{"id":344,"date":"2023-09-07T11:09:00","date_gmt":"2023-09-07T11:09:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.marketheightsfamilydental.com\/blog\/?p=344"},"modified":"2023-10-04T23:09:58","modified_gmt":"2023-10-04T23:09:58","slug":"white-teeth-arent-always-healthy","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.marketheightsfamilydental.com\/blog\/white-teeth-arent-always-healthy\/","title":{"rendered":"Whiter Teeth Aren\u2019t Always Healthier Ones"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Like many, you may think a shiny grin has good oral health<\/a>. This idea is common, as clean things are typically stain-free. In reality, however, white teeth aren\u2019t always healthy ones. They can sometimes develop dental issues, while a stained smile may be durable. Your Harker Heights dentist will happily explain if you want to learn more. That said, here\u2019s a summary of why unhealthy teeth can look white, healthy ones can look yellow, and how to get a white and healthy smile.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

Unhealthy Teeth Could Look White<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

True, white and shiny teeth are more appealing than stained ones. They seem very clean and untouched by grime. Even so, their looks can hide oral problems just beneath the surface.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For example, imagine you have a bright smile from using over-the-counter whiteners. The latter products are bad for teeth \u2013 they\u2019re abrasive and wear down your enamel. As such, using them could make your grin gleam even as they expose your dentin. You\u2019d then have a much greater risk of cavities and tooth infections.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Adding insult to injury, these harmful side effects aren\u2019t always apparent at first. A shoddy store-bought whitener could erode your enamel without you knowing it. In other words, your smile could weaken while you\u2019re none the wiser.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Healthy Teeth Could Look Yellowish<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Even if you don\u2019t find their color pleasant, yellowish teeth can still be healthy. Their tint may simply distract you from other, more critical dental qualities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

You see, most healthy teeth tend to have a yellow hue anyway. While enamel is naturally blue-white, the underlying dentin is a bit darker. When you look at the two layers together, the result is an off-white but slightly yellow color. That reality applies even when your enamel is nice and strong.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How to Get a White *and* Healthy Smile<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Of course, you don\u2019t have to choose between white teeth or healthy ones. You can have strong *and bright pearly whites! Getting them is just a matter of sticking to good practices. Such habits include the following:<\/p>\n\n\n\n