5 Helpful Tips For A Whiter Smile

By Author: TNT Dental
Total Articles: 4
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A bright, white smile can give your confidence a boost and go a long way toward making you seem younger. Unfortunately, it can be all too easy for teeth to become yellow or gray over time due to a variety of factors. So how can you keep your smile looking its best? Below are a few tips for maintaining whiter, more dazzling teeth.

Watch What You Eat and Drink

Certain foods and beverages are infamous for causing dental discoloration. Common examples include coffee, red wine, berries, and tomato sauce. Generally, any food or beverage that could stain a white shirt could also potentially leave stains on your teeth. As such, you may want to think about limiting your consumption of such items.

Use a Straw

When you drink something that might stain your enamel, it’s advisable to use a straw. Doing so will limit the amount of contact that the liquid has with your teeth, thus lowering the chances of stains occurring.

Brush at Least Twice a Day

Brushing your teeth can help remove some of the surface stains ...
... that may have been left on your enamel by dark-colored foods and beverages. You should make a point of brushing at least two times every day, with each brushing session lasting about two minutes. If you’re particularly concerned about the color of your teeth, you might want to consider brushing with whitening toothpaste. Bear in mind, though, that whitening toothpaste won’t work on discoloration that occurs below the surface of the enamel.

Ask Your Dentist About Professional Teeth Whitening Options

If you want to get rid of existing discoloration on your smile, you should talk to your dentist. In many cases, they’ll be able to significantly brighten your enamel with a professional teeth whitening treatment. Unlike over-the-counter whitening products, professional whitening can be effective for removing stains above and below the enamel.

Professional teeth whitening can involve either an in-office treatment or a personalized take-home kit. With take-home whitening, you’re likely to see dazzling results after about two weeks of use. Meanwhile, in-office teeth whitening can dramatically brighten your smile in as little as one appointment.

Keep Up with Your Biannual Dental Visits

Ideally, you should visit your dentist every six months for a routine checkup and cleaning. During these visits, a trained hygienist can thoroughly clean your entire smile, including the parts you may have missed while brushing on your own. They will also take the time to polish your teeth to remove surface stains, leaving your smile looking whiter than when you first walked into the dentist’s office.

By maintaining good habits and taking advantage of the whitening options offered by your dentist, you can enjoy a brighter smile that you can show off to the world with full confidence.