Most people don’t realize that teeth usually aren’t naturally white. They’re often an off-white or yellowish colour due to the underlying dentin layer. However, this doesn’t mean a bright white smile is unachievable; with your dentist’s help, you can try professional teeth whitening to achieve a smile you love.

Are Teeth Supposed to Naturally Be White?

Your teeth are made up of several layers. There’s the inner root and pulp, the dentin, and then the enamel that protects the more sensitive inner layers.

This outer layer of enamel is often thought to be naturally white, but this isn’t quite the case. The enamel has a slightly translucent quality that often reveals the dentin inside, which is typically a yellow or off-white hue instead of white. This is why your teeth often appear discoloured, even with proper oral hygiene.

If your teeth appear yellow despite regular brushing, it doesn’t necessarily mean they’re unhealthy. It simply means that various factors—many of which are outside your control—are at play.

What Causes Stains on Teeth?

Even if your dentin isn’t causing the discolouration, it could still be due to an unexpected source. The colour of your teeth can be changed by:

• Extrinsic stains, where the enamel is discoloured.
• Intrinsic stains, which affect the inner layers of the teeth.

But what causes these stains?

Food and Drinks

Food and drinks are one of the most common causes of extrinsic stains. Many foods and beverages include staining compounds that stick to the surface of your teeth. These can be difficult to remove with inadequate care. Some common culprits of staining include:

• Coffee, tea, and red wine, which contain tannins known to cause staining
• Berries and tomatoes, which contain strong pigments known to discolour enamel.
• Sugary drinks, which can erode enamel and make your teeth more susceptible to staining.

If these foods and drinks are a staple in your diet, it helps to try to reduce how much you consume. You can also try rinsing your mouth after eating, or brush your teeth to reduce any buildup.

Smoking

Smoking—or using tobacco of any kind—introduces harmful chemicals to your body. The host of side effects caused by smoking are well-known.

As the nicotine and tar in cigarettes seep into the enamel of your teeth, they cause a visible buildup that can be difficult to remove without professional help. This also increases the risk of decay and damage to the teeth, which can cause further discolouration.

Poor Oral Hygiene

Whenever you brush your teeth, you’re removing plaque and bacteria buildup from their surfaces. However, even if you brush every day, you could still be missing certain areas in the mouth, thereby allowing these bacteria to build up.

This can lead to a yellowish film on the enamel, and can also increase the risk of cavities and disease in your mouth. This is why a proper oral care routine is so important.

To maintain your oral health, make sure that you always:

• Brush your teeth at least 2 times a day for 2 minutes at a time. Use a fluoride-based toothpaste, as this strengthens the teeth. You can also look for a toothpaste that offers whitening properties to boost your natural smile.
• Floss once a day to dislodge any stuck food particles.
• Use antibacterial mouthwash to kill residual bacteria in the mouth.
• Rinse your mouth with water after eating and drinking.

However, if you perform all of these steps every day, but still aren’t satisfied with your smile, it might be time to think about professional teeth whitening.

How to Whiten Your Teeth

You may have heard of take-home teeth whitening kits designed to give you a bright, shining smile. However, while these kits can be effective for removing light surface stains, they can’t remove any intrinsic stains from your teeth. This is why professional whitening services exist.

When you visit our team for professional teeth whitening, we’ll begin with a quick consultation to discuss your aesthetic goals. We’ll examine your teeth to determine the right approach going forward, and we’ll begin your appointment.

The steps are simple:

• First, we’ll perform a thorough cleaning procedure to remove any plaque and tartar. This increases the effectiveness of the whitening treatment.
• Next, a professional-grade whitening gel is applied to your teeth.
• Finally, a special light is used to activate this gel, which begins breaking down staining particles on the teeth without causing damage to the enamel.

After your appointment, we’ll offer tips and tricks for maintaining your new, brighter smile. We also recommend regular follow-up appointments to monitor your results! This way, you can enjoy a quick and long-lasting smile, with results lasting for months—and even years—if you take care of your teeth.

Find a Smile You Love

You deserve a smile you can be proud of, and our team at West 85th Dental is here to help you reach this goal. With our help, you can find a smile you love, and enjoy a new, white smile. Contact us with our team today, and let’s work together to keep your teeth shining bright.

The post Why Are My Teeth Yellow When I Brush Them Everyday? appeared first on West 85th Dental.

Flossing helps keep food and plaque accumulation at bay, leaving you with a healthy beautiful smile! 

Being regular with flossing is key to maintaining its full benefits. In addition to brushing your teeth twice a day, flossing should be done in the evening, once a day. 

The Importance of Flossing

Brushing our teeth plays a key role in our dental hygiene, but it’s not enough to maintain healthy gums and teeth, as the bristles of your toothbrush can’t reach between these crevices. Flossing helps to bridge this gap.

Flossing is more than removing a piece of food debris stuck between your teeth after a meal. When done correctly, flossing plays a crucial role in maintaining overall oral hygiene. 

Dental floss can enter tight spaces, helping to remove plaque and food particles that brushing alone can’t reach. This helps prevent concerns like bad breath, gum disease, and cavities, leaving you with a healthy smile.

When plaque builds up on your teeth, it hardens into tartar, which only a dental professional can remove. By brushing and flossing regularly, you prevent tartar formation and reduce the risk of developing gum diseases which can result in tooth loss if left unmanaged.

The benefits of flossing aren’t limited to oral health. Some studies suggest a link between gum disease and general health concerns, like heart disease, diabetes, and respiratory illnesses. Keeping your teeth and gums healthy through routine flossing can reduce your risk of developing these conditions. 

How Often Should I Floss?

According to the Canadian Dental Association, individuals are encouraged to brush their teeth twice a day and floss once a day before bed. 

This daily habit will confirm that food debris and plaque accumulation throughout the day are removed. 

Consistency is key to flossing.

If you’re new to flossing, you may experience some light bleeding between your teeth and gums. This is nothing to worry about. Light bleeding is normal and occurs because the bacteria, plaque, and food debris that builds up around the gumline can irritate and inflame your gums.

The bleeding should stop after a few weeks of consistent brushing and flossing, but if it persists, it may indicate an underlying dental health concern. In this case, it’s advised to schedule a visit. 

Routine dental cleanings and exams are recommended every 6 months. These visits allow your dental team to assess your oral health. We encourage these visits even for those who aren’t experiencing any dental concerns. Along with taking care of your oral health at home, these regular exams and cleanings are a great method of preventative care. 

How to Floss Properly

Flossing may appear straightforward, but doing it correctly is vital to reap its full benefits. Being rough in your approach to brushing or flossing can further irritate your gums and cause light bleeding. 

Remember to be gentle! Following proper flossing techniques can help avoid irritation and bleeding.

1. Cut A Piece of Floss: Start with a piece of floss about 18 inches long. Use the length of your arm as a guide. Wrap most of the floss around the middle fingers of both hands. This should give you about 1-2 inches of floss to work with
2. Hold the Floss Tight: Hold the floss tightly between your thumbs and index fingers, and gently guide it down between your teeth using a back-and-forth motion. 
3. Curve the Floss: When the floss reaches your gumline, curve it into a C-shape against the base of one tooth. Slide the floss into the space between the gum and the tooth. Then, gently rub the side of the tooth in an up-and-down motion. 
4. Repeat: Repeat this motion on the other side of the tooth using a clean section of floss for each one. Don’t forget the back side of your last tooth.

As you become more consistent, flossing will become relatively quick and shouldn’t take you longer than a few minutes to finish! 

Alternatives to Floss

Some individuals may find using traditional dental floss to be tricky, Arthritis, dexterity issues, braces, crowded teeth, or other dental concerns can make it difficult to use regular dental floss. 

Others may find flossing unpleasant and time-consuming. Fortunately, there are alternative tools that can provide the same benefits. 

• Dental Floss Picks: These are small plastic tools with a piece of floss strung between two prongs. The other end holds a plastic pick to remove buildup and plaque. Individuals who struggle with traditional floss may find these easier to hold and maneuver. 
• Floss Threaders: These are flexible tools that help thread floss through tight spaces, around braces, and under bridges. They make it easier to reach areas that traditional floss might miss. 
• Interdental Brushes: This tool resembles a tiny toothbrush. It’s designed to clean between your teeth. They come in various sizes and are a great option for those with larger spaces between their teeth. 
• Water Flossers: These devices use a stream of water to remove plaque and food particles between your teeth, making them helpful for people with sensitive gums, braces, or dental work that makes traditional flossing challenging. 

When used correctly, these alternatives to traditional dental floss can reduce food debris and plaque buildup, thereby reducing the risk of developing tartar buildup and gum diseases.

Finding a flossing method that’s most compatible with you is key to flossing consistently!

Schedule a Visit

Brushing your teeth twice a day and flossing once a day is a great way to maintain a healthy, beautiful smile at home! While good oral health can be practiced at home, visiting your dental team for routine exams and cleanings still plays an important role.

Removing tough debris, like tartar, can only be removed by a dental professional. Visiting your dentist every 6 months for routine cleanings and exams provides preventative care for your teeth.Connect with our team at West 85th Dental to schedule your routine exam and cleaning.

The post How Many Times A Day Should You Floss Your Teeth? appeared first on West 85th Dental.

Electric toothbrushes have their benefits, but the type of toothbrush you choose matters less than your technique and how diligently you brush. Some people prefer a manual toothbrush, while others appreciate the technology of electric.

If you’re debating the options, talk to your dentist for recommendations and tips to ward off dental issues. 

Electric vs. Manual Toothbrushes

There are some benefits to consider if you’re thinking of making the switch to an electric toothbrush.

Better Cleaning Power

One of the primary reasons why electric toothbrushes are so loved is their superior cleaning power. Oscillating or rotating electric toothbrushes can reduce plaque and diminish your chances of developing gingivitis more effectively than a manual brush. Electric toothbrushes can remove more bacteria from your teeth, leaving your mouth feeling cleaner and fresher.

Ease of Use

For some with medical conditions, electric toothbrushes are easier to use. Electric toothbrushes do the brushing for you, so you only have to move it around your teeth and gums. This can be especially helpful for people with limited mobility, dexterity issues, or other conditions that make it difficult to brush correctly, like:

• Carpal tunnel
• Arthritis
• Developmental disabilities

Improved Gum Health 

Electric toothbrushes also come with different modes and brush heads that cater to various dental needs. For example, some electric toothbrushes have a gum care mode that gently massages the gums to improve blood circulation and promote healthy gum tissue.

This can be particularly helpful for people with gum disease or other gum-related issues who deal with sensitivity.

Long-Term Savings

While electric toothbrushes may be more expensive upfront, they can save you money in the long run. This is because electric toothbrushes generally last longer than regular toothbrushes, and you only need to replace the brush heads every 3 months.

In contrast, some manual toothbrushes can wear out quickly and need to be replaced more often, which can add up to a considerable expense over time.

Environmentally-Friendly Option

Choosing electric toothbrushes can also be an environmentally friendly option. Over a billion plastic toothbrushes are thrown away every year, and most end up in landfills or oceans. Electric toothbrushes can significantly reduce plastic waste since they only require replacing the brush heads instead of the entire toothbrush.

However, toothbrush manufacturers are developing recycling programs for electric toothbrush heads and manual toothbrushes to alleviate their impact on the planet.

Pros of Manual Toothbrushes

Good old-fashioned manual toothbrushes are still a staple despite new technologies and offer several advantages.

Affordable & Accessible

One of the most significant advantages of manual toothbrushes is their affordability and accessibility. Unlike electric toothbrushes, manual toothbrushes typically cost only a few dollars and are readily available at any drugstore or supermarket.

They also don’t require charging or batteries, which means you can use them anywhere, even if you don’t have access to an electrical outlet. Manual toothbrushes are a practical and convenient option for those on a budget or travelling.

Easy to Use & Control

Another benefit of manual toothbrushes is their simplicity. With an electric toothbrush, you may need to adjust to the pressure and vibration or find them uncomfortable or too powerful.

With a manual toothbrush, you simply brush at a comfortable pace and pressure. You have complete control over the brushing technique, making reaching all areas of your mouth easier. Additionally, manual toothbrushes come in a wide variety of sizes, shapes, and bristle textures, so you can select one that best suits your personal needs.

Ideal for Certain Dental Conditions

Manual toothbrushes can still be ideal for individuals with certain dental conditions, such as:

• Sensitive teeth or gums that require gentle brushing
• Braces that can create nooks and crannies in the mouth where plaque and bacteria can hide. Often a specialized brush or set of brushes are available from your orthodontist.

Use Any Toothbrush, Just Remember to Brush

No one option is more effective than the other. Manual and electric toothbrushes can provide the same benefits to oral health if used properly.

While it’s true that electric toothbrushes offer some features that manual brushes can’t, like timers and rotating brush heads, it’s important to remember that they’re not the only option and may not be the best choice for everyone.

Ultimately, the most critical factor in maintaining good oral hygiene is consistently brushing your teeth twice a day for 2 minutes each with whatever tool works well for you.

Talk to your dental team at West 85th Dental about oral health concerns and schedule your next dental cleaning to maintain good oral and dental health.

The post Are Electric Toothbrushes Better Than Regular Toothbrushes? appeared first on West 85th Dental.