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Tu Anh Vu, DMD
Board Certified Dentist
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Whitening strips are not recommended for people with braces or restorative work, such as fillings, veneers, crowns, or dentures. Sometimes the strips can cause sensitivity in gums or teeth, and if that's the case, I would advise to stop using them.
Q&A Comments (131)
Co-authored Articles (68)
How to
Get Rid of White Tongue
It's a bit of a shock to open your mouth to brush your teeth in the morning and discover that your tongue has a white coating on it. White tongue occurs when the bumps on your tongue swell and trap dead cells, bacteria, ...
What’s the Right Tongue Posture? (And How Can You Fix Yours?)
See how your tongue position impacts your teeth, health & appearance“Tongue posture” sounds like a bizarre concept (doesn’t it just lie there?), but the position of your tongue at rest can have implications for you...
How to Heal a Cut on Your Tongue: First Aid, Home Remedies, & More
Medically-verified ways to heal a mouth injury quicklyOuch! Just cut your tongue? Whether you accidentally bit it or snagged it on something sharp, this uncomfortable injury isn’t fun to deal with. Fortunately, a cut t...
How to
Smile
Smiling may come naturally to some people; however, for the rest of us, it can be a little challenging. Finding the right smile for pictures, selfies, and everyday life is tough, especially if you haven’t figured out w...
How to Use Floss on Your Teeth
Daily, dentist-approved ways to clean between your teeth Food stuck in your teeth? Bad breath? Dentist asked the last time you flossed? No matter what brought you here, flossing your teeth is the perfect way to keep you...
What Color Braces Should I Get Quiz
Do you have braces? Or are you dreaming of the day when you’ll get to choose colors for them? You might be wondering what braces colors would be perfect for you… Answer a few questions, and we’ll match you with th...
The Proper Way to Brush Your Teeth (And Its Benefits)
Practice good dental hygiene with these expert-backed tips When you want a whiter smile and fresher breath, brushing your teeth will help out as well as improve your overall health. Bacteria builds up on your teeth, wh...
How to
Pull Out a Loose Tooth
Pull wobbly teeth painlesslyAll kids get loose teeth that fall out – it’s the body’s natural way of making room for adult teeth and starts around age six. It's best to let baby teeth fall out on their own if possib...
How to
Stimulate Gum Growth
If your gums have begun receding, you may have gingivitis or periodontitis, two gum diseases that can destroy the bones and tissues attached to your teeth.. 10 April 2020. While you should see a dental professional as so...
How to
Remove Tartar
Have you ever noticed a sticky buildup on your teeth when it's time to brush? This is called plaque, and if it's not brushed away, it can harden into a substance called tartar. Tartar is a rough, bumpy deposit along the ...
How to
Pull a Loose Tooth at Home
Losing baby teeth is a rite of passage for children. If your child's tooth is loose and ready to fall out, you might have questions about how you can help them. Luckily, most of the time it's just a matter of waiting unt...
How to
Use an Electric Toothbrush
Oral health is an important part of maintaining your overall well-being. According to board-certified dentist Tu Anh Vu, "An electric toothbrush cleans your teeth better than a manual toothbrush because it pulsates at a ...
How to
Clean Your Tongue Properly
The tongue has the heaviest bacterial amount of any part of your mouth. Nevertheless, many people do not take the time to clean their tongues. When you do not clean your tongue properly, you can have negative side effect...
How to Straighten Crooked Teeth Without Braces
Alternate options to help you avoid the high cost and timely upkeep of traditional bracesSome people say that having a straight, beautiful smile is the best accessory, but not everyone is confident in the appearance of t...
How to
Get Whiter Teeth at Home
While you may want a mouth full of shiny, white teeth, a professional whitening treatment is expensive. Luckily, if your teeth aren't as white as you'd like them to be, there are some things you can try at home for a whi...
How to
Stop Tooth Nerve Pain
Tooth nerve pain can be caused by many different reasons. It can be caused by infection, injury, tooth decay, gum disease, loose fillings, and temporomandibular joint dysfunction (TMJ). Tooth pain may also be caused by p...
How to
Tell Between an Erupting and Impacted Wisdom Tooth
Wisdom teeth are the molars furthest back on both sides of your upper and lower jaw. These four teeth are the last ones to erupt or grow out of your gums and become functional—this typically occurs during the late teen...
How to
Change a Quip Battery
Quip is an electric toothbrush where you can get new brush heads in the mail when you need them. Over time, the battery in a Quip will lose its charge and need to be replaced, but it’s very easy to change. If you repla...
How to
Remove Plaque
Plaque is the accumulation of bacteria, dead cells, and debris on your teeth. It is invisible to the eye, but is harmful to the teeth as it interacts with certain foods, releasing an acid which causes tooth decay. Built-...
How to
Stop Cavity Pain
Cavities are a form of tooth decay in your mouth. Left untreated, cavities can lead to more severe tooth problems, such as tooth pain. If you are experiencing a toothache due to cavities, you can learn how to relieve the...
