White teeth are perceived by people everywhere as being more attractive. In a recent study, it is shown they also can make you look smarter and wealthier as well. Here are 10 steps to look your best and if things go south, you can always opt for teeth cleaning in Oshawa or anywhere near you.
Give Your Toothbrush An Upgrade
If you’ve been using the same toothbrush for a long time, it’s probably time to throw it out and get a new one. Check your tooth brush and if the edges are weak and bent, get rid of it. A new toothbrush doesn’t need to be expensive either. You can ask your dentist to recommend a good brand to you.
When you’re choosing one, look for a toothbrush that has soft bristles. You also want one shaped to get between difficult surfaces of your teeth.
Use Teeth Whitening Toothpaste
Teeth whitening toothpaste is a great start to your teeth whitening journey and is the cheapest option when considering teeth whitening costs. It’s best to get one that is approved by the American Dental Association. A good whitening toothpaste will contain a chemical called blue covarine, which will adhere to your teeth and make your teeth looking whiter than they really are. Most will also contain some hydrogen peroxide. This will slowly whiten your teeth over time.
Whitening toothpaste may not make the most drastic changes right away, but will definitely help in the long term. Daily use will definitely help keep staining from becoming worse.
Use Mouthwash Every Day
Many people use mouthwash to help control their bad breath. But this also has the added benefit of helping to keep your teeth white. This is especially helpful when the mouthwash has hydrogen peroxide as an added ingredient. When hydrogen peroxide is in your mouthwash, it will usually be labeled as a teeth whitening product at the store. Just like using teeth whitening toothpaste that has hydrogen peroxide in it, the hydrogen peroxide in your mouthwash will slowly increase the brightness of your teeth. Consistent, daily use is essential for effectiveness.
Brush Your Tongue
Food and drinks build up on the tongue throughout the day, and this residue is where bacteria can thrive. It’s very easy for the bacteria to get rubbed off on your teeth. This bacteria will contribute to significant staining on your teeth. Not only will brushing your tongue help keep your teeth whiter, but like mouthwash, it has the added benefit of keeping your breath smelling fresh, and your mouth healthy in general.
You can get a brush scraping tool to assist with keeping your tongue free from food residue and bacteria.
Rinse Your Mouth With Water After Acidic Foods
Acidic foods like citrus fruit or acidic drinks like fruit juices and soda are not good for healthy teeth. The acid left on your teeth will begin attacking your enamel almost immediately. This weakened enamel makes teeth staining much more common. To help combat this, right after you eat something acidic or have an acidic drink, rinse your mouth thoroughly with water. It’s also recommended to brush your teeth twice a day. Rinse the acid from teeth before brushing as this can be abrasive to the enamel.
Eat Raw Vegetables And Fruits
The texture and moisture of many raw fruits and vegetables can actually help clean the enamel on your teeth. As long as an acidic residue isn’t left behind afterwards, the fruit and vegetables almost act as little toothbrushes. Like before, make sure you rinse your mouth off after the more acidic fruits.
This method may not whiten teeth as much as some of the other methods here, but it certainly helps when it comes to keeping your stains from getting worse. And it has the added benefit of a healthier body.
Teeth Whitening Gum
Teeth whitening gum contains a chemical called sodium hexametaphosphate. Not only does this chemical help remove current stains on your teeth, it also helps prevent future staining at the same time.
Also, chewing helps your mouth produce saliva. The saliva that your mouth produces helps with the remineralization of your teeth.
Lastly, chewing gum right after a meal, can help clean off residue that sticks to your teeth when eating. Like stated previously, this residue can contribute significantly to teeth staining, so it’s important to remove it as soon as possible.
Home Teeth Whitening Solutions
Some people swear by certain solutions they create at home that helps whiten your teeth. These solutions are usually created by making a paste of of something like baking soda, hydrogen peroxide, lemon juice, salt, or even strawberries. Be very cautious when researching these kind of home solutions. If you don’t know exactly what you are doing, you can actually cause long term or even permanent damage to your teeth. As with any home remedy or product that hasn’t been approved by the American Dental Association, consult with your dentist first.
Home Teeth Whitening Systems
There are many home teeth whitening systems that you can purchase and try for yourself. The cost of these vary between systems, and also the effectiveness of each one. The most common are probably the whitening strips. These are strips left on the teeth for a period of time, with some kind of solution on them such as hydrogen peroxide. There are also whitening pens, or whitening kits that involve a gel solution you apply to a mouthpiece. Consult your dentist and see which home whitening system is best for you.
Professional Teeth Whitening
The most effective way to whiten your teeth is by having a professional do it. Dentists will know the best method to use for your specific teeth. They can also help with problems if your teeth are sensitive to other home treatments. Having a professional whiten your teeth will have the quickest and most drastic improvement to your smile. Dentists also know how far to take a treatment, so you don’t end up with teeth that have been overly whitened.
If you are interested in having your teeth whitened professionally or have any further questions, be sure to contact Newnham family dentists.
About The Author
Nicole Hinton
Nicole is a freelancer & passionate blogger. She has 4+ years of experience in digital marketing and specialize in content writing, content marketing and organic search engine optimization. She has worked with many brands from Canada as well as the USA. Currently, she manages content marketing team of freelancers and doing their business efficiently.
