Why Do Teeth Turn Yellow?

Celebrities and fashion models might always seem to have perfect pearly white teeth (photoshop helps!). For the rest of us, it isn’t always that easy. There are many causes for yellow teeth, but they fall into two broad categories: extrinsic and intrinsic discoloration.

Extrinsic stains are the ones that we find on enamel, the hard protective surface on the visible areas of the teeth. These stain are mostly due to diet, such as heavy consumption of coffees, colas, sweets, and red wine.

Additionally, smoking and chewing tobacco are well-known culprits behind extrinsic stains, as is poor dental hygiene, which allows dental plaque to accumulate on the teeth.

Intrinsic stains occur within the tooth, when various factors alter the light-transmitting properties of the enamel and the underlying dentin.

Numerous medications can cause intrinsic stains. If children take the antibiotics tetracycline and doxycycline while their teeth are still developing (before the age of 8), their teeth may turn brownish-yellow.

Aside from extrinsic and intrinsic stains, two other factors can contribute to yellow teeth: genetics and aging.

Similar to your complexion or the color of your eyes, you may simply be born with teeth that appear more yellow (or more white) than other people’s teeth. Part of this has to do with the thickness of your enamel, which is semi-translucent. That is, if you have thin enamel, the true color of your naturally yellowish dentin will shine through.

Similarly, your enamel thins as you age, making your teeth appear more yellow.

Are your teeth worth it?

I was watching my dog clean his teeth and thought wouldn’t it be nice if as we ate our food, our teeth cleaned themselves? Instead of a wonderful slice of San Francisco sourdough bread, I could grab a man chew out of my bag and go for the clean teeth look and get rid of my dog breath. Or, if I was a cat I could go to the vet and, for a mere several hundred dollars, have my molars scaled and get rid of that fish breath that my owner hates. But would he measure my gums, check for cavities, give me a fluoride rinse, do an oral cancer screening and give me a toothbrush?

Next time you have your teeth cleaned at our office, know that you will have the best of the best taking care of your teeth and gums!

How To Pick The Right Dentist?

Not many people “enjoy” going to the dentist, but sometimes the experience can go from merely uncomfortable to potentially disastrous.  Given the news lately, we though it would be helpful to give our readers a few tips to make sure that they are picking the right dental office to care of their oral health.

1. Referrals

The best way to make sure that you have a good experience at the dentist’s office is to choose a dentist who’s been recommended by others you trust. Ask family, friends, neighbors or coworkers for their recommendations. If they like the experience at their dental office, chances are, so will you!

2. Professional Associations

Professional associations such as the American Dental Association (ADA), Academy of General Dentistry (AGD), and the American Academy of Periodontology maintain lists of their members which can be a helpful resource when you are looking for a reputable dentist or dental specialist.

3. Dental Insurance Benefits

Your dental insurance provider will maintain a list of participating providers in your local area. Just remember, these list aren’t maintained according to the quality of the services provided. It is still important to include other factors in your final decision.

4. Meet for a consultation

Many dental professionals offer complimentary consultations. For example new patients at our practice can meet with Dr. Berdy, discuss their case, and review potential treatment options, free of charge. So if you’re still not sure whether or not a potential office is the place for you, ask to meet with the doctor and then make your decision.

Mouthwash: Yea or Nay?

Many of our patients inquire about the best mouthwash or other oral rinses to use in order to compliment their brushing and flossing. This post will explain a few things you should know.

Brushing is meant to do just that, compliment flossing and brushing. In no way should it be considered a replacement for a consistent and thorough brushing and flossing regime. That is the only method for keeping you mouth clean and healthy.

That said, rinsing out your mouth is a good method of removing loose food and debris and is a useful practice after meals. In that respect, it does not really matter what you use to rinse. Water does the job just as well as mouthwash.

If you are going to use mouthwash, there are two main types to consider. We divide oral rinses into two main categories:cosmetic and therapeutic. Most “whitening” and “fresh breath” rinses fall in this category. These contain hydrogen peroxide which may or may not help white teeth (the jury’s still out).

As for fresh breath, no rinse “treats” bad breath. The best these rinses can actually claim is to “mask” bad breath. If someone is having a consistent problem with bad breath, the causes can range from periodontal disease to oral cancer. The only way to be sure is to schedule an examination with a specialist, like a periodontist, to diagnose and treat the condition.

Therapeutic rinses on the other hand are designed to address a particular problem such dry mouth or plaque removal. The active ingredients in these rinses can be fluoride, which aids cavity prevention, or xylitol, which is known to fight tooth decay.

The important thing to remember though is that mouthwash cannot replace brushing, flossing, and regular visits to the dentist for professional cleanings. In other words, mouthwash? It doesn’t hurt, but to do the job right, just remember to brush and floss like mom taught you!

Just Don’t! Do-It-Yourself Orthodontia

A new craze is sweeping through YouTube and dentist agree, it’s absolutely crazy. According to some over-ambitious YouTubers, the new “it” treatment in orthodontics is D.I.Y. teeth straightening or gap closing using plastic aligners and elastic bands.

Thousands of unsuspecting viewers are logging on to the Internet and taking the advice of amateur orthodontists who advice that they can straighten teeth for a fraction of the cost of traditional orthodontia. The problem? When something sounds too-good-to-be-true, it usually is.

Rubber bands and other types of homemade braces can cause root damage, gum recession, and weaken the underlying bone that supports our teeth.

Dr. Berdy and other dental professionals warn that these types of treatments can cause periodontal problems and, in extreme cases, even lead to tooth loss. Orthodontists (hopefully working with an expert periodontist!) are able to take X-rays, make models of your teeth and jawline, and can anticipate the effects of orthodontic appliances.

So from Dr. Berdy’s mouth, hopefully, to your ears, when it comes to dental work, it’s usually best to trust your dentist, not the Internet.

Let’s talk about toothbrushes.

What should you use? It comes down to two basic types, powered (electric) or manual.

Toothbrushes come with big handles and little handles, many bristles or few bristles. Studies have shown that powered brushes work better but only if they are used correctly! One of the best electric toothbrushes I have found and I recommend to my patients is the Philips Sonicare FlexCare or FlexCare Plus. It’s a bit expensive, but many patients have remarked that their teeth feel nearly as clean as they do after a cleaning! They can often be found at local drugstores, Walmart, or Amazon.com.

A manual brush that is well applied works wonderfully. Don’t forget, the bristles of the brush should be soft, so as not to harm the gums or tooth. Brushes used to be real stiff and made from boars hair, but studies show that although they were efficient at cleaning, they were harmful to the gum tissue and caused excessive tooth wear. Ideally, you should get your teeth healthy and clean after every meal. They should be as clean as if you have just had a professional cleaning. Brushing, along with flossing, rubber tipping, and water picking, is a crucial part of your home regimen to keep a healthy mouth and prevent periodontal disease. If you ever have questions, don’t hesitate to ask myself or any part of our team- we will be happy to show you proper technique. Happy brushing!

Love Your Gums (and your periodontist)!

Our practice is joining forces with the American Academy of Periodontology to keep the love alive with a public relations campaign to spread the message of gum health to our patients and referring doctors. We want to help the public understand the value of loving your gums for life!

A periodontist is a great partner in maintaining your overall oral health. We can help you identify potential periodontal health problems and putting the right solutions in place.

Watch the video  for more info!