YELLOW TEETH :- REASONS

      YELLOWNESS OF TEETH

  I  have yellow teeth, my teeth are not as white as others, i don't feel happy with the color of my teeth.

These are the most common issue of the generation. Every one expects their teeth to be as white as the white itself. But only few are happy with the color of their teeth and make efforts to keep them healthy. The reason behind your yellow teeth can be you, yourself. Find out how.

NATURAL COLOR -

               The natural color of our teeth is due to the dentin present under the outer enamel layer of our teeth. The enamel is bluish-white in color and somewhat translucent, while the dentin is yellow in color. So the mixture of these two gives the natural color of our teeth. The overall outcome will be either greyish white or light yellow. So no one is born with pearly white teeth. Also the color of teeth varies from person to person.

STAINS - What are stains?

Stains are the cause for the dark color of the teeth. Stains can be of two types:-
One is extrinsic, present on the outer surface of teeth and can be removed by brushing or professional cleaning.
Other is intrinsic, which are due to some defect in the inner layer of teeth and cannot be removed by brushing or professional cleaning.

REASONS OF YELLOW TEETH

There are several reasons for dullness of teeth shine and yellowish tone. Too much use of artificial juices, candies or food which contain food coloring can mark stains over teeth. It is very common among kids. Among adults, consumption of coffee, tea, wine, or flavored alcohol is prevalent. All these drinks contain concentrated color pigments called chromogens. These pigments affect the teeth color from both inside as well as outside.

Underneath the hard, white outer shell of your teeth, called as enamel, lies a softer and less white  area called dentin. Enamel layer gets thinner and thinner by the time due to brushing, inappropriate oral care or wrong choice of food. Dentin the yellowish layer shows through. So it can be said that aging may cause enamel damage which can result in yellow color of teeth.

Tooth darkening or yellowing can be an unexpected result of certain antihistamines, antipsychotics, and high blood pressure medications. Another reason is young children are given to antibiotics like tetracycline and doxycycline when their teeth are forming which can cause discoloration of their adult teeth later in life. Chemotherapy or head and neck radiation therapy can also darken teeth. Medicine with abundant amount of active iron can also play a part in damaging teeth color.

Tobacco, weed,  betelnut, supari, tanbool, gutka are some products which can severely damage oral health including discoloration of teeth. Other causes are :-

1. Unhealthy oral hygiene

If you are not brushing your teeth regularly, it is not surprising that you have yellow teeth. Stains have enjoyed their stay in the surface of your teeth so much that they have no intention of leaving – unless you will have your teeth cleaned.

2. Age
As you get older, the external layer of your tooth enamel get wiped out that result to exposed dentin, which has natural yellow color.

3. Genetic Factor
People often misunderstood that you have yellowish teeth because of stain or because of poor oral hygiene when the truth is that it is all due to your genes. Your teeth are not stained or cared for poorly; their colors are real. 

4. Foods

Some foods cause your teeth to darken. Red wine, coffee and sauces like balsamic vinegar are among the culprits. The same goes with dishes that are colored artificially. Food dyes can stay on your teeth. Even blueberries, considered as super foods, can lead to teeth discoloration. But can you completely avoid these foods? No, you can avoid staining your teeth more just by knowing them. After consuming these foods, you should make sure that you rinse your mouth in case you are not at home. But if you are, you can directly go to the washroom and brush your teeth.

5. Smoking

Smoking is bad for your health; it is also bad for your teeth. Cigarettes and other tobacco products contain nicotine that causes teeth to become yellowish or brown. Most of the time, they discolor teeth faster than coffee.

6. Disease
Certain diseases affect tooth enamel and dentin negatively that they result in the discoloration of your teeth. Additionally, some medical procedures may cause your teeth to turn yellow.

7. Trauma
When you were young, you may have suffered from fall that led to the distraction of the formation of the enamel. Because your teeth are still evolving at that time, this incidence affected the color of your teeth as they develop.

After knowing the causes, just watch out the reason of your yellow teeth and take definite steps to improve your oral health.

        
                       HAVE A HEALTHY SMILE

THANK YOU

       
         REGARDS - Dr. MITALI PATEL

MANUAL OR ELECTRONIC TOOTH BRUSH?

     Manual or Electronic tooth brush- which one is better?

   As we know there are 2 types of brushes one is manual, which we use with our hands to clean the teeth. Other is electronic tooth brush which works on battery and runs automatically to clean the teeth.

Occasionally, patients inquire as to which type of tooth brush is best? Manual tooth brush still can do a great job, choosing a right manual brush and brushing with appropriate technique still works best.
Some may claim that an electric tooth brush does a better job of cleaning your teeth than a standard tooth brush.
As long as you are able to reduce plaque build up and keep your gums healthy you can choose either of them. Lets compare both these brushes under these points :

BRISTLES - If you buy a manual brush or an electric tooth brush, you should always choose a soft bristled brush. In electric tooth brush there is a replacement head, which you have to change as you change your manual tooth brush. So comparing the cost of changing the brush every 3-4 months,electronic tooth brush will be heavy on your pockets.

FUNCTION - Manual tooth brush has been functioning well till date, as long as you use it properly. Manual tooth brush works according to us so it can have error and lack in performance.
Electronic tooth brush has a unique shape, which resembles a dental tool, oscillating, rotating and pulsating to clean the teeth. It has no manual errors. This brush is useful to everyone but especially for those who are physically disabled, old age people, arthritis patients and patients with lack of co-ordination of brain and hands, such people who cannot use their hands properly to brush by themselves, so electronic tooth brush can do the work.

COST - A normal toothbrush is much more affordable than electric one. Electronic tooth brush cost many more times than manual toothbrush. In addition to initial expense, you need to replace the removable head of the electronic tooth brush as often as you replace your normal brush [in 3-4 months] but if an electronic tooth brush helps you keep your teeth clean more effectively, then you make up the expenses of your dental bills.

LIKABILITY - When it comes to your personal choice, the best tooth brush for you is going to be the one you are most likely to use and use well. Some people may not like the vibrating sensation of electronic brush, while others may find it easy to use. Also some electric brush have a built in timer to keep a check on your brushing time, is added advantage.

EFFECTIVENESS - Among all the studies conducted, to find whether a manual tooth brush or an electronic tooth brush are more effective in removing plaque, found that, overall there was not a significant difference between both these brushes in their ability of cleaning teeth and preventing gum disease. But certain type of electronic tooth brush with rotation oscillation is more effective than manual tooth brush, plus it also has certain advantages which a manual brush do not have.

Electronic tooth brush would be more opt for children who are careless in brushing and find brushing their teeth a boring task, also for child with difficulty in brushing. As many children do not find brushing teeth interesting and tend to avoid it, an electronic brush will engage them in interest and the child will clean teeth with excitement.

Keeping these points in mind you can choose the brush of your choice. May be manual or electronic, but important is to keep brushing, for healthy teeth and gums any how.

                HAVE A HEALTHY SMILE.

THANK-YOU
REGARDS: Dr. MITALI PATEL

TOOTH BRUSH :- THE BEST ONE FOR YOU

      TOOTH BRUSH : The best you can choose

 Which tooth brush is the best?

Since we have grown, one thing we are kept reminding of is, brushing our teeth. 

As we have learnt how to brush, in my previous blog EASY AND EFFECTIVE TOOTH BRUSHING TECHNIQUE.Now the question arise which is the best tooth brush, to choose from the market.

Years years ago when tooth brush was invented, consumer didn't have many options. But now the story is totally different, whenever you go to buy a brush you get hooked up in the whole world of different brushes and you are left confused of which one to buy.

Dental experts suggest to change your tooth brush in every 3-4 months as it loses it' s functionality. Basically there are two types tooth brushes, Manual and Electronic tooth brush. 

TIPS FOR CHOOSING A TOOTH BRUSH:

Either manual or electronic tooth brush, there are certain characteristics that you should look for in whatever toothbrush you choose. Here are 4 considerations to help guide your decision in choosing right tooth brush:

1) SIZE- The best toothbrush head for you should allow you easy access to all the areas of your mouth. For most adults, toothbrush head of half inch wide and one inch tall will be the easiest to use and is effective. The large headed toothbrush will be difficult to clean the certain hard to reach areas, such as side and back of the last teeth. The handle of the tooth brush should be long and have better grip to hold it comfortably in your hand.

2) BRISTLES- ADA suggests only a soft bristle toothbrush is the best choice. It must be surprising for most of you to hear that. The only thing a medium or hard bristled brush is good for is, cleaning your toilet. Dentist never recommend patients to use medium or hard bristled brush on their teeth. Some patients who have thinner gums and sensitive teeth should use an ultra soft bristled toothbrush.

3) FLEXIBLE ANGLE - A flexible angle on the neck of a tooth brush helps prevent over brushing by bending if you're pushing down too hard. You may also prefer the flexible angle of a toothbrush to help you clean hard to reach areas of your mouth.

4) BRISTLE DESIGN - A toothbrush should always have multi-tufted bristles. A brush should have atleast 3-4 rows with 5-12 tufts in each row. Having bristles that point in different directions can help clean teeth more effectively.

BRUSH FOR CHILDREN

     

When it comes to choose the best brush for your child, it's important to opt for one that he/she will use properly and regularly.
   Kids teeth are smaller, so an age appropriate brush is always recommended. There are variety of options in manual and electronic toothbrushes for kids. To choose a good brush, try following suggestions :
- Make sure that the tooth brush has an IDA seal of approval.
- Pick a child sized toothbrush with soft bristles.
- In small kids who cannot brush properly you can go for an electronic toothbrush.
         
          HAVE A HEALTHY SMILE! 😃

THANK-YOU
REGARDS: Dr. MITALI PATEL