There has been a good bit of debate about tooth whitening products and the affect they have on tooth enamel. After all, we want pearly whites but not at the cost of permanently damaging our teeth. The Eastman Institute for Oral Health set out to test these products to see if there are negative effects of tooth whitening and what everyday products have even more negative effects. What they found is somewhat disturbing. Compared to the 6 percent hydrogen peroxide found in professional and over-the-counter whitening kits, the effects are insignificant compared to acidic fruit juices. Orange juice specifically created adverse reactions from tooth enamel, decreasing enamel hardness by 84 percent whereas no significant change in the enamel was found from whitening. This makes me think twice about my regular morning glass of OJ!

 According to dentists, weakened and eroded enamel may speed up wear of the tooth and increase the risk for tooth decay to quickly develop and spread. And it's long been known that juice and sodas have high acid content, and can negatively affect enamel hardness. There have been studies that show that whitening can affect the hardness of enamel but none compared the effects of something as simple as a glass of juice.

For those that drink juices and soda's daily, this could be a potential problem in the long run. A word to the wise, people who sip their drinks slowly over 20 minutes are more likely to have tooth erosion than those who finish a drink quickly according to experts. And as always it's also very important to keep up with good oral hygiene by brushing and flossing at least twice a day in addition to your regular visits to the dentist.

Posted in Teeth Whitening, Headlines

The Today Show recently ran the segment below on oral health. In case you missed it, enjoy!

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

ANN CURRY, anchor: Al, thanks. This morning on TODAY'S DAILY DOSE, oral health and hygiene. According to the CDC, nearly one-third of all adults in the US have untreated tooth decay, which can lead to serious health risks down the road. And here to answer your questions we've got NBC's chief medical editor Dr. Nancy Snyderman. Nancy, good morning.

Dr. NANCY SNYDERMAN reporting: Hi, Annie.

CURRY: The numbers are shocking.

SNYDERMAN: Yeah.

CURRY: One in seven adults ages 35 to 44 has gum disease. One in four adults over the age of 64 has gum disease. About 25 percent of adults 60 and older no longer have...

SNYDERMAN: Have teeth.

CURRY: ...any natural teeth.

SNYDERMAN: Yeah.

CURRY: So this is a...

SNYDERMAN: Yeah.

CURRY: ...and this has even more repercussions than just these numbers.

SNYDERMAN: Huge. And in a recession, one of the first things people stop doing is seeing their dentist. And so the health concerns, the health of your teeth relates to the health of your heart. Osteoporosis, diabetes. And early cancers can be found when your dentist sees you. And there are huge problem for tooth decay now in children who don't have health care access. So interestingly, you mouth is sort of a window as to the overall health of your body.

Source: Mayo Clinic

CURRY: OK. And so for people then who don't have health insurance, people who are not seeing their dentist, what should people be doing?

SNYDERMAN: Well, start with the basics. Make sure you have fluoride in your water, use fluoride toothpaste. You have to floss and brush twice a day. If you have nothing else -- and stay away from sugary drinks and all the things that you know can hurt your teeth. This is a laundry list of the absolute basics for everybody.

CURRY: OK, we've got some questions we want you to get to.

SNYDERMAN: Mm-hmm.

CURRY: We have an anonymous e-mail that might be helpful to a lot of mothers. It reads, "When should I take my toddler to the dentist for his first visit? The recommended age always seems to vary. When does he really to go?"

SNYDERMAN: I think as soon as you see that first tooth because it allows your child to get accustomed to seeing the dentist, it takes away a mom's being anxious and it teaches a baby how to do basic brushing. So as soon as you see that first tooth, you schedule your first appointment.

CURRY: And should you go to the dentist every year if you can?

SNYDERMAN: Yes, yes.

CURRY: OK. Now we've got to go outside to the crowd where we've got a question, I understand. Good morning.

Unidentified Woman: Good morning.

SNYDERMAN: Good morning.

Woman: Good morning, Ann and Dr. Nancy.

CURRY: What's your question, dear?

Woman: My question is, I drink an awful lot of coffee every day. And I was wondering if there's some over-the-counter product I could use to whiten my teeth?

SNYDERMAN: Well, the over-the-counter products for teeth whitening do work and if you're a coffee and tea drinker, tea is even a bigger culprit, you can get gradual staining of your teeth. Cigarettes are also a huge problem. So if you're going to, you know, drink tea or coffee, and I hope obviously nobody is still smoking cigarettes, the over-the-counter whiteners do work. Make sure that the ones are clear and do not hurt your enamel. Basically they're mild bleaches.

CURRY: All right, thanks for your question. We've also got another question from Susan in Birmingham, Alabama. She's standing by her telephone. Susan, good morning. What's your question?

SUSAN (Birmingham, Alabama): Good morning. Hi, Dr. Nancy.

SNYDERMAN: Hi, Susan.

SUSAN: When brushing your teeth, is it more important to concentrate on the teeth itself, or the gums?

SNYDERMAN: Both. And I think it's important to sort of break your mouth down into little neighborhoods. Start on one side and then the other and down and sort of count. This is when electric toothbrushes are really good because they're timed and a lot of times when we use regular old handheld toothbrushes we underbrush. But your teeth and your gums both need good brushing. And that's why make sure you have a soft toothbrush. One of the biggest problems, Annie, is that people buy hard-bristled toothbrushes...

CURRY: Mm-hmm.

SNYDERMAN: ...and they hurt your gums.

CURRY: That's right.

SNYDERMAN: Get soft or extra soft. They massage your gums.

CURRY: OK, also your tongue. Got to do your tongue.

SNYDERMAN: Yeah, tongue is good too.

CURRY: All right, OK. Now we've got an e-mail from Missy from Kentucky. She writes, "I'm sure" -- she writes, "I grind my teeth at night, my jaw muscles are so tight and my jaw never seems to be in a relaxed position. What can be done to keep my jaw from hurting?

SNYDERMAN: Well, go back before you go to bed. You have to really try to not take some of your problems to bed with you because this is an actual daytime stress taken into the nighttime. So whether it's meditation or exercise or a cup of warm milk, figure out what you can do to minimize that stress. If you're still grinding you teeth, then talk to your doctor about getting a little splint that at least can take the pressure off your jaw and the teeth.

CURRY: It can change. I used to grind my teeth...

SNYDERMAN: You can grind your teeth down flat.

CURRY: ... and I don't anymore. Yeah, but no, I used to and you can stop grinding.

SNYDERMAN: Ditto. Same for me.

CURRY: I mean, it is doable, right?

SNYDERMAN: Absolutely.

CURRY: OK, all right, so there's hope out there.

SNYDERMAN: Yeah.

CURRY: We also have another question from the crowd. Good morning out there. What's your name and what's your question?

Unidentified Woman #2: Good morning.

SNYDERMAN: Good morning.

Woman #2: I have a question. If you chew gum, or should you chew gum, which is better for you, sugar or sugar-free?

SNYDERMAN: Well, you know, I'm not a big gum lover, only because people have such lousy personal habits with it, and I hate hearing people chomp. I hate the snapping and the chomping of gum.

CURRY: But can't -- OK, but that aside, your personal...

SNYDERMAN: All right, so with that put aside...

CURRY: Yeah.

SNYDERMAN: ...it doesn't really matter to me. Because interestingly the sugar in gum gets diluted with your saliva so quickly that it doesn't stick. It's the sugar in things like raisins that stick to your teeth that cause a bigger problem. So, whether it's sugar-free or sugared gum, it really doesn't cause much of a problem.

CURRY: But some gum actually says it's good for your teeth. Is that -- are some of them working, or...

SNYDERMAN: And that's because the best thing for your teeth is a lot of saliva. If you see people who've had radiation treatments or they have a naturally dry mouth, they don't have a lot of saliva, they happen -- they tend to have more problems with dental problem -- dental caries...

CURRY: OK.

SNYDERMAN: ...and rotten teeth.

CURRY: So now you've convinced me...

SNYDERMAN: So anything that makes saliva, fine with me.

CURRY: You've just convinced me to chew gum, so sorry about that. We've got Kimberly from Oklahoma.

SNYDERMAN: Don't pop in my ear.

CURRY: OK! She says -- and via e-mail. "I sometimes have a horrible taste in the back of my throat and after a few days this little white, round thing appears in my mouth or my throat. What could be the cause of this?"

SNYDERMAN: You know, unless you've had this you think what in the world is she talking about. But this is classic chronic adult tonsillitis. There are little deep crypts in a tonsil and over the years they collect viruses and bacteria and food particles. And what happens is stuff comes out, causes bad breath, tastes lousy, chronic sore throat.

CURRY: Yecch!

SNYDERMAN: This may be the number one indication for a tonsillectomy in a young adult and it is curative.

CURRY: She needs to go see her doctor.

SNYDERMAN: So go see your ear, nose and throat physician because you might need a simple tonsillectomy.

CURRY: All right, Dr. Nancy Snyderman, always here to help people.

SNYDERMAN: Oh. Thanks, Annie.

CURRY: We love it when you're here.

SNYDERMAN: Thank you.

CURRY: We really do.

SNYDERMAN: Thank you.

Posted in Teeth Whitening, Gum Disease, Cosmetic Dentistry, Headlines

Looking for an effective way to whiten all those teeth? Laser tooth whitening has been proven to be an effective and popular method to correct the discoloration of teeth. There is a bit of a disclaimer though being you can't try this at home.

That's right, only the dentist can provide laser teeth whitening but it's still a very safe way to whiten. It's actually recommended highly for those who haven't previously used a tooth whitener or for those stains come from coffee or smoking.

There are a few steps to the whitening, the first being removal of any plaque and a good teeth cleaning. After that, a professional strength gel, typically peroxide based, is applied to the teeth. Next, the laser, a special light that activates the gel is place on the teeth for about an hour and typically whitens the teeth up to 10 shades!

Pricing for laser tooth whitening can vary from dentist to dentist but should be roughly in the same price range, although that price range might be a little on the steep side. But the results from laser tooth whitening seem to be excellent and for many, that makes it worth the cost. So if you are in the market for a new kind of tooth whitening system, ask your dentist about laser tooth whitening.

Posted in Teeth Whitening, Cosmetic Dentistry, Headlines

It happens. The years go by and all of a sudden we're in the toothpaste row at the supermarket, shopping for the best tooth whitener. The yellow beige color of our once pearly white teeth sneaks up on us. But how is it? You brush everyday right? And floss? Below are a few things that could be unknowingly staining your teeth while you go about your daily routine.

Excessive Fluoride

Fluoride is generally good for your smile but too much of it can cause chalky white spots to appear on your teeth. Although it's rare (and a bigger concern for children than adults), people can get too much fluoride from drinking water with high concentrations of fluoride, or from excessive use of fluoride-containing toothpastes. Use a sensible pea-sized amount of toothpaste each time you brush, suggests Harms.

Dark Drinks

We all know coffee and tea can turn our teeth but fruit juice, red wine and soda can also yellow our smiles. Even beer, which has acidic properties, can damage your smile. Swig some water around your mouth after drinking dark liquids to offset their staining power. Sipping your drinks through a straw can also help protect your front teeth.(see video on tooth whitening and dark drinks)

Medicine (prescription and over the counter)

Some antibiotics and over-the-counter medications can dull your smile. Dentists say that Tetracycline can turn teeth yellow in small children and its derivative, minocycline, can cause a permanent bluish-gray stain in adults. Even antihistamines can play a part in tooth discoloration.

Colorful Foods

That handful of cherries you've been snacking on may be good for your health, but it can be bad for your teeth because heavily pigmented foods such as blueberries, cranberries and soy sauce quickly stain them. Brush your teeth as soon as you can after eating staining foods.

Bad Oral Hygiene

Poor brushing and no flossing can wreak havoc on your smiles. And that means those substances that stain aren't removed from your teeth on a regular basis. Remember to brush at least twice a day for two to three minutes.

Posted in Teeth Whitening, Cosmetic Dentistry, Headlines

Dentists and parents are becoming increasingly concerned with the use of teeth whitening products by children, even some as young as 7-10. Just as adults, kids are under peer pressure to have smiles as pearly white as television celebrities. Incredibly white teeth like Cameron Diaz and Britney Spears are becoming the norm. Dentists are actually calling the effect "toilet bowl teeth" since the teeth are so white - they resemble toilet bowl porcelain.

During a recent professional convention at the Chicago Dental Society over 40% of attendees were concerned over "too white smiles" especially with children.  Signs of issues can include inflamed gums; sensitivity / pain; or a blue / grey effect around the edges of teeth. Some other warning signs would be if your child hesitates to drink an ice cold beverage or turning down ice cream because of tooth pain. Parents should carefully consider whether tooth whitening for their kids is necessary. Moderate use can be reasonable - but over-use is the issue.  On average - over 60% of people who use teeth whitening products experience some gum irritation or sensitivity pain.

Tooth whitening is a great advance to keep you looking beautiful, but there is a line of reasonability with children. If you suspect your children are whitening their teeth with over the counter products, talk to them. And then make an appointment with their pediatric dentist.

Live in Highlands Ranch, Littleton, or Lone Tree in Colorado? Come see Dr Lisa Stimmel, board certified pediatric dentist, at KIDDS DDS in Highlands Ranch - the dentist you wish you'd had when you were a kid.  Here's a video featuring Dr Lisa.

Posted in Teeth Whitening, Pediatric Dentist, Headlines