Captain Obvious & the Mystery of the Darkening Teeth

It might be hard to believe, but there once was a time when a less than blinding smile was perfectly acceptable. Then came the movies, where early black and white tended to make teeth look dully gray. To correct this, actors were often required by their studio contracts to have full sets of gleaming new …

Monday Morning Funny: The Onion Breaks Sad Dental News to Those Who Aim Beyond Chicklet Teeth

US Dentists Can’t Make Nation’s Teeth Any Damn Whiter

Mom Fail: Bleaching Your 5- and 8-Year-Olds’ Teeth

Trainwreckery from the latest episode of Toddlers and Tiaras:   That book she’s holding at the end? The next edition will be called The 8 Worst Things Parents Do.

Chicklet Teeth Are Just the Beginning…

Nothing is certain except death and taxes – and corporate media’s tendency to present most any excessive behavior as an “addiction” or “illness.” A recent ABC News feature does both: “Bleachorexia: How the Quest for Pearly Whites Can Destroy Teeth.” “Bleachorexia” is the term the writer says dentists use to describe people who go overboard …

What Would You Do to Get Sparkly White Teeth?

Whatever you do, don’t follow this dude’s lead (via Utica’s Observer Dispatch): A Utica man was charged after police said he stole almost $230 worth of tooth brushes, tooth paste and cough medicine from Chanatry’s on French Road. Police responded at about 2:25 p.m., and Officer Brian French soon after would arrest Jose Polanco, 36, …

Improved Oral Health through Tooth Bleaching?

When you think about tooth bleaching, you probably think of it as a cosmetic thing: the means to a whiter, brighter smile. But if a new report published in JADA holds up, it may also be the means to better oral health for the elderly, disabled and others who have trouble with things like standard …

How to Get a Bright White Smile…Without the Bleaching

While a bright white smile can be nice, there are some real problems in how its commonly achieved. Sometimes it’s too extreme, making teeth too white. The high levels of peroxide (both in home and clinical bleaching kits) can damage both the teeth and soft tissues (gums). It can also accelerate the release of mercury …

Tooth Bleaching and Mercury Amalgam Fillings

“Silver” amalgam fillings consistently release mercury vapor, and the amount released varies depending on what sorts of stresses the teeth are under. For instance, more is released when the fillings are under the pressure of chewing, tooth grinding or even regular tooth brushing. But what about when exposed to hydrogen peroxide, which is commonly used …

Whoa There, Bleach Boys!

Last summer, we told you a bit about the trend of retail tooth whitening: tooth bleaching services offered in mall kiosks, salons…anywhere but a dental office. Such services have concerned dentists for a number of reasons. Some of these are likely financial, but others express concern for people’s safety and fear that employees may sometimes …

No Benefit, Some Cost to UV-Enhanced Tooth Bleaching…and Other News of Note

More recent news items we want to be sure you don’t miss… UV Light-Enhanced Tooth Bleaching Is Not Only a Con but Is Dangerous to Your Eyes and Skin (Medical News Today) The light treatment gives absolutely no benefit over bleaching without UV, and damages skin and eyes up to four times as much as …