Preventing Liquid Iron From Staining Your Teeth
If your physician tells you that you have iron deficiency anemia, he or she may recommend that you take iron supplements. While iron, or ferrous sulfate, is available in tablet form, it may be better absorbed by the body when taken in liquid form. While liquid iron supplementation is effective in treating iron deficiencies, it may lead to dental staining.
If you develop stains on your teeth as a result of liquid iron, make an appointment with a teeth whitening services professional to learn more about bleaching options. In the meantime, here are some ways you can prevent liquid iron from staining your teeth.
Dilute The Iron
To make liquid iron less harmful to your tooth enamel, make sure you dilute it in water before taking it. While adding just a small amount of water to the iron may help you drink it faster so that you can avoid an unpleasant taste, adding more water to your liquid iron will dilute it better so that the pigmented agents in the product are less likely to stain your teeth.
If your teeth begin to show signs of discoloration despite your best efforts at diluting the iron, make an appointment with your dentist. There are may teeth whitening options that are effective in removing extrinsic dental staining. Extrinsic stains refer to those on the surface of your teeth, such as those caused by coffee, tea, red wine, and liquid iron.
Laser whitening and professional bleaching treatments are very effective in removing extrinsic dental stains; however, if you have a type of tooth discoloration known as intrinsic staining, laser whitening may not be as effective. Intrinsic tooth staining refers to discoloration that is deeply embedded, and may also be the result of congenital factors.
For example, if your mother took the antibiotic tetracycline when she was pregnant with you, your teeth may have developed with a brownish or gray tone to them. This type of discoloration may be best treated with caps or veneers, which will not remove the stains, but will conceal them.
Use A Straw
Another effective way to prevent liquid iron from staining your teeth is by drinking it through a straw. If the liquid iron does not make contact with your teeth, staining will be avoided. If the iron does make contact with your teeth despite the use of a straw, drink plenty of water afterwards to help wash away the iron.
While you should drink your iron supplement through a straw, do not use a straw when drinking water afterwards because you want to ensure that the water makes contact with the surface of your teeth so that the iron can be rinsed off your teeth.
If you take liquid iron because of anemia, see your dentist. He or she will monitor your dental condition, and if necessary, suggest treatment options to help eliminate your tooth discoloration.
For more information, reach out to dentists like those at Pinon Hills Dental.
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