Ian
My teeth are all discoloured. Are the teeth whitening products on the market effective? RB by e-mail
Reply
There seems to be a lot of products on the market that claim to give you a set of pearly whites. Everywhere you look there are advertisements sporting someone with a huge mouthful of blindingly white teeth. And all of them have smiles so huge and laser-white that you almost have to wear sunglasses to look at them. The passion for having the whitest teeth possible is a popular obsession for millions of people the world over. People wanting to make their smile as bright as a white sheet have many options available to them for doing just that. This obsession can even turn people into what some dentists call “whitening junkies” or “bleach-orexics”—those who just can’t seem to reach the ultimate nirvana of shimmering whiteness that they’re hoping to achieve.
Most of the over the counter products contain bleaching and oxidising agents to whiten the teeth. The side effects of too much bleaching can include gum irritation and damage, and can leave teeth extremely sensitive and blotchy. Whitening products work only on the natural tooth; crowns and cavities cannot be whitened, which can leave your mouth looking like a graveyard of different coloured teeth.
Dentists usually advise patients to have a checkup before beginning any teeth-whitening procedure using over-the-counter products. Such at-home treatments can contain ingredients that are too acidic, and they can slowly erode the enamel of the teeth, although the risk for permanent damage is said to be relatively small. If the treatment begins to do damage, the person will usually just stop, but some harm may have already occurred, particularly to gums.
If you are really insistent on trying to achieve the dazzling white smile of a Hollywood star, you should remember that most celebrities have veneers over their teeth, and veneers do not require whitening (average cost in Ireland is €780 per tooth!). And of course celebrities have access to a smile-enhancing advantage that most average consumers don’t have access to—a digital airbrush!
The natural way to whiten teeth
If you like the idea of whitening your teeth and would like to do things naturally then there are other ways. Try cleaning your teeth with baking soda for a start; this will get rid of some of the staining.
To keep teeth bright and prevent yellowing, you need to remove the staining bacteria. This is exactly what happens when you chew certain foods that produce a high salivary flow. So, take a bite out of celery, carrots, cauliflower, and cucumbers. Another benefit of eating these is that the fibre in some of these foods physically works to clean teeth and remove bacteria.Watch out for dark foods and beverages. Anything that can stain a white T-shirt can stain your teeth too. That means most varieties of berries, as well as soy sauce, red wine, many fruit juices, coffee, tea, and cola drinks. You don’t have to avoid them altogether, but immediately after indulging, rinse out your mouth with water, chew gum, or brush your teeth. Keep in mind that citrus fruits contain acid that can cause enamel to deteriorate over time.
Household.
My teeth are all discoloured. Are the teeth whitening products on the market effective? RB by e-mail
Reply
There seems to be a lot of products on the market that claim to give you a set of pearly whites. Everywhere you look there are advertisements sporting someone with a huge mouthful of blindingly white teeth. And all of them have smiles so huge and laser-white that you almost have to wear sunglasses to look at them. The passion for having the whitest teeth possible is a popular obsession for millions of people the world over. People wanting to make their smile as bright as a white sheet have many options available to them for doing just that. This obsession can even turn people into what some dentists call “whitening junkies” or “bleach-orexics”—those who just can’t seem to reach the ultimate nirvana of shimmering whiteness that they’re hoping to achieve.
Most of the over the counter products contain bleaching and oxidising agents to whiten the teeth. The side effects of too much bleaching can include gum irritation and damage, and can leave teeth extremely sensitive and blotchy. Whitening products work only on the natural tooth; crowns and cavities cannot be whitened, which can leave your mouth looking like a graveyard of different coloured teeth.
Dentists usually advise patients to have a checkup before beginning any teeth-whitening procedure using over-the-counter products. Such at-home treatments can contain ingredients that are too acidic, and they can slowly erode the enamel of the teeth, although the risk for permanent damage is said to be relatively small. If the treatment begins to do damage, the person will usually just stop, but some harm may have already occurred, particularly to gums.
If you are really insistent on trying to achieve the dazzling white smile of a Hollywood star, you should remember that most celebrities have veneers over their teeth, and veneers do not require whitening (average cost in Ireland is €780 per tooth!). And of course celebrities have access to a smile-enhancing advantage that most average consumers don’t have access to—a digital airbrush!
The natural way to whiten teeth
If you like the idea of whitening your teeth and would like to do things naturally then there are other ways. Try cleaning your teeth with baking soda for a start; this will get rid of some of the staining.
To keep teeth bright and prevent yellowing, you need to remove the staining bacteria. This is exactly what happens when you chew certain foods that produce a high salivary flow. So, take a bite out of celery, carrots, cauliflower, and cucumbers. Another benefit of eating these is that the fibre in some of these foods physically works to clean teeth and remove bacteria.Watch out for dark foods and beverages. Anything that can stain a white T-shirt can stain your teeth too. That means most varieties of berries, as well as soy sauce, red wine, many fruit juices, coffee, tea, and cola drinks. You don’t have to avoid them altogether, but immediately after indulging, rinse out your mouth with water, chew gum, or brush your teeth. Keep in mind that citrus fruits contain acid that can cause enamel to deteriorate over time.
Household.
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