Vicious Collections Issue 7

Page 28

5 THINGS PEOPLE NEED TO KNOW ABOUT TEETH WHITENING. What causes teeth to look yellow? Food & Drink Coffee, tea and red wine are some major staining culprits. What do they have in common? Intense color pigments called chromogens that attach to the white, outer part of your tooth (enamel) Tobacco Use Two chemicals found in tobacco create stubborn stains (tar and nicotine). Tar is naturally dark. Nicotine is colorless untill it’s mixed with oxygen. Then, it turns into a yellowish, surface-staining substance. Age Below the hard, white outer shell of your teeth(enamel) is a softner area called dentin . Over time, the outer enamel layer gets thinner with brushing and more of the yellowish denti shows through. Trauma If you’ve been hit in the mouth, your tooth may change color because it reacts to an injury by laying down more dentin, which is a darker layer under the enamel. Medications Tooth darkening can be a side effect of certain antihistamines, antipsychotics and high blood pressure medications. Young children who are exposed to antibiotics like tetracycline and doxycycline when their teeth are forming (either in the womb or as a baby) may have discoloration of their adult teeth later in life. Chemotherapy and head and neck radiation can also darken teeth.

you should notice difference in the appearance of your teeth overtime. Instructions Mix 1 teaspoon of baking soda with 2 teaspoons of water and brush your teeth with the paste. You can do this a few times per week. Eating Fruits and Vegetables A diet high in fruits and vegetables may be good for both your body and your teeth. While they’re no substitute for brushing them, crunchy, raw fruits and vegetables can help rub plaque away as you chew.

BELOW ARE SIMPLE WAYS YOU CAN NATURALLY USE TO WHITEN YOUR TEETH OIL PULLING Oil pulling is a traditional Indian folk remedy meant to improve oral hygiene and remove toxins from the body. The practice involves swishing oil around in your mouth to remove bacteria which can turn to plaque and cause teeth to look yellow. Instructions Put 1 tablespoon of coconut oil in your mouth and push and pull through your teeth for 15 to 20minutes. Practicing this daily can reduce plaque and may brighten your teeth. Brush with Baking Soda Baking soda has natural whitening properties, which is why it’s a popular ingredient in commercial toothpaste. It’s a mild abrasive that can help scrub away surface stains on teeth. Additionally, baking soda creates an alkaline environment in your mouth, which prevents bacteria from growing. This is not a remedy that will whiten your teeth overnight, but

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