In the world of misconceptions, “teeth being naturally white” has to be ranked in the top 3. We hear from patients often that they brush their teeth every day, but still don’t have perfect pearly white teeth. There are a few reasons for this.
Your Teeth Aren’t Actually Naturally White
Let’s assume you have the perfect diet and dental regimen. You never eat foods that have a discoloring agent, and you brush and floss your teeth on the daily. Will brushing your teeth whiten them? Not really, and here’s why your teeth would still have a slightly off-white appearance….
Because our teeth are made up of dentin and enamel. Without getting too nerdy on you, your dentin is covered by enamel. Enamel is fairly transparent, causing the dentin to be visible when they smile. The unfortunate truth in this, is that some people’s dentin is naturally darker than others. So even if you take all precautions to give your teeth the most natural and healthy diet/care in the world, you’ll never be able to change the actual color of your dentin without the help of dental whitening products.
Dental Stains Really Suck
Ok now let’s assume that you’re a normal human and not a robot. You eat and drink delicious foods that stain your teeth. Coffee, soda (or pop, depending on where you live), most berries, marinara sauce and of course our favorite…wine…all stain our teeth when consumed. Can brushing your teeth whiten them after consuming these delicious foods? Unfortunately not. This is why we offer products like Opalescence’s teeth whitening kits for our patients to take home. Your teeth need help getting that perfect Hollywood pearly white smile. Fortunately, it’s cost effective and easy to do at home!
Brushing Your Teeth Isn’t Meant to Whiten Them
Brushing and flossing was never about giving you that Hollywood smile. It’s about protecting your overall health, and especially the health of your teeth. Brushing and flossing multiple times a day helps fight plaque build-up and prevents cavities from forming. The bristles of your toothbrush won’t whiten your teeth, and even toothpaste that claims to help with whitening only has a limited effect on the surface of your teeth.
Talk To Dr. Tanya About Your Teeth
At the end of the day, there aren’t many “one size fits all” solutions to whitening your teeth. If you’re looking for a brighter smiler, talk to Dr. Tawnya on your next visit and ask what she recommends for you. Give us a call at (402) 488-2383 or fill out our form here to schedule your next visit.
Cherry Hill Dentistry, located in Lincoln, NE, provides exceptional general dental and specialty services for our community.
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