A bright, white smile can boost your confidence and make a positive impression on others. Teeth whitening is a popular dental procedure, available at your dentist office or with take-home kits. Natural remedies are also helpful. Here are some hints for reversing years of yellowing and staining on your teeth.
Be careful what you eat and drink
Anything that might stain a white shirt can stain your teeth, so limit dark beverages like coffee, red wine, and tea. Also be careful about foods like blueberries and blackberries. If you do consume items known to stain teeth, rinse with water afterwards.
Quit using tobacco products
Aside from being harmful to your health, tobacco products can badly stain your teeth. Brown stains from tobacco get into the grooves of your tooth enamel, causing discolorations are very difficult to remove. The longer you smoke, the worse the stains get.
Eat foods that help your teeth
A healthy diet will aid your teeth and bones, but also help your smile. Rubbing strawberries on your teeth can actually help to whiten them. Crunchy foods like celery, apples, and carrots trigger saliva, which helps to wash away food particles and remove stains from your teeth.
Chew sugarless gum
Sugarless gum increases the flow of saliva, helping to clean your mouth and neutralize the acid that leads to tooth decay.
Drink plenty of water
Drinking water will remove food debris from your mouth, and reduce plaque buildup. Keeping your mouth moist also reduces bad breath.
Practice good oral hygiene
At minimum, brushing twice a day and flossing once daily will help maintain white teeth. It helps prevent stains, and using whitening fluoride toothpaste can give you an even brighter smile.
Visit your dentist
See Dr. Thanos every six months for cleanings and checkups. Professional cleanings will remove more teeth stains than you’re able to achieve at home.