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5 Home Remedies To Treat Dental Fluorosis
By: Kratika Tue, 21 Feb 2023 08:15:16
A bright and beautiful smile is not only a great asset but also a powerful way to brighten up the days. But white spots, brown stains, cloudy splotches, pitting, etc., can steal the shining smile of a person. Dental fluorosis is one of the most common reasons behind such issues, and almost millions of Americans are now affected by this condition. So, how to know whether you or your child is suffering from it? What are the available treatments and home remedies for dental fluorosis? How to prevent it successfully? We will talk about everything here. So, keep reading to know more.
Fluorosis or dental fluorosis is a common painless cosmetic condition in which the appearance of tooth enamel gets changed partially or entirely due to overexposure to fluoride. It leaves the teeth slightly discolored or significantly stained (yellow to dark brown) based on the acuteness of the condition.
In moderate to severe dental fluorosis, the porosity of tooth enamel also gets increased through hypomineralization. This may even lead to dental erosion or dental crumbling, thereby disfiguring a person’s smile to a large extent.
However, fluorosis is not a dental disease, and it does not have a significant negative impact on our dental health. While mild to moderate fluorosis can be treated cosmetically or with simple home remedies, the damage caused to tooth enamel is permanent.
# Less Caffeinated Beverages
If you have problems with teeth stains, start by cutting out black tea, coffee, red wine, and dark sodas. The high contents of caffeine in these products could possibly cause unwanted discoloration. Some people believe that if you drink these listed items through a straw, you will not get dental fluorosis. However, this is not true. The liquid still gets in touch with your teeth once it enters the mouth, thus causing staining. You can replace these products easily with green tea, decaffeinated coffee, white wine, and light-colored sodas.
# Products with Low Fluoride Levels
Make sure to stop drinking water with high fluoride content. Instead, you can opt for bottled water or get a filter for your tap faucet. Also, do not buy toothpaste with fluoride in it. Instead, buy more organic foods to cut out processed foods.
# Baking Soda
Baking soda is not just used for baking anymore; it can be used to whiten teeth too. You can either purchase toothpaste with baking soda incorporated in it or formulate one yourself. If you decide to make your own, mix 1 teaspoon of baking soda with 1 teaspoon of non-fluoride toothpaste and brush as you usually do. Another way to use baking soda for this purpose is to pour 1 tablespoon of lemon juice into 1 tablespoon of baking soda and use the paste for teeth cleaning. Keep repeating until the desired outcome is achieved.
# Hydrogen Peroxide (3%)
You can take 2 teaspoons of hydrogen peroxide (3%) and 2 teaspoons of water in a cup and mix them thoroughly. Swish it in your mouth for no more than 1 minute. Once it becomes foamy enough, spit out and rinse the mouth well with plain water. Repeat this process daily until improvements prevail. Make sure that the strength of peroxide is 3% only, which is safe in case of accidental consumption.
# Vitamin C-rich Foods
Certain fruits and vegetables are good for your teeth, especially when you have the symptoms of fluorosis. Some of the most common fruits to eat for teeth are carrots, celery, and apples. These are high in vitamin C, which kills bacteria and which helps remove plaque at the same time by producing more saliva. You should also avoid everything acidic products like tomato sauces, pickles, balsamic vinegar, and oranges. Even soy sauce has also been proven to turn teeth discolored.