Question: Why are children’s teeth so pearly white?
Answer: When children’s teeth erupt they are pearly white because they are brand new. A baby’s skin is flawless when they are born, too, but as they age they develop wrinkles. Teeth are the same, as they age, they wear and stain.
Question: What causes our teeth to age?
Answer: One factor is that your tooth enamel thins as you age. As your enamel thins, the dentin of your tooth begins to show through making your teeth appear yellowed and discolored. Your teeth also become stained over the years by certain foods and beverages. They can also become chipped and worn down from use.
Question: How do you know what will stain your teeth?
Answer: A good rule of thumb is that if it will stain your clothes, it will stain your teeth.
Question: What are the most likely foods and beverages that will stain our teeth?
Answer: The usual culprits include tomato sauce, colored sodas, chocolate, tea, hot sauce, coffee, cranberry juice, popsicles and slushies, balsamic vinegar, soy sauce, blueberries, beets, and curry.
Question: I cannot give up my morning coffee, so is there a way I can keep my teeth white in between professional whitenings?
Answer: Yes.Baking soda with lemon juice works to remove stains and whiten teeth. It’s easy and it’s cheap. Just mix a paste of baking soda and lemon juice, brush it on your teeth, wait a minute (don’t leave the mixture on for more than a minute. It can damage your tooth enamel), then brush it off. The baking soda helps remove stains while the lemon juice helps whiten your teeth. This method can be abrasive so it is only recommended a few times a week.
Question: I don’t like lemons. Can I use something besides lemon juice?
Answer: Yes. If you find lemon juice too harsh or unpalatable, replace it with salt.
Dr. Jeffrey Allen provides comfortable dental care to patients of all ages. Call (641) 628-1121 today to schedule a checkup and cleaning, cosmetic consultation, or second-opinion visit. We are located on the west side of the historic town square in Pella, IA. Please see the map for directions.
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