While sparkling white teeth have always been the standard for dental hygiene with multiple brands using this image to sell their products, sparkling white isn’t the healthiest color for teeth. Sparkling white teeth are considered a standard of beauty and good oral hygiene. However, natural healthy teeth are not exactly white. At least, not white like paper or piano keys. They are a couple of shades darker than that. The enamel itself is a bluish white color, but it is also somewhat translucent, so the yellow of the dentine beneath it shows through to make the overall color of the teeth either light gray or light yellow.
The problem is that you and I are affected by everyday marketing strategies, which is why we tend to strive for those perfect pearly whites. And while it’s a good idea to practice good oral hygiene, brushing your teeth two or three times a day, using mouthwash, and flossing, whitening your teeth through various bleaching products is not always a great idea.
Why Bleaching Products Are No Good
Breaching Products can have multiple side effects, the most common being tooth sensitivity. Tooth sensitivity, or “dentin hypersensitivity,” is pain or discomfort in the teeth as a response to certain stimuli, such as hot or cold temperatures. If you’ve ever taken a long awaited bite of an ice cream on a hot summer day only to feel a sharp pain spreading across your teeth, you might know what I am referring to. Usually, this is caused by tooth sensitivity. Due to the harmful agents present in whitening products, the top layer of enamel can be stripped, causing painful tooth sensitivity
However, that’s not to say that you cannot whiten your teeth in a less harmful and more natural manner. Here’s how:
Drink Plenty Of Water
Water cleans your mouth and washes away stains with every sip. It washes away leftover food and residue that cavity-causing bacteria feed on. It’s important to stay hydrated, so that saliva is produced in the mouth. Saliva is the mouth’s first defense against tooth decay.
Eats Foods That Whiten Your Teeth
Some of these include strawberries, apples, broccoli, nuts, seeds, hard cheese, pineapples, and oranges. Many of these break away the harmful particles that create stains on your teeth, strengthen your gums, and provide an extra scrubbing of your teeth. For a special whitening effect, try this DIY recipe: crush one strawberry, add ½ a teaspoon of baking soda, mix well, dip your toothbrush into the mixture, and coat your teeth with it. Leave on for about 5 minutes before brushing your teeth with your regular toothpaste.
I hope that this helps you gain the confidence you need from a bright and beautiful smile without having to resort to artificial and harsh bleaching products. If you have any other questions, I will happily answer them during your next visit. Call today to schedule an appointment: 718-621-0827. Onatsky Dental Clinic is located at 2960 Ocean Ave 1st Floor, Brooklyn, NY 11235.
