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20 years
How can I whiten my teeth naturally? I mean without laser or any other treatment.
Jul 31, 2014

Dr. Rania Mousa General Medicine
To figure out how to whiten our teeth, we have to know why they get yellow in the first place. There are several factors that play a part, including genetics, what kind of food and drink you consume, and how well you practice oral hygiene.

A tooth is made up of 4 tissues-enamel, which is the strong white covering that protects the tooth, dentin, which supports the enamel and is a hard yellow material that carries nerves, pulp, which is at the center of the tooth and contains blood and lymph vessels, and cementum, which covers the root of the tooth.

The enamel and dentin is what play the biggest role in color. Certain food and drinks will directly stain the enamel, yes, but over time the two biggest culprits are the nasty food and drink that actually break down the enamel, and weakening enamel as we age. As the enamel breaks down, it reveals the yellow dentin underneath.

#SOME HABBITS THAT INTERFERE WITH TOOTH CHANGE OF COLOR:

>Foods/drinks. Coffee, tea, colas, wines, and certain fruits and vegetables
>Smoking or chewing tobacco can stain teeth.
> Inadequate brushing and flossing to remove plaque and stain-producing substances like coffee and tobacco can cause tooth discoloration.
>Several diseases that affect enamel (the hard surface of the teeth) and dentin (the underlying material under enamel) can lead to tooth discoloration.
>Treatments for certain conditions can also affect tooth color. For example, head and neck radiation and chemotherapy can cause teeth discoloration.
>certain infections in pregnant mothers can cause tooth discoloration in the infant by affecting enamel development.
> The antibiotics tetracycline and doxycycline are known to discolor teeth when given to children whose teeth are still developing (before age 8).
>Mouth rinses and washes containing chlorhexidine and cetylpyridinium chloride can also stain teeth.
>Antihistamines (like Benadryl), antipsychotic drugs, and drugs for high blood pressure also cause teeth discoloration.
>As you age, the outer layer of enamel on your teeth gets worn away, revealing the natural yellow color of dentin.
>Genetics. Some people have naturally brighter or thicker enamel than others.
>Excessive fluoride either from environmental sources (naturally high fluoride levels in water) or from excessive use (fluoride applications, rinses, toothpaste, and fluoride supplements taken by mouth) can cause teeth discoloration.
>damage from a fall can disturb enamel formation in young children whose teeth are still developing. Trauma can also cause discoloration to adult teeth.

TIPS TO HELP WHITENING OR BLEACHING YOUR TEETH:

>avoid food and drinks that affect the tooth color.
>Eat crunchy foods. They will help remove many of the sugars and chemicals that cause stains and cavities. It's the sticky foods that are your main criminals.
>A few vegetables like cucumbers, broccoli, celery and carrots are also natural simple tooth whiteners. Because they're crunchy, they get the saliva going, aiding in lessening tooth stains.
>eating apple everyday,apples are known to contain malic acid -- which is a chemical actually used in teeth whitening products to dissolve stains
>Rinse with water after eating. Removing any leftover food or residue from your teeth will help prevent stain and decay.
>Rub strawberry onto your teeth or make a paste out of strawberries. It is necessary to brush your teeth immediately with toothpaste after rubbing strawberry on them, though, because they contain acids and sugars that can be harmful to your teeth.
> rub with lemon but also you should brush your teeth with toothpaste immediately after using this method to avoid permanent damage to your teeth.
>consume more milk cheese yogurt,milk and yogurt keep teeth sparkling and cavity-free, too, because they contain the minerals calcium and phosphorus, which promote the remineralziation of tooth enamel
>brushing with mix of baking soda and water for only 1 minute only twice a week can have bleaching effect
>Chew sugar-free gum with xylitol. Xylitol is a natural sweetener that can actually help to prevent plaque
>Practice proper dental hygiene by brushing and flossing daily, and getting dentist teeth cleanings every six months or more frequently, depending on your dentist's recommendation, to help remove surface stains and bacteria. Use an ultrasonic toothbrush, which more effectively removes stain-causing foods from tooth surfaces.
Your dentist can easily remove extrinsic and some intrinsic tooth discoloration caused by foods/drinks and other causes by applying a bleaching peroxide gel to the tooth enamel
>teeth whitening kits, gels or strips
>Over-the-counter whitening products for home Use
>Toothpastes, chewing gums and dental floss remove superficial stains. Rinses and paint-on brushes with low levels of hydrogen peroxide have some whitening effect; strips present similar esthetic results.
>For teeth severely discolored by excessive fluoride, root canal treatment, or consumption of tetracycline or other drugs, your dentist may recommend covering the tooth's outer surface with a color-matched composite bonding material, porcelain veneers or porcelain crowns instead of bleaching
Consultation with and treatment by medical professionals may be required if the underlying cause of tooth discoloration is related to a systemic disease.

LASTLY, remember that sometimes when using some natural ways for whitening your teeth if used incorrectly or for longer time you might harm and weaken your teeth layers .
The dentist is the best to make this phenomena in a safe way .
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Dr. Zakia Dimassi Pediatrics
There is a number of home-based methods to lessen tooth staining, Tooth-whitening products, including kits, strips, and toothpastes, and toothpastes may help.
A tooth-whitening kit contains carbamide peroxide, a bleach that can remove both superficial and deep tooth stains; you may even notice a change in the tooth shade of color. It's effective for coffee-stained teeth. Tooth-whitening strips use the same compound, but are not as effective - only more practical to use.
Whitening toothpastes contain mild abrasives, chemicals, or polishing agents; they are different from bleaches in that they don't change the natural color of teeth.
Natural home remedies include baking soda, certain foods like apples, pears, and carrots stimulate plenty of saliva release, which helps wash away food debris on your teeth, and neutralizes the acid that underlies tooth decay. You may also resort to chewing sugar-free gum that has a tooth-cleansing action and also triggers saliva.
Other things to remember: avoiding smoking, coffee, dark tea, red and white wine, berries, as these are known to cause difficult to remove dental stains.
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