According to the Journal of the American Dental Association routine consumption of green tea can help promote healthy teeth and gums.Green tea contains an antioxidant called catechin, which reduces inflammation and is probably what reduces the symptoms of gum disease.In turn the reduction in periodontal or gum disease may be what helps ward off further disease in addition to any antioxidant effect.
We do recommend using whitening toothpaste to reduce tooth stains, if you are a tea drinker.This will not whiten your teeth directly, but will decrease and remove stain, which will result in a whiter tooth appearance.
Surprising News about What Can Cause Tooth Staining
If your teeth are not looking as pearly white as you would like lately, it may be worthwhile to look at what you eat and drink for possible causes.
According to researchers at New York University College of Dentistry, in a paper published this June, not only red wine, but white wine can cause staining of tooth enamel.The main reason is the same, both types of wine contain acid, which can weaken the tooth and allow staining.What actually happens is that grooves and rough areas are formed in the tooth enamel and chemicals causing
staining can penetrate deeper into the tooth.You may be interested to know that this is similar to what happens in the technique used when bonding fillings to teeth.
While we won’t recommend that you never drink wine, we will recommend
that you follow your favorite variety with a glass of water to both refresh your enamel and help reduce staining as well.It is also advised that you brush with a whitening toothpaste, such as our favorite, Colgate Total Whitening.This advice holds true when consuming other staining food or drinks such as citrus fruits, tea and coffee.
A Piercing Issue
Tongue piercing as well as the piercing of various external areas of the body has become more popular in recent years.According to the British Dental Journal the tongue of a 28 year old woman swelled and totally encased a barbell shaped piercing.Oral surgery was required to remove the pendant.
Complications from intraoral (in the mouth) piercings can include bleeding, scarring, infection, tooth and nerve damage.In addition since an open wound can remain present there is a high risk of infection and transmission of HIV, hepatitis herpes, and many other viral and microbiological diseases.
Please consider these risks if you are considering placing any piercing inside your mouth.
