Dental Whitening Series: How to stop sensitivity before it starts.

Sensitivity (that sharp twinge we get when the teeth are exposed to hot or cold) can occur with any type of whitening. If you are not yet sensitive prevent it with this trick: two weeks before your whitening appointment, start brushing with toothpaste infused with potassium nitrate.  This agent blocks pain signals from the nerve.

MI Paste and MI Paste Plus are available through our dental office and can be helpful in reducing sensitivity.  MI Paste and MI Paste Plus can help soothe sensitivity while providing nourishing minerals to tooth surfaces.

MI Paste and MI Paste Plus are the only products for professional use containing RECALDENT™ (CPP-ACP), a special milk-derived protein that releases vital minerals into your mouth (calcium and phosphate; also fluoride in MI Paste Plus).

MI Paste and MI Paste Plus relieve sensitivity by protecting dental nerve endings by forming a buffer against plaque. MI Paste and MI Paste Plus can also help redeposit those lost minerals back into the oral environment. MI Paste and MI Paste Plus are excellent for tooth sensitivity due to cold air, hot and cold drinks, sweet and sour food or drinks.

Both sensitivity toothpaste and MI Paste or MI Paste Plus are terrific for stopping sensitivity prior to whitening your teeth. Our office also places a desensitizing agent, which reduces any post whitening sensitivity, as the final step to our Laser Whitening.





reference:

First Magazine
MI Paste.com
Nylaan Dental Team

Nylaan Dental
5011 Plainfield Ave NE
Grand Rapids MI 49525

Dental Whitening Series: Sneaky ways your teeth can become stained

Your toothpaste may be too abrasive.  

Most whitening toothpastes contain hydrated silica, a particle that polishes the tooth's surface. The catch-22?  In high amounts, silica can erode enamel. It can also cause micro etching in the enamel, which gives plaque and stain something to adhere to.  

This is why the American Dental Association created an abrasiveness rating system called Radioactive Dentin Abrasion (RDA). On the RDA scale, under 80 is ow abrasive, with 200 being highly abrasive. RDA ratings are not listed on packaging and there isn't a full list online at this time, so to see if your toothpaste is too abrasive Google its entire name and "RDA". 

Juicing. 

Have you ever used a white plastic bowl to collect juice from a juice, and no matter how hard you scrub it does not come completely clean? Juicing affects teeth the same way. Using a juicer essentially separates the chromogens - or the intensely pigmented molecules that give a food it's color. 

In addition compounds found in berries, beets and green vegetables increase the chromogen's ability to stick to enamel - resulting in major stains. 

Here is a trick to continue juicing without the staining..... Drink your juice through a straw to direct the pigments past your teeth. Then when you finish chew a sugar-free gum, preferably sweetened with xylitol,  to generate saliva and wash away the stains before they adhere. 

Interested in professional dental whitening? Visit our dental office for an evaluation. 

Reference: 
First Magazine
American Dental Association
Nylaan Dental 

Nylaan Dental
5011 Plainfield Ave NE
Grand Rapids MI 49525

Dental Whitening Series: Thinking about dental whitening? This is how you can have whiter teeth at any age.

How to identify minor extrinsic (topical) staining....

1. Slight yellowing near the gum-line and between teeth. 
2. Center of the tooth is still white. 
3. Enamel is strong, or your tooth feels smooth and looks glossy. 

Extrinsic staining, or subtle discoloration of the enamel's surface is caused by a mild buildup of pigments from food, drinks and tobacco. Superficial stains often appear at the gum-line and between teeth first because those areas have more sticky plaque for the particles to adhere to. The good news? You can brighten simply by using whitening toothpaste (see our previous blog post), or having your teeth professionally cleaned. 

Here is another healthy way to reduce tooth discoloration. 

A recent study found that regular consumption of apples lowers the risk of gum disease and helps teeth appear whiter. How it works.... Apples fibrous pulp removes debris from the teeth while its mild acidity increase saliva to rinse away plaque - it is like a delicious, natural toothbrush. 

An apple a day could keep the dentist away, and keep your teeth whiter and healthier.

references:

First Magazine
Nylaan Dental Team

Nylaan Dental
5011 Plainfield Ave NE
Grand Rapids MI 49525

Dental Whitening Series: What's in your Whitening Toothpaste?

Are you wondering how a daily squeeze works to lighten your teeth?

What gives you that bright smile? 

In most tubes you will find a whitening agent like baking soda, silica or hydrogen peroxide. That last one is the same ingredient used to lighten hair, but in a much lower concentration (pastes have a maximum of 6% compared to up to 12% in hair dye.)


What is the downside of whitening toothpaste?  

Those bleaching particles are abrasive and can expose the sensitive layer of tissue underneath enamel called dentin. Help prevent this by choosing a soft bristle brush and brushing gently, at least twice a day, when using a whitening formula.

You cannot expect miracles. 

A whitening paste improves everyday surface stains from things like coffee and red wine and is a great maintenance tool after a pro-whitening session, but in-office treatments give better, faster results.

Their flavorings have benefits. 

Since sugar causes cavities, chemists use other natural and artificial sweeteners in all kinds of toothpaste  - and they do more than add taste. Sorbitol, a synthetic sugar alcohol, also helps to maintain the paste's texture. The natural sugar alcohol xylitol prevents bacterial growth to stop cavities from forming.

TIP: 

Look for one with fluoride. Fluoride prevents decay and restores enamel that can be broken down by coarse whiteners.

reference: 
Dr. Oz - The Good Life Magazine
Nylaan Dental Team  

Nylaan Dental
5011 Plainfield Ave NE
Grand Rapids MI 49525