White Teeth Don't Mean a Healthy Mouth
White teeth are hawt. But hawt doesn't mean healthy.
When most people think about their teeth, they think about beauty, not health.
Are my teeth white enough?
Do they have that Hollywood shine?
Can I finally smile on zoom calls again?
Mouth beauty is important, of course, but it should come second next to your mouth's health.
We spoke with Sheila Caraway, an RDH student who is passionate about this issue:
"Most whitening products contain some sort of bleaching agent in it. Other holistic products can contain natural yet abrasive ingredients. Whitening has been an easy way out to boost self-confidence and appearance. But what lies beneath the surface is far more important to your overall systemic health."
So how can you whiten responsibly?
Here are a few tips from Sheila:
* Switch up your diet for a bit. Remove all bright colored liquids, so the pigments can't stain your teeth.
* Stay in routine with your oral cleanings. Healthy gums can prevent a lot of infectious diseases! Your RDH is happy to introduce whitening after seeing little or no bleeding during an examination.
* Soft bristle toothbrushes! Oh, how delicate the teeth are. You can’t scrub your teeth hard to retrieve a white smile! The layers of your teeth will brush away to be permanently discolored. You want to preserve as much enamel as possible.
Awesome. So you can have a healthy mouth and white teeth, but should only prioritize it in that order.
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