Woman walked across Paris smiling and trying to make friends for hours. Then she looked at her teeth: ‘I’m gonna cry’
I’d cry, too.
Paris is known for its high fashion and effortless chic. But for creator Ana Petcu (@amaapetcu), the “City of Light” became the city of glowing yellow teeth.
In a video that has amassed over 11.9 million views on Instagram, Ana shares the hilarious consequences of a single drink choice. Pair that with an attempt to navigate the social scene of Paris? You would either break out in laughter or in tears. There’s no in-between.
A golden latte ruined her Parisian social goals
Ana’s day started with a healthy golden latte, a drink famous for its anti-inflammatory properties and vibrant turmeric content. Her main goal for the day was to immerse herself in the local culture and make new friends.
Unfortunately, Ans forgot one critical detail: turmeric is one of the most powerful natural dyes on the planet. Moreover, it has a particular affinity for the medical-grade plastic used in dental aligners.
She unknowingly flashed her bright yellow teeth at locals for 5 hours
Five hours into her day, Ana finally looked at herself and was stunned. All along, she had been blissfully unaware that her clear aligners had transformed into a “glow-in-the-dark” neon yellow. Ana recounted that she just spent the afternoon enthusiastically smiling at everyone she met. Including the baker at the local boulangerie and a hot trainer at the gym.
She even tried to impress a man she believed was Italian by thanking him in his native tongue. But to her horror, she did it all while inadvertently displaying a smile that looked like it belonged in a horror movie.
A handsome stranger avoided her at a cafe
The realization finally set in when Ana reflected on an awkward encounter at a cafe. A man had intended to sit next to her. But after she gave him a friendly smile, he promptly changed his mind and stayed away.
Laughing through her tears, Ana removed the trays to show the camera that they were no longer transparent. She jokingly concluded that she might as well lean into the look and go scare children in a nearby park to finish the day.
Turmeric is a permanent enemy of clear teeth aligners
The reason Ana’s aligners stained so aggressively is due to curcumin, the active pigment in turmeric. Clear aligners are made of porous plastic that easily absorbs strong pigments, especially when they are consumed in a warm liquid like a latte.
Once the turmeric molecules bind to the plastic, it is nearly impossible to remove the stain. At this point, the dye has penetrated the material rather than just sitting on the surface. This is why orthodontists strictly advise removing aligners before consuming anything other than plain, cool water.
How to clean your stained teeth aligners
If you find yourself in a “Parisian emergency” with yellow teeth, there are a few things you can try to mitigate the damage. Try soaking it in Polident or Retainer Brite. These specialized cleaning tablets are your best bet for breaking down surface stains.
If accessible, you can also use a hydrogen peroxide soak. A 50/50 mix of water and hydrogen peroxide can sometimes lift mild yellowing. After the soak, try scrubbing the aligners with baking soda paste. A gentle scrub can help, but be careful not to scratch the plastic, as scratches will only trap more stains later.
Some users also swear by leaving aligners in direct sunlight for a few hours, as UV rays can naturally bleach out organic dyes like turmeric.
The internet lost it as soon as they saw Ana’s teeth, too
Ana’s video on Instagram had an outpouring of “second-hand trauma” from fellow aligner wearers. “I once went to a job interview after having one of those candies that turn your whole lips, teeth, and tongue, blue. A week later, I realized why they never called back,” one viewer shared.
“ I get you, girl. Me too, me too,” another added, validating Ana’s hysterical reaction. But despite the mishap, Ana did not dull her spark. Though she quietly took the aligners off later in the video, she had a good laugh about it.
But if the situation sounded like a nightmare to you, just make sure you check the mirror before you flash your pearly white teeth. You can never be too sure if they turned neon five hours ago. And for the love of your aligners, take the, off before eating or drinking anything.
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