General Health Information

Everyone wants white teeth. As a Dental Hygienist, people are looking at my teeth all day long. They make a judgement about how well I will take care of their teeth by how well I take care of my own. White teeth are a status symbol of someone who takes care of themselves. What does your teeth say about you?

No matter how well a person brushes, we can’t always keep our teeth completely white and stain-free. This is partially due to genetics, some lack of dental hygiene (ie brushing, flossing, etc) and what we eat and drink. We all eat lots of processed foods containing colorings and dyes, and drink coffee, tea and sodas. Most everything we eat or drink tend to leave stains on our teeth. Over time, these stains become worked into the enamel, so even consistent brushing won’t do the trick. This is precisely where teeth whitening can help.

Teeth whitening can be done in several ways. First, there are teeth whitening strips, which you place on your teeth in order to cleanse or abrade away layers of plaque and tartar. Plaque and tartar build up on on your teeth making them harder and harder to clean. The whitening process can assist in dissolving accumulations on the surface of your teeth.

Sometimes it takes more than an ordinary teeth whitening process to cleanse your teeth – sometimes it take rather strong chemicals, in this case a form of bleach. The bleaching process creates a chemical reaction with the plaque and tartar, and loosens the buildup on your teeth. You must be careful with bleach, because if it is overused, bleach will begin to eat away at your tooth enamel. Tooth enamel is the substance that coats your teeth and keeps plaque and bacteria from making their way inside. Always use any bleaching product according to the directions the manufacturer has supplied, and let your dentist know what products you are using.

Preventing stains and tartar buildup is the best way to keep your teeth pearly white. Make sure not to drink to much coffee, tea, or sweet drink. It’s all right to have these on occasion, but many people overdo consumption of these items. This causes harmful plaque and tartar buildup on the surface of your teeth. Excess plaque and tartar will result in tooth decay and gum disease if left untreated. Use a straw whenever you can. Using a straw will help the liquid move past your teeth without coating them.

Not only are white teeth a sign of good looks, they’re much healthier than stained or yellowed teeth. Removing tartar, plaque and the associated stains will give you a healthier mouth. Tooth whitening is a good alternative when stains crop up despite consistent oral hygiene. Caring for you teeth is always cheaper than repairing your teeth. Please visit my site AskTheDentalHygienist or talk to your dentist for more information about preventing the most common dental problems.

Melissa is a Registered Dental Hygienist that has been practicing for more than 12 years in the same dental office. You can find more information about your dental health by visiting her site www.AskTheDentalHygienist.com.

Mouth gum disease is usually caused by an excess accumulation of a thin film of material on your exposed tooth surfaces called dental plaque. Your mouth is full of bacteria thus this bacteria ferment the sugar and starchy-food debris found in plaque and produce acids and other toxins that is harmful for our mouth. In a healthy mouth there is a natural balance of bacteria but too many of which will produce harmful toxins resulting in the gum disease.