Make my teeth white again?

[chadspad]

My teeth suddenly have gone really yellow - theyre revolting!! I brush at least twice a day so its not from not brushing. I dont smoke. My water is from a source so no chemicals in mains water.

Does anyone know what I can use to get them white again without hvaing to buy the stuff in the shops?

[southeast-isher]

I would read up on the useage of hydrogen peroxide but don't just rush in and do it as it could be harmful if not used correctly. I asked my dentist what was in their hundred odd pound teeth whitening treatment and it is basically hydrogen peroxide which you can pick up a bottle for 90p. Be very careful with things like getting on your gums etc. In fact just be very careful. Read up on it!

[chadspad]

That sounds a bit scary but thanks for the tip. I suffer from gum disease so not sure whether that a bit dodgy. Just wondered if something like vinegar worked or lemon worked as well on teeth as it does on surfaces!

[contadina]

Sprinkle a bit of bicarb on top of your toothpaste once you'd already squeezed it onto your brush, that way it won't be too abrasive. Lemon juice will whiten but it will also erode calcium. If your teeth have suddenly changed and you are not drinking loads of coffee, nor smoking, it might be worth visiting your dentist just to check it has nothing to do with your gums.

[fran]

Strawberries are nature's teeth whitener apparently. Rub them over your teeth and they are supposed to take off all the rubbish. If that doesn't work at least you will be left with a nice taste in your mouth and no nasty complications.

[chadspad]

Actually had a dentist appointment today, drove an hour to get there and he was on holiday! Noone thought to ring me not happy!! Did wonder whether it might be something to do with the gum disease, am going back again next week so will ask.

Bicarb isnt easy to come by here, will look around but strawberries definitely are readily available. Will try those first. Thanks for the replies

[MKG]

You said sudden. I would have thought that any such sudden changes need to be discussed with your doctor and your dentist. Not that I'm suggesting anything nasty - but that's what those people are for. Don't go anywhere near your teeth with anything acidic (vinegar or lemon juice - and I'd include strawberries there, but that's up to you).

If it's not anything dietary (which you would know) or environmental (which you would know), then it's certainly worth finding out about. Hydrogen peroxide (a very efficient bleach) will probably get rid of the yellow - but you should be more interested in what is causing the sudden yellowing in the first place.

Let us know what's happening.

Mike

[contadina]

I agree with MKG strawberries, like lemon juice will whiten but at the expense of calcium.

[Millymollymandy]

I agree with MKG, first stop is the dentist to find out what the underlying problem is.

Second, I am brushing my teeth with toothpaste plus a few drops of hydrogen peroxide which was prescribed by my periodontist, precisely for gum disease because it is an antiseptic! Nothing to do with whitening cos it doesn't do that, unfortunately.

[southeast-isher]

Molly, it should whiten your teeth depending on the strength used - i guess you are using a weak dilution if prescribed by a dentist. But i agree, get to a dentist!

[Millymollymandy]

Just checked, we are using 3%.

[sortanormalish]

Does your paste have a good source of flouride or is it in your drinking water? Inexpensive pastes are sometimes made with a source of flouride that is more difficult to absorb, meaning that some people can't absorb it.

I ask because tooth discoloration is a common symptom of either a flouride defiency or excess. (Or magnesium, or calcium, or potassium, or phosphorus, but flouride is the most common for tooth discoloration.) Do not start adding flouride if it is already in your paste and/or drinking water. It can kill you very quickly. I doubt you could even get your hands on it unless you are a pharmacist or chemist. But if it isn't in your paste or drinking water, get a good quality paste. The fix will be slow, and isn't a sustitute for the dentist, but it is a start.

Also, after a car accident (complete with broken jaw and teeth) and a round with gum disease years later, the dentist told me to brush with vodka. The alcohol prevents and fights infection and toothpaste can get in between your teeth and gums exacerbating the problem. If your gums bleed when you brush, you probably do have some degree of gum disease.

But regardless, go to the dentist. And good luck.

[battybird]

Hi just a thought, some mouthwashes cause teeth to discolour. Chlorhexadine is the one which comes to mind! I agree with everyone, go to the dentist and check. Bicarbonate of soda is difficult to get in portugal too but I found it at the local chemist...not the cooking shelf in the supermarket! Might be worth seeing if this works in France!! Good luck

[cecilia]

Hi!
I just registered and I didn"t have time to introduce myself yet. But I'm french and I can tell you that Bicarbonate is quite easy to get in France. In most supermarkets. Just ask for it. In might be by the floor, yeast, baking area....
Or you can get it in BioCoop... It least I do.

[SaveSomeGreen]

Don't know much about the teeth whitening but I do know that salt water rinses are great for gum disease and any sort of fungal stuff...

It sounds horrid but a heaped spoon in a glass of water gargled thoroughly does wonders, and it really doesn't taste so bad.. I am not a doctor nor a dentist but it worked a treat when I had some dodgy gumness