An Overview
Ayurveda, an ancient medical science has provided various methods that restore the whiteness of teeth and to get healthy white teeth.
Teeth are the hardest part of the human body. In addition to being required for chewing, teeth play an important role in speech. Parts of the teeth include enamel, dentin, pulp, and cementum.
The Normal Color of Teeth
Usually, teeth are light yellow to greyish or bluish-white. The enamel is semi-translucent, the color of the dentin and the structures under the enamel have a strong influence on the appearance of the tooth.
Causes of Yellowing of teeth
The common causes are:
Lack of oral hygiene:
An inappropriate routine for brushing teeth and rinsing your mouth causes the buildup of plaque, which makes them turn yellow.
Age:
As the person getting old enamel gets thin and the dentin also gets affected, which makes teeth look yellow from the outside.
Use of the water contains Fluorine
High fluoride content can cause yellowing of the teeth.
Regular intake of sour foods and drinks
Sour foods, like sour candies, oranges, soda, etc, lower the pH of the mouth and cause an excess of demineralization. Due to this enamel becomes thin and cause yellowing of the teeth.
Smoking
Tobacco in products such as cigarettes, pipe smoke causes accumulation of tannins that stain teeth.
Use of medicines
Some medications such as antibiotics, antihistamines, and antipsychotics can cause yellowing of the teeth, especially in children, younger than 8 years old.
Hereditary
Yellow teeth can be hereditary.
Diseases
Sometimes chronic diseases can cause the thinning of the enamel which leads to yellow discoloration of teeth.
Ayurveda for The Whitening of Teeth
1.Babul (Acacia arabica)
This herb is very useful in the whitening of teeth. The tannins present in the babul are responsible for the whitening teeth. Thus Babul twigs are used as disposable toothbrushes.
2.Banyan (Ficusreligiosa)
The aerial roots of the banyan are also used as good disposable toothbrushes. The banyan roots have an astringent property that not even improves the color of the teeth but also promotes the health of the teeth and gums.
3.Holy Basil (Ocimum sanctum)
The leaves of Holy Basil provides dental hygiene and improve the color of the teeth. Apart from whitening teeth, holy basil also protects from tooth problems like pyorrhea. You can dry the leaves of the holy basil, make powder and use it for brushing your teeth.
4.Neem (Azadirachthaindica)
The neem tree also used to maintain the white healthy teeth. Neem twigs are also used as a toothbrush. Neem oils have astringent and antiseptic properties that prevent bad breath, kill microorganisms present in the teeth and to combat dental caries and cavities.
5.Apple cider vinegar
Apple cider vinegar is used as a natural disinfectant and cleaning product. It has antibacterial properties that help to whiten the teeth. Use it a few times per week because excess use is not good for teeth enamel.
6.Pineapples
Pineapples contain powerful enzymes known as Bromelain, which helps in removing surface stains, as well as reduce plaque build-up. It also minimizes the risk of cavities.
7.Papaya
Papaya contains papain enzyme that helps remove tooth stains on the surface of your teeth.
