{"id":75,"date":"2018-01-08T23:19:09","date_gmt":"2018-01-08T23:19:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.vldental.net\/blog\/?p=75"},"modified":"2018-02-17T18:18:30","modified_gmt":"2018-02-17T18:18:30","slug":"dentist-in-richmond-3","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.vldental.net\/blog\/2018\/01\/08\/dentist-in-richmond-3\/","title":{"rendered":"Dear Dentist, My Teeth Are White \u2014 Does That Mean They\u2019re Healthy?"},"content":{"rendered":"\"smileYou smile at yourself in the mirror, and you can\u2019t help but be delighted by what you see. That gorgeous grin of yours is as white as can be! You love to show off your teeth, whether you\u2019re taking selfies with your friends or making an awesome impression on a first date. But wait. We all love a white smile, but we love healthy smiles even more \u2014 and the two aren\u2019t necessarily synonymous. Your dentist in Richmond is here to explain why this is so.\r\n\r\n\r\n

Teeth Aren\u2019t Naturally White<\/h2>\r\nYour teeth, even if they didn\u2019t have a single stain on them, would not be white if you never used any bleaching products. Enamel, the outermost layer of your teeth, is a bluish-white color, a couple of shades darker than what many people think is the ideal color for teeth. Plus, enamel isn\u2019t opaque. It\u2019s slightly translucent, which means it\u2019s possible to see a hint of the dentin underneath it, and dentin is a yellowish color.\r\n\r\nMoreover, there are plenty of oral health problems that won\u2019t necessarily affect the color of your teeth. For example, gum disease and bruxism can cause serious damage without changing your smile\u2019s hue.\r\n\r\nThe bottom line? White teeth aren\u2019t necessarily healthy, and yellow teeth aren\u2019t necessarily unhealthy.\r\n

Does That Mean Whitening Your Teeth Is Bad?<\/h2>\r\nIf nature didn\u2019t make teeth white, does that mean we shouldn\u2019t either? No. Bleaching (whitening your teeth beyond their natural color) is perfectly safe if you follow instructions and ask for a dentist\u2019s guidance. In our society, people often perceive those with white teeth as being more attractive, so if you want to bleach your teeth, go for it!\r\n

How to Have a White and <\/em>Healthy Smile<\/h2>\r\nYou should never, never <\/em>use bleaching products, like whitening strips, as a replacement for good oral hygiene. The strips might improve the appearance of your teeth, but they won\u2019t make them healthier. In fact, overuse of bleaching products can irritate your gums and make your teeth more sensitive.\r\n\r\nSo, what are the keys to having a smile that is both gorgeous and healthy? Here are a few:\r\n