Having pearly white teeth make a person more eye-catching. When we lose our baby teeth, our permanent ones start off as being pearly white. Somewhere down the line, however, they become yellowish and stained thereby losing their attractive initial color and changing into a grayish-yellow. People who desire to retain the bright smile produced by pearly white teeth resort to teeth whitening either through products sold in the market or by having it lightened professionally by a dentist.
What Causes Teeth to Lose Their Pearly White Color?
Teeth naturally change color as they age. It does not mean that someone with yellowish teeth is negligent when caring for his or her teeth, nor does it mean that the person has a dental health problem. Light grayish-yellow teeth are normal. Visually, the color of a person's skin can also make teeth appear darker. Those who have fair complexion seem to have a less brighter smile than those who are darker-skinned due to the color contrast.
One of the main reasons why teeth darken is food stains. Certain food or drinks like coffee, red wine, black currant, and tea leaves stain on the surface of the teeth; over time and through accumulation, the teeth darken. The use of tobacco products, whether smoked or ingested, also leaves stains on the teeth.
Certain dental problems can also cause darkening of the teeth. Tartar is a good example of this. The stain could also be beneath the tooth's surface as a result of very small cracks. Certain antibiotics can also cause the teeth to change into a darker shade due to the interaction between the tooth and the antibiotics' chemical components.
What Are the Ways to Either Make or Keep Teeth White?
The speed at which teeth darken naturally can be slowed down by doing a few simple things. First is brushing daily. The mild abrasive action through the use of a toothbrush and toothpaste acts to remove stains accumulated prior to brushing. If this is done daily at regular intervals, it will help the teeth retain their sparkle, though a little darkening will inevitably occur in the long run.
Having a dentist clean one's teeth regularly will also help greatly. A good advice that they often give to those seeking to keep their teeth white is drinking beverages known to stain teeth through a straw. Also, avoiding the use of nicotine products reduces the chances of staining teeth too much. Most people are satisfied with this combination.
Those seeking to lighten their teeth more aggressively can choose from a wide variety of bleaching solutions, surface whiteners, and dental procedures like laser whitening. Bleaching and surface whiteners take several weeks before teeth become noticeably whiter. Procedures like laser whitening, on the other hand, take as little as an hour. However, it is very important to talk to a dentist first before attempting to whiten teeth artificially. There are significant dangers of which most people are unaware, and these can lead to a lot of grief later on.
What Are the Dangers?
The gums are particularly vulnerable in the previously mentioned procedures, especially with the prolonged use of whitening chemicals. Some of the signs of this problem are oral ulcers and sores. One's teeth can also become painfully sensitive to heat and cold, which makes eating uncomfortable.
Whatever enters the mouth finds its way to the stomach. It is because of this that people can experience an upset stomach, nausea, and other similar unfavorable stomach maladies. Rinsing the teeth after using a tooth whitening product can help circumvent this problem. Some chemicals present in whitening agents are not advisable for use by pregnant women.
Conclusion
Tooth whitening is considered a cosmetic procedure in many countries. It has no bearing on dental health, except in an aesthetic sense, and may even cause some health problems if care is not exercised or if the advice of a dentist is not sought. Proper dental hygiene can aid in keeping teeth attractively white, if not dazzlingly white, for a long time, and is the far safer option.
What Causes Teeth to Lose Their Pearly White Color?
Teeth naturally change color as they age. It does not mean that someone with yellowish teeth is negligent when caring for his or her teeth, nor does it mean that the person has a dental health problem. Light grayish-yellow teeth are normal. Visually, the color of a person's skin can also make teeth appear darker. Those who have fair complexion seem to have a less brighter smile than those who are darker-skinned due to the color contrast.
One of the main reasons why teeth darken is food stains. Certain food or drinks like coffee, red wine, black currant, and tea leaves stain on the surface of the teeth; over time and through accumulation, the teeth darken. The use of tobacco products, whether smoked or ingested, also leaves stains on the teeth.
Certain dental problems can also cause darkening of the teeth. Tartar is a good example of this. The stain could also be beneath the tooth's surface as a result of very small cracks. Certain antibiotics can also cause the teeth to change into a darker shade due to the interaction between the tooth and the antibiotics' chemical components.
What Are the Ways to Either Make or Keep Teeth White?
The speed at which teeth darken naturally can be slowed down by doing a few simple things. First is brushing daily. The mild abrasive action through the use of a toothbrush and toothpaste acts to remove stains accumulated prior to brushing. If this is done daily at regular intervals, it will help the teeth retain their sparkle, though a little darkening will inevitably occur in the long run.
Having a dentist clean one's teeth regularly will also help greatly. A good advice that they often give to those seeking to keep their teeth white is drinking beverages known to stain teeth through a straw. Also, avoiding the use of nicotine products reduces the chances of staining teeth too much. Most people are satisfied with this combination.
Those seeking to lighten their teeth more aggressively can choose from a wide variety of bleaching solutions, surface whiteners, and dental procedures like laser whitening. Bleaching and surface whiteners take several weeks before teeth become noticeably whiter. Procedures like laser whitening, on the other hand, take as little as an hour. However, it is very important to talk to a dentist first before attempting to whiten teeth artificially. There are significant dangers of which most people are unaware, and these can lead to a lot of grief later on.
What Are the Dangers?
The gums are particularly vulnerable in the previously mentioned procedures, especially with the prolonged use of whitening chemicals. Some of the signs of this problem are oral ulcers and sores. One's teeth can also become painfully sensitive to heat and cold, which makes eating uncomfortable.
Whatever enters the mouth finds its way to the stomach. It is because of this that people can experience an upset stomach, nausea, and other similar unfavorable stomach maladies. Rinsing the teeth after using a tooth whitening product can help circumvent this problem. Some chemicals present in whitening agents are not advisable for use by pregnant women.
Conclusion
Tooth whitening is considered a cosmetic procedure in many countries. It has no bearing on dental health, except in an aesthetic sense, and may even cause some health problems if care is not exercised or if the advice of a dentist is not sought. Proper dental hygiene can aid in keeping teeth attractively white, if not dazzlingly white, for a long time, and is the far safer option.
