Having a healthy-looking, brilliant smile can take years off of your appearance. Because of wear and tear, the aging process, and lifestyle choices that we make can all take a toll on the color of our teeth. Many Americans have opted to select one of the many options available for teeth whitening.
Heavy smoking can in fact damage and stain your teeth. It helps to cut down on the amount of cigarettes you smoke each day or eliminate them out of your life completely. People who smoke have a harder time keeping their teeth clean than those who don’t.
Do not use teeth bleaching or whitening kits if you are pregnant. Swallowing even a trace amount of the chemicals and ingredients in these kits is enough to potentially cause harm to the fetus. Instead make sure that you wait until after your baby is born to try a teeth whitening program.
Make sure that you brush your teeth and floss daily after every meal. Flossing and brushing prevents the buildup of unwanted plaque which also discolors your teeth. Plaque is something you want to avoid at all costs and carrying floss with you can greatly help. Focusing on your teeth can assist in preventing discoloration and damage, keeping you healthy for the long term.
Make appointments with your local dentist regularly to clean your teeth. There is nothing that can be as thorough as a dentist in cleaning your teeth and helping you keep a white smile. If you have the dentist clean your teeth once or even twice a year, you will see that you have to worry less about keeping your teeth white- the only exception is unless you are a smoker.
Rather than focusing on removing stains from your teeth with whitening pastes, creams and gels, why not avoid staining them in the first place? Coffee and tea are notorious for staining teeth and should be avoided if at all possible. If you do drink them, try rinsing your mouth out with clean water when you are done to minimize staining.
Avoid constant snacking through the day. If you need to have a snack, grab some fresh fruits or vegetables. They are very good for you and are going to cause far less damage to your teeth than many other kinds of junk food would. You should still take the time to rinse well with water when you are done.
If you brush and floss your teeth twice a day, you will probably have whiter teeth compared to those that do not do this often. These methods will help remove the plaque buildup that leads to teeth discoloration. It is recommended that your floss and brush your teeth when you have finished eating.
For the most effective at-home teeth whitening, call a few local dentists’ offices and ask for the name brand of the whitening products they use in their office or what they send home with patients to use. Most often, all of those products are readily available online for a much less expensive price than through your dental care provider.
Eat materials that are naturally abrasive because they naturally scrub your teeth. Carrots, broccoli, cucumber and apples are just a few examples that will work. They should be eaten raw, and make sure you chew them for a while so you give them enough time to clean your teeth. Chew the food all around in your mouth to use as many teeth as possible.
Teeth whitening may seem like a very difficult task, but when you follow a few basic tips it can be very simple. One of the most important things to do when it comes to improving your tooth color is to avoid things that will make it worse, such as the things found in this article.
If your teeth experience any discomfort, you should immediately stop attempting to whiten your teeth from home. Whitening products can sometimes increase sensitivity and cause inflammation. If sensitivity occurs, discontinue use of whitening products until you see a dentist.
When drinking a liquid that has stain causing ingredients, you should drink water right after to make sure you get a whiter smile. By drinking water after drinking dark liquids, like tea or coffee, could help stop your teeth from being stained by pigments. You can also use drinking straws to have the dark drinks bypass your teeth altogether.
If you are drinking something that will stain your teeth like wine or cranberry juice, make sure to drink it through a straw. The straw will help keep the liquids from being able to adhere to your enamel causing stains. Make sure that you still brush your teeth afterwards to make sure all of the stain causing material is gone.
As the famous saying goes, “An apple a day keeps the doctor away”. This includes dentists. Apples are crisp and smooth when you bite into them and biting an apple actually cleans your teeth. Apples also contain properties that can kill most of the bacteria that sits on your teeth.
Try to change your toothbrush or the head of your electric toothbrush, every two to three months, for a whiter smile. If you do not, the bacteria that is in your mouth collects on the brush and then you keep distributing that back into your mouth, every time you use it.
For the whitest and cleanest teeth possible, invest in an effective electric tooth brush. The more expensive models of electric toothbrushes can help brush your teeth more effectively than humanly possible with a manual toothbrush. Make sure you invest in a rechargeable electric toothbrush with replaceable heads for the best value.
Whether you choose to whiten your teeth in the comfort of your own home, or as you relax at the dentist’s office, you will no doubt be pleased with the results! A tremendous amount of what we look like has to do with our smile, so go treat yourself!