Walnut : Wall against tooth stains
Walnut – Wall against dark tooth stains
White and shiny teeth enhance one’s smile and confidence and boost the self-esteem. Shining white teeth is considered as a synonym of a pleasing and successful personality. In a survey conducted by American Dental Association, the dentists concur that “the fastest growing part of dentistry was teeth‑whitening, with a growth rate of around 25%.”
From stained teeth to white teeth, a story worth telling!!
Several factors such as aging, excess consumption of coffee, tea, or soda and cigarette smoke lead to discolored and stained teeth. These are called extrinsic stains. Other type of stains is acquired by use of tetracycline or too much fluoride and is called intrinsic stains. Most paste has fluoride which can contribute to these stains; hence one should be careful to select the paste with care. In order to remove the extrinsic stains, teeth whitener is used. In dentistry, “teeth whitening” is defined as a process of lightening the color of the teeth by bleaching, and works best on teeth with no caps or fillings. Chemicals such as hydrogen peroxide, or carbamide peroxide is used during bleaching process. The whitening effect thus acquired is often temporary and if not done properly can hamper the gums and the teeth. In fact, the teeth can become sensitive to bleaching. The process of bleaching is expensive and is usually not covered by dental insurance.
The procedure of teeth whitening is not without its risks. First, the procedure is not permanent and often lasts for a few months to 3 years. It varies from person to person. There is always a risk of sensitive and burns to gums due to the procedure.” says Dr Rohan Virani, a Dentist, MDS(OMMFR) MIFL(GERMANY), AFFLIATE ICOI and CONSULTANT GLOBAL HOSPITAL,PAREL.
Whiten your teeth, the Ayurveda way:
Ayurveda is an ancient science of India. Several permutations and combinations of natural products were used to manage diseases and pave way to a healthy life through Ayurveda. Dental care is also one of the many arms of this science. Walnut (Juglans regia) is one such important ingredient of the Ayurvedic armamentarium. Considered as a “superfood”, walnuts naturally remove the stains. In fact, it was advised that rubbing the walnut tree bark is considered as one of the best teeth whitening cures. Walnut is rich in potassium hydroxide which has whitening properties; however its excessive use may cause the enamel to wear out. A balanced approach is therefore essential when using walnuts. The efficacy of the walnut in removing the dental stains is now well recognized. It is therefore safe to say that walnut is a natural wall against the dark tooth stains.
“While choosing the paste, it is essential to look out for the ingredients. For example, excess fluoride content in the pastes often contributes to the staining of teeth. Walnut is a natural whitener; hence its presence may help alleviate the dental stains. Looking out for paste with walnut in adequate proportion is important. ”, says Dr. Bhairav B. Tawshikar Kulkarni, MD, Ayurveda Medicine.
According to Dr Bhairav, the uniqueness of our country is how well our traditional and modernity has been merged. Even paste that is used daily is a combination that has been acquired after several years of research, experience and experimentation.
