Our teeth are important to us. Not only do they provide us with a way to eat food, but our teeth are the first thing people see when we smile. Over time, our teeth lose that healthy white color and begin to look dull and stained from the food that we eat and the beverages that we drink. If you would like to make your teeth white again, then read these teeth whitening tips.
Try not to use over-the-counter whitening products without first consulting with your dentist. A lot of the times, these products’ harsh chemicals can actually damage your teeth, far from the intended benefits. Your dentist will be able to help you determine if your tooth enamel is strong enough for OTC treatments.
Keep your mouth healthy and brush and floss at least two times every day. Floss after every meal that you eat if you can. You can buy small disposable hand held flossers that make it easy and discreet. After every time you floss make sure that you rinse out your mouth.
Surprisingly, baking soda is almost as effective as most long term teeth whiteners and is much cheaper. Mix about two table spoons of soda to one table spoon of water to form a paste, then, brush your teeth with this paste. If you do not like the taste, substitute a mouthwash for the water.
A natural whitening method that many people stand by is to mix lemon juice and salt. Fresh squeezed lemon juice is best as the acid is at its peak. Mix the juice from a lemon with a half teaspoon of salt and brush your teeth with the mixture. The acid will eat at the stains and the salt will add abrasion to scrub them away. Brush normally after this treatment to remove the citric acid.
Find a teeth whitening program that fits into your life and schedule. Some require long periods of time with a gel or other device on your teeth. If you have a busy schedule with little down time, this may not work for you. Other programs require several treatments in the course of a day. Find one that works for you.
Use a tooth-whitening toothpaste, but don’t expect miracles on badly discolored teeth. Tooth whitening toothpaste does not bleach teeth, so it can’t remove existing stains. But it does help remove much of the plaque on your teeth, and can remove staining chemicals before they have a chance to discolor those pearly whites.
More is not always better and this is how it is with teeth whitening. Fight the temptation to get addicted to it. If you overdo it you are going to end up with an unnaturally looking smile that is going to look as bad as what your teeth did when they were yellow.
Make sure you follow all instructions on any teeth whitening products to ensure they work properly. Teeth whitening products can have a corrosive or damaging effect on tooth enamel, gums and even nerves. Avoid pain by using the products you purchase exactly as described by the instructions. You can protect yourself further by refraining from drinking highly acidic beverages, such as soda and sports drinks, after you complete a whitening treatment.
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.
To maintain the results of your whitening, stay away from cigarettes and processed foods. Teeth friendly foods like apples, celery, and carrots will keep your teeth healthy and bright. Chewing on a sugar free gum can also be very helpful, as it stimulates the production of saliva, which can lead to a cleaner mouth.
Drink less tea and coffee. Tea and coffee are both horrible for your teeth. They stain them, leaving them slightly brown or dull. Try to cut down on your tea and coffee consumption. If you do not want to cut back, rinse your mouth out thoroughly after you are done drinking.
Consider switching to a toothpaste with whitening effects. While they may not be effective as a standalone method of teeth whitening, they prevent new stains. This is done by using silica abrasive, it will not hurt your enamel.
Ask your dentist about home gels you can use. Your dentist should fill up a mouth piece with whitening gel and tell you to wear it for a couple of hours every night for the duration of 2 or 3 weeks. This process is very effective and could whiten your teeth by up to eight shades.
One key to keeping your teeth white is to drink plenty of water. Every time you have a drink of water it helps to rinse sugars and the bacteria that eat the sugars from your teeth and gums. There is no better way to keep your mouth clean throughout the day.
One important teeth whitening tip is to make sure that you avoid mouthwashes. While many companies claim that they are beneficial to your oral health, they can actually cause more harm than good by staining your teeth. The alcohol in mouthwashes can also dry out your mouth which will lead to bacteria growth.
As stated before, our teeth are important. Our teeth allow us to eat food and give us a great smile. Our teeth become dull and stained over time from eating food and drinking beverages, making them no longer white. By using the tips on teeth whitening from the article above, you can make your teeth white again.
