How To Get Whiter Teeth

If your teeth are looking a little past their best and are stained either gray or yellow, don't worry - you're not alone! Teeth can stain as we get older, but eating certain foods, drinking certain beverages and even some mouthwashes can cause discoloration. At-home remedies can improve the brightness and whiteness of teeth, but avoiding certain foods and drinks can help maintain those bright white gnashers. Get the perfect, bright white smile by following these tips to a white smile.

Do it Yourself Teeth Whitening Kits

There are literally thousands of teeth whitening kits on the shelves - some have strips, some use toothpaste, and others use gum shields.

More expensive kits tend to use an abrasive product that literally scrubs the stains away from the teeth in the same way that getting your teeth scaled and polished at the dentists does. Some kits use peroxide, which is effective at whitening teeth that are yellow, but it's important that you paint the peroxide onto the teeth only, making sure that it doesn't touch the gums. Kits that include trays that are put onto teeth can be effective, but because the trays can make contact with your gums if not fitted properly, could cause more side effects. Whitening strips, on the other hand, are pretty much foolproof.

Whitening Tooth Care Products

Take a trip to a pharmacist or any large supermarket and you'll find a vast array of whitening tooth care products, including toothpaste, toothbrushes and mouth washes. Some of these can actually be very helpful and although they don't whiten the natural color of your teeth in the same way that bleach can, they are very effective at clearing up stains and giving your teeth a "natural" white color. Using a whitening toothpaste with a whitening toothbrush and mouthwash will be far more effective than using just one product. Once you achieve the desired tooth color, to maintain that whiteness, you should follow good oral hygiene practices and use a whitening toothpaste just once or twice a week, rather than every day.

See Also: Nine Ways Oral Hygiene Helps Keep Your Body and Mouth in Connection

Oral Hygiene

Good oral hygiene is fairly simple - and if you follow a few simple rules, your teeth will be brighter and whiter within just a few weeks. Brush teeth twice a day, making sure to brush front and back, making sure that you get right to the back of teeth and floss once a day, being careful not to catch the gums. Follow with a mouthwash, if your dentist recommends it, and visit your hygienist once every six months to get a full scale and polish. 

Home Remedies

There are many, many home remedies out there that can make your teeth whiter and brighter. You don't have to pay a lot of money and actually, you may well be able to find the products in your kitchen cabinets. One of the most common home remedies is using baking soda on your toothbrush. It's a natural abrasive and will scrub away those stains - just make sure that you don't swallow the baking soda and if you do, spit it out immediately.

Apple cider vinegar can also be used as a whitening agent. However, being an acid, it can soften teeth, so it's vital to use it sparingly. Dilute it with water and swish it around in your mouth for a few minutes, followed by a thorough rinse with water.

Build these foods into your daily snacking routine and you'll soon notice that your teeth feel cleaner. Another tip is to chew sugar-free gum. Chewing it also triggers the release of saliva, which helps to clean teeth - plus, that saliva helps to neutralize acids in the mouth, which can reduce your risk of tooth decay. Generally, the more saliva in your mouth, the better, especially when it comes to clean, white teeth.

Oil pulling, an ancient Indian technique, involves swishing a tablespoon of oil, typically coconut, sunflower, or sesame, in your mouth for 15-20 minutes, then spitting it out. This method not only promotes whiter teeth but can also enhance overall oral hygiene.

What If I Have Veneers?

If you have a lot of expensive dental work, such as veneers, bridges, caps, crowns or false teeth, beware of the whitening treatments. These treatments won't lighten teeth that are not real - which means that they'll stand out in your mouth against your whiter "real" teeth, making your false teeth all the more obvious. The only way to get brighter or whiter manufactured teeth is to have new ones fitted, which could be extremely expensive, so it's always best talking to your dentist about your teeth whitening options before you try anything at home.

Prevention is Better Than Cure

A number of lifestyle factors can cause discolored, stained teeth. Avoiding these can keep your teeth looking white and bright, which is far easier than trying to reverse stains. As we age, the enamel (the top layer of teeth that helps to protect it from damage) starts to wear away. The layer found just underneath the enamel, the dentin, isn't as white as the top layer and has a creamier color which can make teeth appear more yellow.

See Also: All You Need To Know About Teeth Whitening

Anything that is brightly colored, like wine, tea, coffee, sports drinks, sweets and sauces has the potential to stain your teeth. Acidic foods can also contribute to staining and this is due to the acid in the food wearing away the enamel.

Because teeth are softer without the enamel, it means that they're temporarily more likely to stain, so it's worth keeping away from acidic foods, or using a toothpaste that restores and hardens the enamel. The stronger your enamel, the healthier your teeth - and the healthier your teeth, the better they'll look, whether you use a whitening toothpaste or not.

Flossing daily helps remove plaque from between teeth, preventing discoloration in those areas. Investing in an electric toothbrush can also make a difference, as they often provide a deeper clean than manual brushes. Regular dental check-ups and cleanings (ideally every six months) will help remove surface stains and tartar, keeping your teeth looking their best.