Does Having White Teeth Mean They are Healthy?

For most people, the goal when brushing their teeth is to have a white smile. A big white smile is certainly a thing of beauty, but does having white teeth mean that your teeth are healthy?  Given the current cultural obsession in the US with white teeth, most people will at the very least change to whitening toothpaste and brush harder if their teeth are not meeting their expectations of whiteness. This can cause major oral problems in the future.

An article on Dentistrytoday.com, explains that the goal of white teeth can honestly be a recipe for oral disaster. Toothpaste commercials have convinced viewers to believe that they are using the wrong toothpaste and that there is a problem with their current smile if it is not sparkling and bright. Whitening toothpaste, for example, can be extremely dangerous for your enamel. These whitening toothpastes have an extreme amount of relative dentin abrasivity (RDA). The recommended amount of RDA in toothpaste is under 250 but in most whitening tubes it exceeds the limit. The amount of toothpaste used per brush is also a leading factor in enamel loss.  Toothpaste should not be slathered, it should be used in moderation in fact if you read the instructions you will see that you should be using an amount that is the size of a pea.  This is certainly much much less than the huge amount with the little curl on the end that is seen in advertisements. Most people are unaware of both what toothpaste to use and the amount that should be used.

The thought that more is better is a common belief for most people. Unfortunately, when brushing your teeth more is not better, in fact more causes enamel damage.  The combination of too much toothpaste, whitening agents and aggressive brushing can actually lead to exposed   dentin.   Dentin is one of the tissues on the inside of your teeth.  Exposed dentin causes pain and sensitivity as well yellow near the gums and discoloration. Most people will not realize the damage they have done until their teeth hurt near the gum line or their dentist sees it during their check-up.

(Picture from dentistrytoday.com)

This article is very interesting because most people, including myself, want to have white teeth and the first thing we think of is to get whitening toothpaste and brush harder. I would have never realized that I was hurting my teeth.  In fact, I was under the impression that I was  making them healthier. After reading this article I will now buy a toothpaste with the recommended amount of RDA and will put the correct amount on my toothbrush. This will also save me money at the dentist because I am taking care of my teeth at home. Hopefully after reading this you will understand that the end result of healthy, white teeth can be accomplished without heavy whiteners and aggressive brushing. Be gentle with your teeth they are the only ones you have!

I hope to you see all next week!

Kohler, Craig, “The Quest for Whiter Teeth Can Lead to Unintended Dental Disasters” Dentistry Today, 06 Oct 2016, http://www.dentistrytoday.com/news/todays-dental-news/item/1279-the-quest-for-whiter-teeth-can-lead-to-unintended-dental-disasters, accessed 16 Oct 2016