Why are teeth white?

Question

Why is calcium white ?

Answer 1

Calcium is what makes our teeth and bones white. Calcium is white for the same reason snow is white, or the sky is blue, or the grass green. Colors are determined by our brains, not by the substance. Light is the only thing we actually see, and it's up to our brains to figure out what the difference is between light bouncing off of Calcium and the light bouncing off the the grass. Every substance that can reflect light, also absorbs light. Since light is made up of six basic colors, each of a different wave length, the colors we see are influenced by the amount of each color absorbed by a substance. So if we take Calcium and grass as our examples, we will see light bounce off of the grass, and most of the wave lengths (except green) are absorbed by the grass, the only light that reaches our eyes is the green light. Therefore, the grass appears to be green. When in reality the grass hasn't absorbed any green at all, you could say it's every color BUT green. The same applies to Calcium only, things that appear white are a little different. They absorb light and the colors in light in almost identical proportions. So as white light hits them, and certain colors are absorbed, what comes back to our eyes appears almost the same as it went in; with only a few colors out of place. If all the colors were absorbed equally then we wouldn't see teeth at all, it would appear just like the light coming through the window, invisible. The difference in colors is so small that our brain has a hard time figuring it out so it just assumes the white appearance for simplicity's sake.

Answer 2

Actual Fact: - What you see - Teeth are white due to the ENAMEL hard coating. Once decay sets in; due to acids and other factors which can disolve the enamel you will then uncover and see the calcium which is actually grey. But some people have more calcium than others. True Fact: - The condition of teeth is hereditary i.e generally if your family and fore-bearers had good white teeth; you will have too. Another fact is that: - In countries where people eat less sweet foods the calcium composite is normally higher!

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Answer 3

Calcium is what makes our teeth and bones white. In our body,there is such a material that made us want to shine bright

Answer 4

calcium is white and teeth are made of almost nothing but calcium so thats y its white unless u dont brush....

Answer 5

My best guess will be because of the calcium in them.

Answer 6

Would you like a close friend with green and brown teeth tipped with black and yellow marks!!?
I think Nature made our teeth white so that our toes curl when our heart-throb gives a big smile and says, "Yes"!!

Answer 7

Same reason bone is; a spandrel effect of the material used.

Answer 8

Because they are innocent lol

Answer 9

mine aint