Your smile is one of the first things someone notices about you when they meet you for the fist time. Whether you are going on a date, interviewing for a job, or just trying to make a good impression, it always helps to have beautiful white teeth. However, over time out teeth can become discolored. Eating, drinking, smoking and not caring for our teeth can leave us embarrassed to open our mouths. What then are the best ways to keep your teeth from loosing their shine?
Whitening Products
Many people will automatically turn to whitening products to make their smile a little flashier. For many, this may be a good option. There are a lot of different products on the market, everything from whitening toothpaste to whitening strips. These products are designed to whiten your teeth within a couple of weeks and for the most part do a good job. You can only use these products for a limited time, but it is usually enough to last you a while.
If you are serious about whitening your teeth and doing it fast, many dentists provide heavy duty whitening agents. They will coat your teeth with a bleach product and direct light into your mouth which activates the ingredients in the product. Realize however that this procedure takes time and can get quite expensive.
Flossing
This may not be the first thing you think of when you think of keeping your teeth white. However, tooth-whitening toothpaste will miss the areas in between your teeth leaving noticeable discoloration. Not to mention flossing makes your gums look pink and firm which contributes to the beauty of your smile.
Eat More Fruits and Vegetables
Foods that have a lot of cellulose act as a natural cleaner in your mouth. They are naturally abrasive and will remove surface stains. High-cellulose foods include carrots, apples, celery, etc. Another advantage of some fruits and vegetables (spinach, broccoli) is that they can form a film over your teeth that protects against staining. Your body will enjoy the health benefits as well.
Avoid Foods That Stain
To keep your smile shiny there are certain foods you must avoid. These include tea, coffee and other foods that have dyes. They may not seem to make a difference now, but over time they will cause discoloration. If you do drink tea, try to do it through a straw so it stays off your teeth. Brush immediately after drinking coffee or tea if possible. Also, you may want to quite smoking. Smoking can cause severe discoloration along with other problems including gum disease.
Baking Soda
If you don’t want to spend the money on expensive whitening products, certain homemade products such as baking soda can do the job. Brush your teeth every few days with baking soda and water. Don’t do it more than once every few days or you could damage your enamel. While the rough texture of baking soda scrubs away at the teeth, a chemical reaction between water and baking soda will remove stains. Look for certain toothpaste products that contain baking soda in them.
[box_light]Author Bio: Dr. Nathan Tanner is a dentist in Billings, MT., who has extensive experience through owning his own practice, Grand Avenue Dental Care, and from teaching cosmetic and pain-free dentistry at the OHSU dental school.[/box_light]
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