Posted by drgracesun on August 2, 2009 under Information | 
Let me start by saying that – for some of you – this post may seem a bit silly. However, I get questions in my office about enamel 
, the white coating of our teeth that the outer layer is made of. Some people confuse the definition “enamel.” Is this enamel the same as that enamel? What is enamel, and how can you keep the different types straight?
Tooth enamel is the hardest and most highly mineralized material in a mammal’s body. 92- 96% of enamel consists of minerals (hydroxyapatite, a phosphate and calcium salt) with the remaining part being water and organic material. Enamel makes up the shiny hard outer layer of a tooth for protecting dentin and pulp , while at the same time carrying out the function of chewing and grinding our food. When you brush your teeth in the morning and at night (and after every meal – hint hint!), you are in fact brushing enamel. The normal color of enamel varies from light yellow to grayish white. At the edges of teeth where there is no dentin underlying the enamel, the color sometimes has a slightly blue tone. Since enamel is semitranslucent, the color of dentin and any restorative dental material underneath the enamel strongly affects the appearance of a tooth.
One day I was asked “why can’t we use bathtub enamel to fix tooth decay, since it is a cavity on the enamel?” Well, in an effort to permeate some inquiring minds, here are a few other types of enamel – which should never be confused with tooth enamel! Vitreous enamel is the colorful result of fusing powdered glass to a decorative object (usually metal, glass or ceramic tile) by firing, usually between 750 and 850 degrees Celsius. The powder melts and hardens to a smooth, durable vitreous coating used in aesthetic applications, such as decorative work. This technique of applying enamel to add color or texture was originally mastered by the ancient Egyptians! Enamel paint is a type of liquid paint that gives a brilliant glossy shine when cured, and is especially useful in attention-grabbing mediums (such as street signs, door painting and road markers). The term “enamel paint” can also mean an object that is covered in an oil-base paint, but recently has come to include latex-and-water based paints.
Yes, it’s true that there are several different uses of the word “enamel,” but don’t confuse the brilliant white enamel of your teeth with enamel paint or decorative enamel!
Tags: color, enamel, glass, layer, metal, mineral, mineralized, paint, semitranslucent, teeth, tooth, translucent, vitreous, white
Posted by drgracesun on April 23, 2009 under Healthy Smile, Information |
Have you ever felt sick, taken some Pepto Bismol and then a while later, had a black tongue? You may be thinking you’ve eaten something strange, or that you are having an allergic reaction! This is actually not a rare side effect of Pepto Bismol however – read on to find out why your tongue is black!
Black Tongue is harmless.
Numerous brands of nausea medication, including Pepto Bismol, have an active ingredient called Bismuth subsalicylate, a multi compound drug useful in treating nausea, heartburn, indigestion, diarrhea, and other temporary discomforts of the stomach and gastrointestinal tract. In a tablet form, Bismuth subsalicylate is meant to be swallowed with water – however, when exposed to the surface of your tongue (from chewing), the drug will often turn the tongue black after several hours, and can last several days. A black tongue and black stools in some users of the drug is not harmful, but the color is produced as a side effect of the drug interacting with saliva and the gastrointestinal tract.
The good news is this discoloration has no adverse affect on your health; there is nothing to worry about if your tongue has gone black or if it is staining your teeth with black strips after taking Pepto Bismol. The stain can be removed easily by thorough brushing or seek help from your dental professional. If a thorough brushing was followed after taking the Pepto Bismo, the staining issue would be eliminated. You must be aware of your body if you have a upset stomach in the first place; getting a good assessment and managing the root of the problem rather than just masking the symptoms should be the overall, long-term goal. Maintain a healthy diet, full of fruit, vegetables and lean proteins to control the PH of your body (which should be neutral or mild alkaline). Getting 7-8 hours of sleep every night will ease and equip your body to deal with the stress. If you do have an upset stomach, have a cup of peppermint or chamomile tea with honey on me, which will help with your upset stomach. We can all work on respecting our body and mind to take better care of ourselves.
Staining due to Pepto Bismol
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Posted by drgracesun on April 7, 2009 under Beautiful Smile |
Respite with Chardonnay, sip the stress away! It’s carefree time. On the other side of the coin, white wine can also make your cosmetic dentist frown for your dulling smile. We are talking about the tooth stain effect from white wine – what’s that, you ask? White wine stains your teeth? You probably are already aware that certain foods can cause staining and discoloration to your teeth – but many foods or beverages without a strong or dark color (which look innocent) can still cause stains on your teeth.
White wine can stain your teeth - just like red wine!
A new NYU study shows white wine has an acid content that tends to increase the risk of stain or darkening of your teeth, if combined with other habits of drinking tea, or similar dark beverages. Do not be fooled by the crystal clear appearance of a white wine – it certainly is capable of dulling your teeth. Certain acidic properties present in wine (white, red or rose) create micro-porosity etching rough the surface of your teeth, which make your teeth much more susceptible to stains from other foods. For example, if you were to drink a glass of white wine with your spaghetti dinner, the acidic properties in the white wine could make your teeth more prone to staining from the red spaghetti sauce in your meal, or the cup of tea after the dinner beside your wine! Red wine is still more “dangerous” to the pearly opalescence of your teeth than white, however, as it contains pigment molecules known as chromagen, which will stain your teeth., but all wines contain tannins act as a binding protein, which will aid chromogen to saturate themselves upon the surface of the tooth.
Sodas and other beverages like ice tea and cocktails can wreak havoc upon your teeth as well, and not just the color! Stringent acids or sugars (turned into acids) present in most sodas (and acidic fruit juice, like lemonade) are the worst type of liquid to expose your teeth to, and can cause tooth erosion and tooth decay. A bleaching effect of phosphoric acid in the soda can also weaken your bone in addition to their staining properties. If you must drink any of these liquids, be sure to brush and floss after every meal – or at the very least, rinse your mouth or have a glass of water. Do not allow your oral environment stay in an acid bath! If you can feel astringency or drying of the mouth, drink some water and rinse your mouth before brushing to prevent rubbing the acid into your teeth.
Please enjoy your glass of wine, just be wise about the consequences! Yes, we can still keep your healthy and clean looking smile if we keep up the good oral hygiene habits. You can always consult with your dental professional for tips.
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