Do you want a whiter and brighter smile? Here are 5 tips for keeping your teeth white.
- Practice Good Oral Health Habits Every Day at Home
- Don’t Use Tobacco
- Stay Away from Certain Foods & Drinks
- Whiten Your Teeth
- Get Regular Dental Checkups & Cleanings
Start and end your day with good oral health practices if you want to keep your teeth stain free. This means brushing your teeth twice a day for two minutes each time, flossing at least once a day (preferably at night), and using fluoride toothpaste. These methods will help you keep your pearly whites pearly and white. Additionally, you’ll minimize bacteria and plaque build up.
If you are a tobacco user, you won’t be able to have whiter teeth unless you give up using tobacco. Smoking and other forms of tobacco use like dipping can stain your teeth and leave brown or yellow surface stains that are not easy to get off your teeth. Using tobacco can also irritate your gums and even lead to gum disease. If you want to have white teeth, you’ll need to quit.
There are a number of foods and drinks that can stain your teeth, especially if you don’t rinse your mouth or brush your teeth after you’ve consumed them. Drinks that stain your teeth include tea, coffee, red and white wine, dark sodas, and cranberry juice. Foods like blueberries, tomato sauce, beets, and soy sauce can also stain your teeth. While it may be hard to stay away from all of these foods, if you do indulge it’s important to drink water after and while you’re eating or drinking them. This will stop them from clinging to your teeth. You can also drink with a straw which will keep the liquid away from the surface of your teeth.
This one is a pretty obvious tip, but it’s also one of the most effective! If you want whiter teeth, whiten them. There are a number of different teeth whitening options that range in ease and cost. There are over the counter whitening toothpastes and mouthwashes that prevent stains, as well as over the counter whitening strips and pens that remove surface stains in a few weeks. These are good options if you have light surface stains, but if you have stains that penetrate your tooth, consider professional whitening options. These include in-office whitening and take home kits that use a powerful bleaching agent not found in over the counter methods.
Another way to keep your teeth white is by coming in for regular checkups and cleanings. It is recommended that people go to the dentist for a cleaning and exam every six months. These appointments allow our professional team at Alder Trails Dental to more thoroughly clean your teeth, remove any plaque buildup, catch any oral health issues early, and give you advice on how you can achieve or maintain the smile of your dreams.
If you have any other questions about tips to keep your teeth white, give us a call!
