth feel once you are done with the oil pulling process.
9. Apply a Mixture of Pure Aloe Vera Gel and Tea Tree Oil
Getty Images
Gingivitis is basically a common and mild form of gum disease. When plaque and tartar build-up get onto the teeth and gumline, it can lead to swollen and bleeding gums, bad breath, and gums that are darker than usual. That said, even though tea tree oil isn’t pleasing to the taste buds by any stretch, research reveals that if you use tea tree oil as a main ingredient for a DIY mouthwash (don’t swallow it), it is pretty darn effective at getting rid of gingivitis.
As far as aloe vera gel goes, it might be surprising to know that studies indicate that it contains properties that actually help to prevent the bacteria that lead to tooth decay from growing. That’s why it would make all the sense in the world that if you add a drop of tea tree oil to a teaspoon of 100 percent aloe vera gel and then apply it to your gum line, it could help to heal your gums and prevent gingivitis from increasing in your mouth.
10. Snack on Some Licorice Root
Getty Images
It might not be something that you hear about every day, but listen here: if you’ve got digestive issues, get yourself some licorice root. Trying to get over a bacterial or viral infection, get yourself some licorice root. Menopause driving you up the wall, yep — licorice root to the rescue. Also, look into it if you’re trying to prevent or heal an ulcer or if you want to get some of your weight down.
As far as your oral health goes, licorice root is a wonder because its potent antioxidant, antimicrobial, and anti-inflammatory properties can help to reduce acid reflux (which can also play a role in damaging tooth enamel) as well as keep cavities from forming in the first place. So, take it in supplement form, sip on some licorice root tea, and suck on some licorice root sticks. It’s just one more all-natural way to get your teeth back into superior shape and condition. Enjoy!
Let’s make things inbox official! Sign up for the xoNecole newsletter for daily love, wellness, career, and exclusive content delivered straight to your inbox.
Featured image by Peathegee Inc/Getty Images
- The Perfect Smile: 4 Influencers Give The 411 On Having Veneers ›
- Teeth Do Age. This Is What You Can Do About It. ›
- 10 All-Natural Ways To Strengthen Your Teeth & Whiten Your Smile ›
- Does Oil Pulling Really Work? Here's What Science Says. - xoNecole ›
Different puzzle pieces are creating bigger pictures these days. 2024 will mark a milestone on a few different levels, including the release of my third book next June (yay!).
I am also a Professional Certified Coach. My main mission for attaining that particular goal is to use my formal credentials to help people navigate through the sometimes tumultuous waters, both on and offline, when it comes to information about marriage, sex and relationships that is oftentimes misinformation (because "coach" is a word that gets thrown around a lot, oftentimes quite poorly).
I am also still super devoted to helping to bring life into this world as a doula, marriage life coaching will always be my first love (next to writing, of course), a platform that advocates for good Black men is currently in the works and my keystrokes continue to be devoted to HEALTHY over HAPPY in the areas of holistic intimacy, spiritual evolution, purpose manifestation and self-love...because maturity teaches that it's impossible to be happy all of the time when it comes to reaching goals yet healthy is a choice that can be made on a daily basis (amen?).
If you have any PERSONAL QUESTIONS (please do not contact me with any story pitches; that is an *editorial* need), feel free to reach out at missnosipho@gmail.com. A sistah will certainly do what she can. ;)
This article is sponsored by Hulu.
UnPrisonedhas returned for its highly anticipated second season, delving deeper into the complex dynamics of the Alexander family.
The series premiere comes a year after its debut season garnered rave reviews from fans and critics and earned record-breaking ratings for Hulu's Onyx Collective brand. UnPrisoned's success can be attributed to its raw, relatable themes and comedic appeal.
Inspired by creator Tracy McMillan's life, the show follows Paige (Kerry Washington), a therapist and single mother whose life takes an unexpected turn when her father, Edwin (Delroy Lindo) --who was released from prison-- moves in with her and her teenage son, Finn (Faly Rakotohavana).
Throughout UnPrisoned's first season, viewers witnessed how Edwin's incarceration deeply affected Paige's life and relationships. In the series, Paige unpacks her trauma through interactions with her inner child and her online followers. Meanwhile, Edwin is overcoming specific struggles with his own past that led to his life of crime, including a dysfunctional upbringing and his mother's arrest. As the Alexanders attempt to reconcile, new challenges arise.
This new season promises to further explore their unconventional family dynamic. Here are several compelling reasons why season two of UnPrisoned should be on everyone's watchlist.
The Alexander Family Life Is Still In Shambles
UnPrisoned's second season resumes where the series left off, with Paige grappling with the fallout from her troubled therapy practice and Edwin navigating life independently after moving out. Meanwhile, Finn faces his own challenges. The teenager is battling anxiety and seeking information about his father—a topic Paige avoids discussing.
The Alexander Family Are Attending Therapy To Resolve Their Underlying Issues
Amid the chaos in their lives, the Alexander family decides to mend their bond by confronting their past traumas. They seek professional help and attend therapy sessions with a “family radical healing coach,” played by John Stamos, a new cast member. This collective effort aims to unravel the complexities of their shared history and strengthen their relationships.
The process of unraveling each character's internal conflicts and their potential impact on future relationships may clash with Paige's textbook therapy approach. While Paige is used to being in the therapist's seat in both career and family, this forces her into the unfamiliar role of a patient during therapy sessions. This shift would compel her to look in the mirror and try a radically different approach.
The Alexander Family Learned A Big Lesson During A Therapy Session
In therapy, the Alexanders are tasked with addressing their individual traumas to salvage their remaining relationships. One of the family therapist’s eccentric suggestions was an exercise involving a family wrestling match. During this session, Paige faces tough questions about her refusal to share information about Finn's father.
While it's unclear whether this scene is reality or fantasy, the image of the family duking it out in the ring certainly makes for hilarious yet compelling television.
Paige Tries Dating Again Following Failed Relationships
Amid her life's chaos, Paige decides to step back into the dating field. However, her many attempts have left her with mixed results. The dating apps have turned out to be a fail, and an outing with her ex Mal (Marque Richardson), who is also her father's parole officer, doesn’t go quite as expected after he brings an unexpected guest – his new girlfriend.
The situation takes an awkward turn when Mal's new partner learns why the former couple split, partly due to Paige's self-sabotage.
UnPrisoned Is A Perfect Balance Of Comedy And Drama
As a dramedy, UnPrisoned takes a comedic approach to its heavy subjects. The show takes us on a ride with Paige's dating misadventures and navigating a friendship with her ex.
Other lighthearted moments include Edwin's attempts at CPR based on online videos and, of course, the antics of the Alexander family's unconventional new healing coach.
The second season of UnPrisoned is now available on Hulu.
UnPrisoned | Season 2 Trailer | Hulu
Feature image courtesy
Summer Travel Guide: 9 Safest Vacation Spots For Black Women
When it comes to planning and choosing our international travels, there’s one question that is bound to come up: “Is it safe for Black women?”
At times, our travel plans can be halted by whether or not our desired destination is safe not only for solo travel but for overall protection as women of color. We want to have fun, go on excursions, taste the food, and let our hair down, so the last thing we need on our minds is navigating microaggressions and worrying about our safety.
According to a report by The Mandala Research Firm, 17% of Black Americans take one or more international trips and travel locally more than six times per year. Even more exciting, 42% of Black Americans said they would spend more in 2020 on travel than in 2019 (pre-Covid), and 50% of Black adults (16% more than the general population) are more likely to travel to locations associated with their ethnic or cultural heritage. All of this goes to show that we’re not afraid to pack our bags and book flights to our heart's desire.
Our passion for travel and exploration highlights a growing desire to connect with a wide range of cultures while discovering new fresh locales. By choosing destinations with positive reputations for safety and belonging, you can enjoy your next adventure with peace of mind. And to help, we’ve provided a list of the best vacation spots to add to our travel bucket list.
1.Havana, Cuba
Known for its vibrant culture and welcoming locals, Havana offers a unique travel experience for you and your girlfriends. Stroll through the historic streets of Old Havana and immerse yourself in the lively music and dance scenes that make this city unforgettable.
2.Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Famous for its Carnival, stunning beaches, and warm hospitality, Rio de Janeiro is a lively and safe city to explore all year long. Don't miss a visit to the iconic Christ the Redeemer statue and the bustling Copacabana Beach for a true taste of Rio's energetic spirit.
3.Belize
With its beautiful beaches, diverse wildlife, and laid-back Caribbean vibe, Belize is a safe and adventurous destination for travelers. Discover the underwater wonders of the Belize Barrier Reef and explore ancient Lamanai Maya Ruins.
4.Paris, France
Who doesn’t have Paris, the city of lights, on their travel list? Renowned for its art, fashion, and iconic landmarks like the Eiffel Tower, Paris offers a blend of romance and safety for travelers. Wander through the charming neighborhoods of Montmartre and Le Marais, explore the Louvre, and indulge in the city's exquisite culinary delights.
5.Lisbon, Portugal
Portugal's capital city, Lisbon, charms visitors with its historic architecture, delicious cuisine, and welcoming atmosphere. Enjoy breathtaking views from São Jorge Castle and savor traditional pastries at the famous Pastéis de Belém bakery.
6.Bali, Indonesia
We’ve all seen the viral photos off the Bali coast and Gates of Heaven, so why not make it a reality? Famous for its lush landscapes, vibrant culture, and serene temples, Bali offers a safe and enriching travel experience in Southeast Asia.
7.Tokyo, Japan
Recently, the value of the Japanese Yen has seen a significant drop, making it the lowest it has been against the dollar since 1986, which also means that there’s no better time than now to make your travel plans to the renowned cultural hub.
8.Accra, Ghana
There’s no FOMO like the kind felt from seeing all the beautiful faces enjoying their holiday at Ghana’s Afrochella Festival, so let this be your sign to start planning the trip now. Often referred to as a welcoming home for the African diaspora, Ghana offers rich cultural experiences and a sense of belonging. Explore the vibrant markets of Accra and visit the historic Cape Coast Castle to connect with the nation's poignant past.
9.Seoul, South Korea
You may be surprised to find this city on the list, but for Black travelers, Seoul is said to be one of the safest and most exciting cities to travel to. There will be plenty to eat, buy, and experience from this city’s rich history and culture.
Let’s make things inbox official! Sign up for the xoNecole newsletter for love, wellness, career, and exclusive content delivered straight to your inbox.
Featured image by Klaus Vedfelt/Getty Images